Hey Dancers! This week I tried an African inspired fitness class. Keep scrolling to read my thoughts!
Basics
Class: ‘Froca Fitness (African and Caribbean dance fitness)
Studio: The Dance Complex
Teacher: Sylver Rochelin Randrianantenaina (@frocafitness)
Time: 1 hour
Category: Adults and Teens 16+
Cost (Single Class): $16.00
Background: ‘Froca was created by Sylver, and draws on movements rooted in traditional and contemporary African and Caribbean music and dances, celebrating the rhythms of Madagascar, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Jamaica, and more (Sylver Rochelin R., frocafitness.com).
OOTD
I wore my trusty sneakers, a comfortable top and leggings, and made sure to have my hair up because I knew I’d be breaking a sweat! If you have long hair, I recommend having it off your neck before class starts, because you won’t want to waste time later.
All the dancers were dressed in similarly stretchy and comfortable tops and bottoms of all colors, and though most of them wore sneakers a few danced barefoot, and I even saw a pair of jazz shoes, so choose what’s most comfortable for you.
Atmosphere & Energy
There was a strong feeling of community in the class, and energy levels were high all throughout!
Many dancers held conversations with others before class and brought friends to dance, so that with 35 dancers in the room there was a lot of excited chatting before we began. Most of the dancers were women, but dancers of all backgrounds were welcome, and no one was made to feel uncomfortable, even if they were new to the class.
The class started simply when Sylver turned on the music for the first song, and from then on it was nonstop movement for the next hour (with a 5-minute cool down at the end)! After a song would end, everyone would clap, cheer, and reset, and then we would jump straight into the next song.
Though he didn’t speak much (the music was too loud), Sylver introduced the choreography in real-time through his own movements, so dancers followed along, looking out for his hand signals to indicate the direction of the dance. Sylver’s smile and energy were infectious, and the fast and strong beats of the music were invigorating!
Dance Difficulty
‘Froca fitness focused less on accuracy, flexibility, and strength, and more on quick learning, coordination, and stamina.
Sylver didn’t really teach steps, rather he guided dancers through nonstop celebration of movement by demonstrating in real-time. I will say the choreography within each song does tend to repeat itself (sort of like Zumba fitness, if you’ve tried it), so there are plenty of opportunities to get the hang of things.
That may make some dancers nervous, but it was encouraging to see that every dancer focused on themselves. There was no critiquing or judgment, just a wholehearted intention to have fun and break a sweat!
If you feel awkward not picking up on steps right away, or if you prefer to be directly taught dances, at first without music, this may not be the class for you. However, if you are open to celebrating movement in a judgment-free and energizing environment, this may be a great way to move beyond your comfort zone.
Top Tips
If you tend to prefer dancing in the way back corner of the room for your first class, in this class I suggest you dance a row or two up, and not on the edge of the row. That’s because some of the dances change directions, so that the side and back rows become the front row. It’s only momentary, but if you’re unsure of the steps and prefer not to have to twist your head behind you to see what’s happening, stick to the row before last.
Also, there are no organized water breaks, but you can step away at any time. If you need to rehydrate, I suggest heading to your water only after the first three dances. Though all of the songs are fast paced, the first three felt most high in energy, and they are essentially your warmup, so I recommend getting the most out of them before taking a break.
Awkward
Since I danced in the last row, I found it difficult to see the instructor, and to see myself in the mirrors at the front of the room. At first, I felt really uncomfortable not being able to assess my movements or compare them to the teacher’s.
But after a while, I just began relying on someone in front of me to follow along, and I found it freeing not to have the ability to scrutinize myself while moving my body in new ways. It allowed me to let go a bit from self-judgment, and instead forced me to focus on how the movements felt, and the fact that I was having fun!
Awesome
There were several moments during the dances when Sylver parted the studio in half and led the two groups to dance facing each other. Seeing all of the smiling faces on those passionate dancers before me felt powerful, and reminded me of the sense of community that dance can cultivate 😊
Final Thoughts
If you are a speedy learner looking to experience energizing African and Caribbean rhythms, or even a less experienced dancer prepared to move freely and work up a sweat – this is a great class for you!
I really enjoyed the high spirits and focus on energy over accuracy, so I can certainly see myself returning to this class.
Have you ever tried ‘Froca fitness, or something similar? Do you want to suggest a dance for me to try next? Let me know in the comments!
Want to see more images and videos of my dance journey? Follow me on Instagram @dancediaries0
Come back every Monday at noon (EST) to find out which dance I try next! See you then dancers 🙂
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