Picture by Afriky Lolo

History of Twerk

Twerking is a way of moving the hips, back and pelvis in various positions to create impressive booty shaking dance moves. Although twerking seems fairly new and modern, it actually has been part of of the black culture for over many decades.

African Roots

Twerking has origins in traditional African dance forms. Many West African dances, such as Mapouka "the dance of the behind" from the Ivory Coast, involve similar hip movements. These dances are often performed during celebrations and are considered a form of expression and storytelling.

Caribbean Influence

The African diaspora brought these dance forms to the Caribbean, where they evolved and integrated with local traditions. Dance styles like Dancehall and Soca prominently featuring twerk-like movements.

New Orleans Bounce

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, twerking gained popularity in the United States, particularly in the New Orleans' Bounce music scene where the word was used for the first time in DJ Jubilee's song "Stop, Pause, Do the Jubilee All". Bounce music, characterized by its upbeat tempo and call-and-response lyrics, often include twerking as a central dance move.

Mainstream Popularity

In 2000, Destiny's Child used the word in their song "Jumpin, Jumpin", and afterwards Beyoncé often twerked in her music videos which contributed to the dance's popularity. In the 2010s twerking entered mainstream culture, largely due to its adoption by popular artists and its spread on social media.

Dance Classs

Twerking has become an international form of dance, with professional dance classes offered in studios across the world. The dance has even been formalized into competitive events, most notably the annual International Twerk Championship held in Madrid, Spain. These events draw participants and audiences from around the globe, showcasing the best talent in twerking and highlighting its universal appeal and versality as a dance form.