What is twerk and how can you learn to dance it?

Twerk is one of the most popular modern dance styles. It is based on rhythmic movements of the hips and buttocks. This dance looks spectacular and unusual. Twerking can be done by both trained girls and those who have never danced.

Many believe that this outrageous dance appeared only recently. But this is not the case. West African dances are considered the predecessors of this dance direction. They were usually performed by women in order to prepare the body for the birth of a child or recover from pregnancy. It was believed that such a ritual could help the girl get rid of infertility. It was African women who created all the major movements. There was no sexual connotation in this ritual.

For many years, the dance was performed exclusively by African women. The situation changed after the start of colonization. Once in Europe and America, the inhabitants of small tribes continued to adhere to their traditions. For a long time, energetic dancing did not interest white girls.

It was possible to attract public attention to twerk in the 80s of the last century. Then girls dancing twerk began to appear in the clips of famous American rappers. Since that time, interest in this dance direction has appeared and faded away.

Twerking classes allow you not only to loosen up and learn to move sexually to the music. This dance is able to positively influence the health of the girl. Regular exercise helps:

• get rid of excess weight and cellulite;
• strengthen the body;
• relieve a woman from pain during menstruation;
• make the hips more feminine, and the buttocks - toned;
• get rid of digestive problems.

Vigorous dancing also improves the mood of the girl. Plus, they help build self-esteem and learn to love your strong and healthy body.

Twerk is a versatile dance that can be practiced by almost everyone. It is suitable for both young girls and older women. This dance is worth paying attention to the following categories of people.

• For girls who want to pump up their buttocks. Dance allows you to quickly lose weight and make your figure more toned. In just a couple of months, the dancer will be able to forget about complexes associated with appearance.
• For women who want to be liberated. Active dancing allows you to feel all the muscles in your body and learn how to better control them. After regular twerking lessons, the girl will be able to move better to the music without it.
• Energetic dancers. A full-fledged twerking exercise can help you get rid of stress and excess energy. Therefore, this type of dance is ideal for active girls.
• For women who like to draw attention to themselves. Twerk is a dance that many men like. He looks very sexy and impressive. Therefore, a girl dancing twerk in a club or at a party immediately attracts male attention.

Regular twerking exercises can also improve the tone of the pelvic organs. Therefore, dancing can be done by girls who are preparing to have a child. But pregnancy itself is a contraindication for attending lessons.

Now there are several varieties of twerk. Each type of this dance has its own bright distinctive features.

• Dancehall. This dance originated in Jamaica. Traditionally, it is danced to fast and rhythmic Japanese melodies. Dancehall consists of movements called steps. You can learn to dance it pretty quickly. Modern girls often dance it to the music of modern hip-hop artists. He is especially popular among fans of the club movement.
• Bootie Dance. This dance is exclusively female. They always dance it solo. During the dance, the girl can perform a large number of different movements and acrobatic stunts. To dance beautifully, a woman only needs to learn the basic elements. The dance itself is usually an improvisation.
• Male twerk. It is worth mentioning separately about the male twerk. The dance performed by the man looks quite interesting and unusual. It should be noted that men usually have more developed muscles. Therefore, it is easier for them to learn to dance twerk. The male dance direction practically does not differ from the female one. Both basic and advanced movements are the same.

To learn how to dance twerk, a girl does not need to attend a dance school or study with a coach. It is quite possible to master basic movements at home. You need to properly prepare for dancing.

It is best to study twerking in a spacious room with a minimum amount of furniture. In this case, the girl will not be prevented from dancing freely. It is desirable that the room is light. To control the correctness of the movements, it is worth putting a large mirror in the room. Observing herself during the dance, the girl will be able to understand which elements of the dance she should work on more actively.

Since twerk consists of active movements, you should choose comfortable clothes for your workout. To see how the muscles work, the girl should wear tight leggings. However, they should not hinder the movement of the hips and legs. Short shorts made of soft elastic fabric are also suitable for exercising. They go well with colored socks or gaiters. For active dancing, a girl can also buy knee pads.

You can complement the look with a short top or a comfortable T-shirt.

The best shoe for dancing is sneakers with thick soles. You need to choose them carefully. Sneakers shouldn't be too big or too small. It is important that the sole of the shoe is flexible. This should be checked before purchasing a sneaker. You should also wear new shoes before dancing. In this case, it will not chafe the skin. At home, dancing can be practiced barefoot. It is recommended to collect hair in a ponytail before training. So they will not distract the person from the dance performance.

