Get Fit with Dance!

If you love dancing and want to get fit, why not combine the two with an exciting workout called booiaka? It’s a fun dance-based exercise that includes intense cardio, designed to firm up your butt, tighten your abs, and tone your waist while burning a lot of calories.

Booiaka, pronounced boo-ya-ka, mixes fitness and dance, a trend that started in Hollywood and has now become popular in Britain. It was created by Italian choreographer Tatiana Tamai and involves a mix of hip-hop, Jamaican, Latin, and African dance styles, all built up step by step as the tempo increases.

You’ll have so much fun that you might not even feel like you’re exercising—it feels more like a night out with friends than a typical fitness class. Booiaka is intense, effective, and energetic, with claims of burning about 700 calories per session. It’s an easy-to-learn routine set to music that doesn’t require any previous dance experience or even a sense of rhythm.

This workout not only tones your body but also helps enhance your memory, endurance, strength, and flexibility thanks to its focus on routine and choreography. Experts say it’s not just about moving your body, but also about uplifting your spirit, offering a feel-good factor that can help fight depression and boost emotional well-being.

Booiaka is also a social activity, giving you a chance to meet new people, make friends, and build confidence. Tatiana Tamai, who started dancing at four and became a successful choreographer and actress, came up with the idea while dancing with friends. She wanted to combine the rhythms and sounds she grew up with in Jamaica, South America, and Italy.

Having hosted the popular Italian TV show Dance Superstar at the age of 14 and worked on live concerts all over the world, Tatiana moved to LA in 2007 to launch booiaka. Her goal of spreading the joy of movement and music worldwide is quickly becoming a reality.