Afro Hiit with sophiann mahalia

Starting August 1st, join Sophiann Mahalia for Afro HIIT- a new class at UMA, Sundays from 2:00-3:00. Afro HIIT is a dance infused workout class, combining high intensity exercises with African influenced dance movement. The goal? Move and strengthen your body while having fun and learning about African culture. She comments on Afro HIIT’s origins “I wanted people to have fun working out. I know over quarantine that was a struggle for me- I didn’t want to work out. But once I created it, I was like- this is a fun way to keep your body going without even realizing you’re working out!”

Sophiann describes this class as a perfect entryway for those looking to start learning African dance forms, she comments:  “I wanted a class that had African in it but wasn't strictly an African dance class. I know sometimes when people hear straight African dance they can get nervous or think they can’t do it. I want to be in an area that everyone is comfortable with.” Sophiann began studying African dance forms at the age of 9 and has been deeply immersed in the styles and culture since then. She brings a love and care for African dance to her Afro HIIT class. She says you can expect to “get more into African Culture. I do a lot of whining, but I also give new movements that you might not have seen before and I give students the names of the movement and let them know that it comes from Umfundalai or somewhere else. So you're working out but you're also gaining knowledge and cultural experience from the class.” She hopes that students will be able to take what they learn in Afro HIIT and “transfer over to more African infused dance classes and dance hall classes.” 

Sophiann hopes that people leave the class wanting more and surprised that the hour went by so fast.

You can sign up for class through our schedule page! $15 drop ins. Free for members. 

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