It is worth dancing twerk to cheerful and rhythmic music. The best option is energetic songs by hip-hop artists. The music to which samba is danced is also suitable for training. She is also very rhythmic and beautiful. If you wish, you can choose a specific song for yourself and learn how to perform a dance just for it.

Dance training should always start with a good warm-up. It will prepare the body for further physical activity. The warm-up should take 20-30 minutes. After working through all the basic dance moves, it is important to stretch. This helps to relieve muscle aches and fatigue.

You need to learn to perform all the movements in the correct position. It is most convenient to train with a slight squat. It is important to stand confidently on your feet. The knees should not go over the toes. This is done in order not to harm the knees. Legs should be widely spaced, socks should be pointed in different directions. In this case, the hands are usually on the belt. The back should be straight during the dance.

During the training itself, you need to learn how to work out the following movements.

• Shaking the buttocks. This is the basic movement on which the whole dance is built. It is quite easy to learn how to do it at home. The main thing is to understand the technique of performance. First you need to completely relax your gluteal muscles. After that, you need to gently start shaking your buttocks. This element can be performed not only in a squat, but also near a wall or in a sitting position on the floor.
• Rhythmic rotations. This element is usually used to connect more complex movements. Its constant repetition allows the girl to become more relaxed and feminine.
• Movement of the buttocks. The peculiarity of this element is that the gluteal muscles move in turn. This movement makes the dance more rhythmic. It looks pretty nice.
• Eight hips. This element is very easy to learn. It's perfect for beginners.To complete it, the girl must stand straight and bend her knees slightly. The building must be immovable. Draw a figure eight with your hips. The weight is transferred from one side to the other in the process. This movement can be performed faster or slower depending on which melody is playing in the background.
• Hip punches. This element allows you to make the dance more rhythmic. In addition, repetition of this movement allows you to develop your abdominal muscles.

In one workout, you need to repeat all the movements several times. At the end of the lesson, it is important to try to combine them into one dance. Despite the apparent simplicity, the movements are quite complex. Therefore, learning to dance will not work quickly.

Many girls, after watching online lessons for beginners, start dancing on their own, and then get upset because they can't do anything. There are three main things that prevent a girl from moving beautifully to energetic music.

• Lack of flexibility. If a girl is not very flexible by nature, it will be difficult for her to learn how to dance twerk correctly. Fortunately, flexibility and pliability can be developed. You can even do this at home. To do this, you only need to regularly do stretching exercises.
• Too active body movements. One of the main distinguishing features of twerk is that only the hips and buttocks move in the dance. The rest of the body must remain motionless. If the shoulders and arms move in the same rhythm, the dance will not look so impressive.
• Great stiffness. This is one of the main mistakes that beginner dancers make. For a twerk to look natural and sexy, a girl needs to relax and relieve tension. All movements should be carried out easily and without any tension. If a girl is uncomfortable with training in front of strangers, she should practice alone in the first weeks.

The following tips from more experienced people will help you learn to dance twerk.

• You need to study the features of twerk in stages. Don't immediately try to repeat difficult dances seen in music videos or videos. To begin with, you need to practice doing individual movements, and also learn how to control all the muscles in your body.
• Twerking will be much easier for girls with good athletic training. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the dancer to keep up with the rhythm of the dance. In order for the movements to be rhythmic and beautiful, you need to regularly train your legs.
• Do not be ashamed of your body. Both girls with a pumped up body and donuts can dance twerk. The main thing is to enjoy the process. You should also not compare your achievements with the achievements of other people.
• Dancers should attend themed events. If a girl has already learned how to dance well, she can start attending various dance events. There, the girl will be able to demonstrate her skills to others, as well as learn how to perform some new movements or just improvise to the music. In addition, attending such events is a great way to find like-minded people as well as new friends.
• Dancing should be treated responsibly. Don't skip workouts. Regular dance classes will help you achieve success faster. It is best to do it 2-3 times a week. One workout typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour. Warm-up and stretching after the dance take another 20-30 minutes.
• If a girl can't learn how to dance twerk, she should try to work with a trainer. The teacher will be able to notice the main mistakes in the movements and correct them in a short time. The choice of teacher must be carefully considered. It is worth remembering that a good dancer is not always a good trainer.Therefore, it is best to work with those people who have been studying dance for a long time. If you didn't manage to work well with one teacher, you can try to find another trainer for yourself.
• In order not to lose interest in dancing, you should constantly listen to themed music and watch the performances of talented dancers. This will motivate you for further development, as well as learning new movements.

For even more information on what twerk is, see the next video.