How to Whine Dance (And the Health Benefits of Moving Your Waist)

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Plus, learn the cultural significance of this Caribbean dance form
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Whining is a popular dance form in Africa and the Caribbean that stretches all around the world. Its popularity has expanded to the UK, Canada, the United States, and even Japan. If you want to whine your waist, you will need to move your waist in circles while keeping the rest of your body still. In this article, we’ll show you how to do just that (along with expert advice from dance instructor Yolanda Thomas), plus dive into the rich tradition and culture of whining. Let’s get moving!

How do you learn to whine dance?

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and roll your waist in a circular motion (clockwise or counterclockwise). As you circle your waist, start to bend and straighten your knees. Next, add motion and variety by leaning front to back and side to side. Keep your back straight and your upper body fairly still.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Whine Your Waist

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  1. To start whining, stand on a flat surface. Hold your feet about shoulder-length apart. Keep your feet flat on the ground to maintain your balance. [1]
  2. To start getting the feel of whining, simply roll your waist in a circle. Do not try to incorporate too much movement. Just get used to the feel of moving your waist while keeping the rest of your body still. [2]
    • Go as slowly as you need to go to pick up on the movement. It can take awhile to get used to moving your waist while keeping your shoulders and torso in place.
    • Keep circling your hips slowly until you feel confident in the motion. A great way to gain confidence, according to hip-hop dance instructor Yolanda Thomas, is by recording yourself. “On video, you don't even notice a mistake if your recovery is quick, which is a present moment awareness,” she says.
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  3. Once you have a feel for the basic motion, you can lower your body down slightly. Bend your knees just a bit so your waist sinks down toward the floor. Go as low as you feel comfortable. Then, move your body back up by un-bending your knees. Keep circling your waist the entire time. [3]
  4. Whining usually adds a variety of motion to the circling move. After you've mastered the basics of moving up and down while whining, move to the side. Shift your torso slightly to the left, lowering your knee as you shift your weight to the left side. Then, return to the starting position and repeat on the other side. [4]
    • This move is a variation on whining. You can add it to a routine, but you can also simply whine with minimal movement.
  5. Whining is all in your waist, hips, and legs. As you whine, be aware of your upper body. Keep everything above your waist fairly still—it helps to be conscious of your back and to keep it straight and elongated. [5]
  6. As you get comfortable moving your waist in a circle, try to follow a whining pattern. Move your hips forward, to the side, backward, and then to the other side. Do this while counting, "One... two... three... four…" in your head. This will help you maintain rhythm while you whine. [6]
    • Whine faster as the tempo (speed of the beat) increases and slow down as it decreases. Thomas advises “listening to the lyrics of the song or the changes in the music to get ideas for free-styling” once you get comfortable whining.
  7. As you get comfortable whining, try adding some variation. You can dance in front of someone while whining, leaning your behind back slightly. Slow whining includes dancing very slowly to exaggerate the movements of your hips.
    • Leaning to one side and then another while whining can also add some variation.
  8. Regular stretching can help increase your range of motion. Gentle stretches before and after dancing will improve your whining skills as you'll be more flexible. Thomas notes, “The main thing for [dancers] is calves—stretching calves and stretching quads.”
    • For one stretch, bend your right knee at a 90 degree angle, keeping your right foot flat on the floor. Bend your left leg back behind you, parallel to your other leg and with your left foot stretching behind you. Hold for 30 seconds and then switch the positions of your legs. [7]
    • Lie on your back with your knees bent at 90 degree angles. Bend your right leg in front of you while lifting your hips until you form a perpendicular angle with your right leg. Move your right leg towards the ceiling. Then, lower your leg slightly. Do 10 repetitions and then switch legs.
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Section 2 of 3:

The Cultural Significance of Whining

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  1. Whining is rooted in African spirituality and dance. The circular movements hold deep symbolism, which stem from the shape of a circle itself—representing unity, community, and spirituality. [8]
    • Some people associate whining with twerking , and although they both stem from African traditions, twerking has become a sexualized dance in today’s society. Twerking involves movements that follow more of an up and down pattern, while whining follows circular motions. [9]
    • Many argue that whining should be thought of as a separate dance from twerking, because whining is a cultural part of the Caribbean and Africa.
    • Some Westerners view whining as vulgar because of the pelvic gyration. However, this may be rooted in historical attempts to erase African and Black culture or the Western aesthetic preference for thin waists and women (many African and Caribbean cultures celebrate curves and bigger waists).
Section 3 of 3:

Is whining a good workout?

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  1. If you work a desk job or aren’t generally very active, you probably don’t move and stretch your hip region a whole lot. Whining and other dance workouts are a great way to engage this region and help you become more aware and comfortable in your body. [10] Whining also:
    • Burns calories
    • Increases your endurance
    • Improves your whole-body coordination
    • Improves your overall mobility
    • Did you know? Good hip mobility can help with your balance, reduce your risk of injury, help you recover from injuries more easily, and promote overall ease of movement. [11]
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Stretches and Exercises for Whining Your Waist

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    Practice it while looking in a mirror. If it looks good, then you have it right.
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      • Most of all, have fun. This is a dance that is done at parties and other fun festivities, so just have a good time.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/dlc0QfBY7a4?si=RZI7aaEAcpWGW1yv&t=14
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/dlc0QfBY7a4?si=RZI7aaEAcpWGW1yv&t=14
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/dlc0QfBY7a4?si=xlyvKWQMU_kU1RqM&t=35
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/dlc0QfBY7a4?si=p-avtxv9Kpd65w-q&t=48
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/xzC6NSFyh_g?si=TeqcTo4z1_DXRK0O&t=132
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/dlc0QfBY7a4?si=HB5jUaprbc-mDxLS&t=68
      7. ↑ http://www.self.com/gallery/essential-stretches-slideshow
      8. ↑ https://tabankadance.com/the-circle-and-wining-in-the-caribbean-and-african-diaspora-an-embodied-exploration/
      9. ↑ https://blackfeminisms.com/dance/
      1. ↑ https://www.caribbeanlife.com/whine-your-way-to-fitness/
      2. ↑ https://blog.nasm.org/tips-for-hip-mobility-exercises-for-flexibility-performance

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Whining is a dance form popular in Africa and the Caribbean that involves moving your waist while keeping your body still. To start whining your waist, stand with your feet about shoulder length apart and slowly start to roll your waist in a circle. Try to make a small circle moving with just your waist while keeping the rest of your body still. Once you feel comfortable with the motion, try lowering your body down slightly by bending your knees as you continue to roll your waist. Then, move your body back up by unbending your knees. When you’ve got the hang of it, try varying the speed and tempo of your movements. For tips about how to add other movements to your whine, keep reading!

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