01 January 2012

GHANA'S AZONTO DANCE CRAZE




Azonto has become one dance that has gained worldwide prominence within the shortest timeframe. Throughout the days of Shuperu, Mapuka and Gbeeohe among others, one dance that has the prospects of staying through the years is the Azonto dance - the dance that has flexible moves and is gradually becoming a craze amongst children, parents and the youth especially.

The biggest phenomenon in Ghana in 2011, Azonto, continues to buzz across the country and across the globe via the World Wide Web. With an entry into Wikipedia and millions of views on YouTube, the craze is spreading like wild fire.

The dance involves movement of most of the joints in the body in a rhythmic fashion taking very few steps. Just like most African dances, knee bending and hip movements are essentials to dancing it. Movements in the dance include washing, driving, boxing, making-up, you name them.

The exact origin of the dance is from Greater Accra in areas like Bukom, Chorkor, James Town, and most of the coastal areas in Ghana. However, its popularity, both on the local and international platforms has been propagated by a new wave of entertainment talents emerging in the Greater Accra City.

Arguably the dance was made very popular by Ghanaian football star AsamoahGyan in his goal celebrations for Ghana. Azonto has been further commercialized with its inclusion in music lyrics and music video clips.

Azonto became more popular when young Ghanaian musicians including Castro, R2bees, Stay Jay, Sarkodie, 4X4, among others made songs based on the rhythm of the dance.

Well, interesting enough according to experienced Azonto teachers, when taught effectively, Azonto can be learned within five minutes.

The ‘azonto’ dance goes with any song, even gospel, hence the name Christozonto. So you’ll have no excuse not celebrating the Christmas to the fullest because in any case, azonto tutorials are even on the internet, where u can try your hands on.