We put together this short video that video breaks down some of the similarities between contemporary African dances and contemporary African American dance styles.

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you already know that movement—just like music—travels across the African world. You can see it in the footwork, the shoulder work, the rhythms, and the overall swag that shows up in everything from Ghana’s Azonto to Ethiopia’s Eskista, South Africa’s Gwara Gwara, and African American styles like the Harlem Shake, Hit the Quan, and so many others.

The goal isn’t to create a full catalog of dances from across the continent or the entire diaspora (that list would be endless). Instead, this video gives a quick snapshot that helps students—and hopefully anyone watching—see the cultural links that continue to shape how Black communities move, groove, and express ourselves globally.

We hope it’s useful for educators, dancers, researchers, or anyone who just loves learning about the connections between Africa and the diaspora through culture and movement.