Taking an entire dance class in heels seems absurd, especially when many of us look drunk while walking in them. And I know what you’re thinking: “There’s no way I’m wearing heels to do the zanku.” But I can promise that by this post’s end, even Burna Boy will attempt the Zanku in a pair of Louboutins.
First of all, dancing in heels isn’t exactly new. Stiletto dance was widely popularised in the 20th century and was commonly seen in jazz, ballroom, Latin, and other exotic contemporary dances. It was also used in certain disciplines, such as pole dancing.
Fast forward to today, and we tend to see many celebrities on the trend. We have seen Beyoncé during Coachella and, quite frankly, everywhere in heels, Rihanna walking over grates and on stage, Madonna falling on stage during the BRIT AWARDS in heels (LOL!!), Jennifer Lopez and Shakira at the Superbowl looking smoking hot. Let’s not forget about Yanis Marshall a French dancer and choreographer who shook Britain’s got talent with his killer choreography in heels. All these people have made dancing in heels look effortless and just sexy.
Dancers like Patient James have shown the greatness of Afrobeats and how diverse the genre is by consistently incorporating heels. On her Instagram @afroinheels and her YouTube channel Patience J, she incorporates a lot of energy and confidence and proves that Afrobeats and heels are a cocktail for success.
Dancers such as Zodwa Wabantu (aka Zodwa Rebecca Libram) have shown how sexy, simple, and versatile Afro dance can be. Zodwa is a South African socialite and dancer who has toured Africa, strutting to Afro dance in heels.
Another trendsetter in the heel dancing niche is Stiletto London, a London-based company that predominantly offers dance classes and choreography services in heels. Classes range from Afrobeats to hip-hop, and the company employs talented dancers to lead them. They are also open to beginners.
Several articles have stated that heels are great because they make your walk more attractive and appear more feminine and confident.
5 Benefits of Afro-in-Heels
Baba Olatunji (African Drummer and Dance instructor) once said, ‘” The health benefits derived from dance go far beyond the gratification you get from dancing for relaxation or celebration. Dance is grounding – it brings you down to earth, which is the first realisation of knowing where you stand. You learn how to relate your whole self, body, and soul to Mother Earth, which supports you. They dance to the beat of a drum, obeying the natural law of being in rhythm. And in doing so, you arrive at the place where you are in total control of yourself.” This a fantastic quote and shows that the actual value of dance spans way beyond physical benefits.
Now, let’s go through the benefits of dancing in heels.
1. Weight loss
Several studies have shown that dancing in heels has the potential to help with weight loss. Depending on the intensity of your session, you can burn up to 220 calories per hour. Dancing also increases blood circulation, and depending on the session, speed, and intensity of the class/performance, you could burn more.
2. Toning
Afro-dance combined with a nice pair of heels targets many muscle groups. When dancing in heels, more focus is placed on the core, gluteus, quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. This helps maintain posture and improves balance.
3. Positivity
Dancing in heels, just like any other form of dance, is a way of telling a story. It could be a way of expressing love for one’s body, attaining confidence and showing your lifestyle. It allows you to listen to and master your own body. This inevitably makes you comfortable dancing at events/parties and gradually improves your state of mind.
4. Improves memory
When taking on the challenge of wearing heels to dance, you have to subconsciously remember to keep your balance and memorise key steps, the sequence of dance moves, and the rhythm that goes along with it. If this sounds difficult, that’s because it is. However, one of the main benefits of taking on this challenge is that it works your mind and improves your memory. This ability is known as neuroplasticity. With the proper stimulation, your brain can form new neural pathways, alter existing connections, and adapt and react in ever-changing ways. You can harness the natural power of neuroplasticity to increase your cognitive abilities, enhance your ability to learn new information and improve your memory at any age.
5. Relieves stress
Dance has been shown to relieve stress and release endorphins, which are pivotal to a healthy mindset. It’s basically the happy hormone. If you go the extra mile and attend dance classes, you’ll get to meet more people and make new friends, which is great for reducing depression & anxiety.
Furthermore, whether you are slow dancing to songs like Wizkid’s Ease Your Mind or have the gift of twerking to Olamide’s Pawon in ankle-crushing stilettos, the benefits of dancing in heels are vast. With that being said, here are a few good benefits that didn’t quite make the list:
Lowering cholesterol: Cholesterol plays an integral part in health, and moving your body, especially when using heels, aids in lowering lipid levels and controlling cholesterol within the body.
Bone and joint health: Moving and exerting pressure on your bones creates tiny tears, enabling the body to fix these (aka bone healing). As a result, just like muscles, bones get stronger over time.
TIPS WHEN USING HEELS IN DANCE
Warm up to prevent injury.
Stretch your feet and legs before you start. Wearing heels could lead to muscle injury and could impact your legs as a whole. Giving your lower and upper body a stretch could prevent some weird injuries we’ve seen online.
Use low heels, to begin with
After reading this post, you might want to search your wardrobe for your first pair of heels, but not so fast. We strongly recommend starting with low heels and not with high heels, such as the deadly 10-inch moc crop platform. This way, you slowly transition into higher, more complex heels without breaking your ankles! Alternatively, you could pick a heel size you are comfortable with and stick with it.
Remember your posture
Remember to pull up from your core so there’s less pressure on your heels – this is a little tip from Linda Kuo. Now that you have some tips on dancing in heels, you can safely avoid this.
HAPPY STRUTTING
