When Afro Dance Meets K-pop: A Cultural Fusion

popdancersleague
Feb 16, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Feb 21, 2025

「Afro Dance」

Though many people are familiar with the terms “hip-hop” and “breakdancing,” not nearly as many people are familiar with the term “Afro-dance.” Afro-dance is a form of dance originating from traditional African dance. The dance goes way back to ancient times, where it had various uses, ranging from entertainment to healing and its use in religious ceremonies.

One of the oldest traditional dances known to date is the traditional dance done by the San tribe over 30,000 years ago. They used the dance to communicate with the spirit world as well as celebrate significant events. Unfortunately, during the colonial era, many unique dances from various tribes were lost. Thankfully, what remained of their traditional dances slowly evolved with time and became what we know today as Afro dance.

In 2024, more K-pop idols have embraced Afro-dance elements in their choreography, gaining positive responses from audiences and sparking popular dance challenges online. This article will highlight some of the notable K-pop comebacks in 2024 that feature Afro-dance in their performances.

Smart - LE SSERAFIM

In the recently viral song “Smart” by LE SSERAFIM, the choreography includes many aspects of Afro-dance. One of the most notable is Bacardi. Bacardi dance is a form of Afro-dance that focuses on the use of the lower body. Bacardi dance has its origins in South Africa. Within the second, third, and last choruses of Smart, we see that Bacardi dance is used. Something interesting that makes Bacardi dance different from its sister form of dance, twerking, is the use of the legs more than the back.

Bacardi Dance

An artist that often uses Bacardi in her choreographies is Tyla. Tyla is an artist from South Africa and is mostly known for her choreographies of her songs “Water” and "Jump." Tyla was a small artist from South Africa, and her parents initially didn’t want her to pursue a music career. Begging her parents, she was given one last chance to make it big in the music industry. Miraculously, overnight Tylas' recently released song “Water” had gone viral on TikTok.

Another notable mention is choreographer Latrice Kabamba. Latrice is a choreographer signed under the Jam Republic and is most well known for her appearance on Street Woman Fighter 2, as well as her affiliation with the world-famous Royal Family Dance Crew. In many (if not all) of her choreographies, we see the use of Afro Dance. In her choreography of “Too Much,” we see Bacardi dance being used.

SPELL - SEVENTEEN

Spell, the single, hails from the K-pop group SEVENTEEN's comeback release, 17 IS RIGHT HERE, which was released on April 29, 2024. The Amapiano genre is represented by the song's hypnotic tones and upbeat drumbeat rhythms.

Additionally, it incorporates the Afro-dance style "Dakiwe," which originated in South Africa. The music video for "Spell" highlights SEVENTEEN's ability to express intense emotions, blending K-pop and Afro-dance elements seamlessly.

Sticky - KISS OF LIFE

"Sticky" by KISS OF LIFE, released on July 1, 2024, as part of their digital album, radiates the vibrant energy of summer. The choreography prominently incorporates Afro-dance elements, characterized by grounded movements, rhythmic isolations, and fluid transitions that celebrate the expressive and communal nature of the style. These Afro-inspired motions, combined with hip-centric grooves, bring a playful yet powerful dynamic to the performance.

SPOT! - ZICO (ft. JENNIE)

SPOT! is the 11th digital single by Zico. It was released on April 26, 2024, and features Jennie from Blackpink through KOZ Entertainment. The African dance (Afro dance) originated in South Africa and "Dakiwe" was incorporated into the choreography for this song, matching the beats of the choreography and giving the song's rhythm very good vibes.

WAIT - HYOLYN

HYOLYN's "Wait" was released on July 12, 2024, as a vibrant summer single. The choreography opens with a captivating Afro-dance-inspired sequence, starting with a waist wind and hip roll, accompanied by arms reaching to one side. In HYOLYN's choreography for "Wait," Afro-dance elements are prominently featured, particularly through the incorporation of expressive upper-body grooves and waist and hip isolations. The signature move of the choreography centers around fluid, circular hip motions combined with rhythmic arm movements, creating a seamless blend of grace and power.