How to Dance the Gwara Gwara

Co-authored by Katie Van Note

Last Updated: February 2, 2025 References

The Gwara Gwara is a South African dance move created by DJ Bongz. It's been popularized in the U.S. by performers like Rihanna, and it has some similarities to the Stanky Leg.^{[1]
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Research source} The Gwara Gwara mainly involves lifting and swinging one leg, then pulling the rest of your body into that movement.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Doing a Basic Gwara Gwara

You arms can be down at your side for now. Lean your weight on your right foot.^{[2]
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As you lift, lean away slightly as you do. Let it come off the ground about 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm).^{[3]
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3
Pull your knee inwards as your foot hits the ground. As you come back down, swing your knee inwards. When you lift up, pull your knee back to the outside.^{[4]
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- Your foot stays in the same place, not moving to the left or right.
Rotate your arm outward as your foot lifts off the ground, then back inward as it comes down to the ground. Move your forearm in a circle.^{[5]
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5
Lift your elbow out as your hand comes in. Flap your elbow out when your knee comes in. Swing the rest of your arm inward like your knee.^{[6]
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- Similarly, as you bring your hand outward, bring your elbow in closer to your body.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating More Fluid Movement

1
Move your shoulder with the rest of your body. Once you get the basic arm movement down, add shoulder movement, too. Create a wave effect with your shoulder, bringing it down as you swing in your knee.^{[7]
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- Make this movement very fluid, letting it down through your arm.
2
Work on a circular movement throughout your body. As you bring your foot down, instead of just leaning in, try to move your whole body in a circle, particularly your torso. That is, lean down and to the right as you bring your foot down, then up and to the left as you bring your foot up. Make the movement a circle, so you're not just moving down and to the right and up and to the left, but instead rotating your whole torso.^{[8]
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- Move your arms to help balance the movement.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Katie Van Note
  Dance Teacher
  
  Expert Interview}
- Use your knee movement to incorporate your whole body in the circle.
3
Mix up the speed to the beat. Try stepping just on the downbeat or even every other downbeat, so it's a bit slower.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Katie Van Note
Dance Teacher

Expert Interview} Then, after a few counts, move to doing it faster, say every downbeat, or on the downbeat and the upbeat.^{[11]
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- The downbeat is what you hear with the main beat. If you're counting "1, 2, 3, 4," the downbeat is on each number. The upbeat is between the downbeats. So if you're counting, you might say, "1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4," where the "ands" are the upbeats.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Adding Variations

You can add variation by stopping the movement for a beat or two in time with the music. Then, start the movement back up again.^{[12]
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You don't have to do the exact same arm movements each time. Incorporate your other arm, and bring it up and down in time to the beat.^{[13]
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3
Move up and down. Start out down low with your feet spread out and your hips lowered. As you do the movement, bring your hips and torso upward in about 4 beats. Move your arm up in the air, as well.^{[14]
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- Bring the movement back down for the next 4 counts.
You can also start low and stay low through the movement.^{[15]
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Expert Source

Katie Van Note
Dance Teacher

Expert Interview} Squat with your legs out wider than your shoulders. Lean over a bit, and bring your right arm out in front of you while you do the Gwara Gwara movement.^{[16]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Can you suggest more tips for being more fluid while dancing?

Katie Van Note
Dance Teacher
Katie Van Note is the lead dance teacher and the owner of The First Dance Place in San Diego, California. With over 10 years of dance experience, she specializes in partnered dance styles, including East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Rumba, Waltz, and Hustle. Katie's goal is to make dancing fun, accessible, and exciting for all couples to enhance whatever occasion they are celebrating.

Katie Van Note

Dance Teacher

Expert Answer

Another tip that I can suggest is to develop a sense of your center of gravity. It's how you hold yourself and create balance and better tension in your body frame while dancing, which also brings fluidity to your motion.

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