Afrotonic Dance & Fitness classes provide a full body workout whilst giving you the freedom to express yourself to the powerful beat of African music. It is an exhilarating and unique cultural experience that makes you feel energized and alive whilst helping to release stress and strengthen body and mind.

Classes are conducted in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere and are accompanied as often as possible by live African Drumming so that the students can feel the energizing power of the drums and get a better understanding of traditional African rhythms.

Young and old, children (from 5 years old) and adults, men and women, with or without previous dance experience – anyone is welcome to join and have fun! Sign up a friend for a class and you get a free bonus class.

Our classes are on-going and held 2-3 times a week:

* Every Tuesday from 5.30-6.45pm at North Fremantle Bowling Club on 40 Stirling Hwy (turn on Harvest Rd, entry off Thompson Road). This class has already started for 2012 - come and join in!!

* Every Thursday starting on 9th Feb, from 7.15- 830pm, at the Dance Workshop, North Perth. This venue is just up the road from our old stomping ground at the Chapel space. It's 65 Scarborough beach rd, at the corner of Scab bch rd and Loftus sts. Travelling West on Scarb beach rd, it is on the Left just before you reach Loftus st lights. You can park on the road either side of Scarb beach rd, or you turn Left at the Loftus lights then Left again to park round the back of the Dance studio. The venue has mirrors, a sound system and lovely floors... Come try it out!!! Our drummer extraordinaire, Wazza, should be able to make every Thursday instead of only every other Friday... Whoop whoop!

NOTE: POSSIBLY for a 6 week period starting in March, we may switch thursdays back to Fridays (at the same venue) 6.00-7.15pm, so as not to clash with Inge Van Winkel who may also teach on Thursdays at Juan Rando's dance academy... Stay tuned...

* Every Friday at the Dance workshop, North Perth, from 6.45-8.00pm. Starting Friday 13th Jan to Friday 3rd Feb inclusive. Then we switch to Thursdays (cf above).

* Every Sunday from 5.30 to 6.45pm at the Duncraig Senior High School Performing Arts Centre on Gilbert rd (LEFT off Readshaw dr) in Duncraig. This class will be starting up again on Sunday 29th January.

Cost is $15 casual or $60 for a card of 5 classes ($12 per class) for any of the classes. If you buy a card then bring a friend, you also get one class for FREE!!

Organise a group of 10 friends or more to commit to a minimum 5-weeks program and we’d be happy to find another venue and day that suits you best. Register your interest in classes by email

Once a month on Sunday evening closest to Full Moon, we also get together with AKWAABA drummers for a Full Moon Drum’n’Dance night. This is a great opportunity for dance students to come and join us to try their techniques, improvise and have fun, or simply watch and relax. Check our News & Events section for update on date, time and location.

What’s an Afrotonic Class like?

Afrotonic Dance & Fitness Classes are usually broken down in 5 sessions:

1. Warm Up
Uniquely designed to help stretch and tone the whole body, loosen the breath to release stress and feel the way each body part moves separately from the rest. African dance uses all parts of the body and leaning how to isolate and move each one of them - particularly the chest and pelvic area - is an essential introduction.

2. Into the Groove
Learn simple and basic steps to get familiar with the African dance style and start discovering your own body language. With African dance, one must feel the way their body is moving and there are as many ways to do a move as there are individuals.

3. Tonic Power
Learn a choreographed series of steps inspired by West African dance that is guaranteed to burn calories, build stamina and create excitement! Each step is broken down so that everyone, including those who have never danced in their lives, can learn, sweat, and have fun.

Here is an example of one of the dances I taught in class:

4. Free Spirit
Let your wild spirit soar and experience the emotional high of free dancing to the powerful beat of African music. Solo improvisation is a big part of traditional African dancing and a symbolic celebration of everyone’s uniqueness and instinctive creative richness.

5. Afro Chill
Focus back to your breathing and share some relaxing and yoga-style stretching exercises to the soothing sound of African songs.

What are the benefits of Afrotonic Classes?

There are benefits on so many levels because Afrotonic classes help address the physical, mental and spiritual needs of the individual and the community.

Physical/Body Level:

• Enhanced general health & well-being
• Better coordination, flexibility, balance & spinal mobility
• Increased energy levels, muscle tone& cardio fitness
• Improved posture
• Increased awareness of the physical self in motion

Emotional/Mind Level:

• More happiness & joy
• Reduced stress levels
• Increased self-confidence & esteem
• Ability for self-expression, intuition & creativity
• A deeper connection with yourself & others
• A great way to socalize & make new friends

Spiritual/Soul Level:

Dance therapists believe that mental and emotional problems are often held in the body in the form of muscle tension and constrained movement patterns. African dance has the power to heal this through body awareness and by connecting humans to their own spirit and internal rhythmic force.

You can also find out more about African Dancing – its origins and in which way it is different to other dance forms.