Almost every chart-topping Kenyan song released in the past decade has come with a signature dance style. Dance choreography has evolved just as rapidly, and many young Kenyans have built businesses around the art of movement. One of them is Audrey Mukwanja, who goes by the stage name Amuna.
Eight years ago, Audrey was involved in the dance ministry at Citam Thika while also teaching his fellow students at the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) how to dance. Although he was studying urban design, he had just completed an internship, which made him realise that the profession was not the career he was cut out for.
Amuna started by charging Sh50 per person for dance lessons. Soon, students from other universities began travelling to TUK just to attend his classes. As the numbers grew, young professionals also wanted to join, but they could not access the classes because they were held within the university.
In 2019, he decided to move his classes to Nairobi’s Central Business District, where he partnered with Premier Fitness Centre. He named them Artika Dance Studios.
He specialised in Afro dance, teaching popular African dance styles such as Azonto from Ghana, Amapiano from South Africa, Ndombolo from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others.
“I also opened another class at Rosslyn Riviera Mall on Limuru Road to cater to clients coming from Ruaka. Then a friend of mine called Chiluba opened a studio in 2024, so I moved one of my classes to Westlands. They could only give me time slots on days when they didn't run their own classes. In Westlands, I use the studio on Saturdays. Right now, the main market for the dance class industry is working professionals, so it's an after-work activity,” says Amuna, who opened the first dedicated Artika Dance Studios at Adlife Plaza in Kilimani, Nairobi, in 2022.
Anybody who can walk, can dance
Modern Afro dance is hugely popular. Amuna says that in Kenya, the most widely learnt dance styles today are Amapiano, Odi and dancehall.
“Right now, most of our clients are women. The female dancehall style, particularly waist whining, started gaining popularity last year. Twerk classes are also springing up everywhere,” says Amuna.
Amuna says he entered the industry at a time when dance classes outside salsa and kizomba were virtually nonexistent. But as the fitness movement has grown, more people have embraced dance as a form of exercise.
“Anybody who can walk can dance. Over my eight years of teaching, I've worked with people who had absolutely no sense of rhythm. There was one Kenyan student who couldn't keep time at all. I had to start by teaching her how to clap to the beat. Once she mastered that, I realised anyone can learn to dance. You just have to be passionate,” he says.
He now teaches dance full-time, and his studio accommodates around 60 to 70 students.
Walk-in clients pay Sh1,500 per session, while those who book in advance are charged Sh1,200.
“But many also opt for the monthly package at Sh8,000,” he says. “The three-month package costs Sh18,000.”
She charges Sh2,000 per session
Antonate Aiko is a well-known Kenyan professional dancer, creative director and choreographer based in Nairobi. She has built a strong reputation in the local entertainment scene through her high-energy performances, distinct fashion sense and artistic direction.
She danced extensively throughout high school and, after graduating, joined a dance company called Art Zone Entertainment to pursue dance professionally.
“I had to master a variety of dance styles, from ballet and hip hop to contemporary, to understand dance on a deeper level. The company required dancers to learn different styles because we worked on projects that demanded different forms of dance,” says Aiko.
A professional dancer since 2016, Aiko specialises in African contemporary and street dance and is increasingly being booked for private lessons.
“Most of the time, my clients are beginners who want to improve their dancing skills or simply ‘vibe’. Some want to dance confidently at clubs or events such as weddings,” she says. “Most amateur dancers ask me to teach them the basic steps of Afro dance, African contemporary, Amapiano and Kenya's Odi dance. The majority are women, while the rest are young dancers aged between 18 and 25.”
Aiko says women also enjoy learning sensual dance styles.
She charges Sh2,000 per session, with each lesson lasting up to 90 minutes.
Dance has opened many career opportunities for her, including working as a creative director with artistes such as Watendawili, Okello Max and Fena Gitu.
“One of my biggest milestones has been contributing to conversations about elevating Kenyan dance and putting it on the map. Mentoring younger dancers who want to pursue dance professionally has also been incredibly rewarding. Getting the opportunity to perform on some of Kenya's biggest stages is something I never imagined would happen so early in my career.”
