How to Reggae Dance

Before you learn how to reggae dance, you must first understand the music and history. Reggae music is a combination of many types of music, including traditional Jamaican music and New Orleans rhythm and blues music. The music has a heavy beat and recognizable sound, making the music easy to dance to. Reggae music was made popular by Bob Marley in 1966 and the dancing became popular around 1967. Reggae dancing often involves moving your hips and your legs to the music. Learn a few simple moves to help you dance to reggae music.

Instructions

The Heel Toe

1. Step your foot in front of you slightly at a diagonal across your body and dig your heel into the ground.

2. Twist your heel outwards and then hop to the other leg, with it now in front and at a diagonal across your body. Dig your heel into the ground and twist it out, then switch legs again.

3. Swing your arms as if you are walking while you are doing the steps with your legs. Repeat these steps fast, to the beat of the music.

The Bogle

1. Lean your body back to the right side and continuously roll your body from head to toe while standing in place.

2. Point with two fingers on each hand and roll your arms alternately as if you're peddling a bike with your arms.

3. Combine the body rolls with the peddling arms and then switch to the left side. Make the rolling motion to the beat of the music.

Go Go Wine

1. Wind your hips around in a circle to the beat of the music.

2. Bend your legs, while continuing to wind your hips, and then rise back up.

3. Turn around in a circle while continuing to wind your hips and dipping low and coming back up. This dance is most often only done by women.

Tips & Warnings

• Do dances that imitate everyday activities such as rowing a boat or lifting weights. These are also popular Reggae dance moves.

References

• Jam World Movements; The Encyclopedia of Reggae Dances
• Scaruffi; A Brief Summary of Jamaican Music; Piero Scaruffi