...Diski Dancing?

Wondering about the World Cup Waltz? We investigate the 2010 soccer dance

What's the deal with... diski dancing?

Dance stands at the forefront of artistic expression in South Africa. Rhythm is a feature inherent in most Africans, and we embrace ours. The freedom of movement and physical beauty that dance offers acts as a perfect signifier to the spirit that fills our country.  So what happens when this love of dance and technical expertise come together with our passion for soccer and the 2010 World Cup?

In combining the art of movement with our love of the beautiful game, the end result was sure to be an amalgamation of if not epic, then at least immensely fun proportions.

Introducing, The Diski Dance.

Initially conceptualized in 2009 by South African Tourism to highlight (to foreigners) South Africa’s spirited style of Football, and indeed the passion of our nation - the dance has become as typically South African as a braai or the vuvuzela.

The Diski Dance is a flamboyant series of movements, styled to imitate our unique, proudly South African style of soccer – in township lingo, known as Diski. This soccer style, identifiable by the rhythmic and often showy moves used to negotiate the movement of the ball, was already in many ways a dance. So the progression was really rather obvious. 

All it took was a little bit of innovation and a dash of creative insight to turn soccer movements into the latest dance craze to firmly establish itself into our performance-obsessed country.

An ideal introduction into the way we like our football – entertaining and energetic, the Diski Dance is deceptively easy to learn. Get into step with the spirit of 2010 and see how it’s done with the video below – then follow this link for a guide on how to become a Diski Dancing Master. Or check out the diski dance as done by bad dancer Matt Harding.

By John Scharges

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