Find a teacher. The ideal teacher is patient, never too harsh when correcting mistakes and encourages you to become a better dancer. Ask people who enjoy African dance if they will teach you or know someone who can. Look for notices from teachers accepting students in the newspaper, online or on bulletin boards. Call local dance schools and inquire about instructors who take on private students. Call fitness centers and ask if they offer African dance instruction. Attend different classes and become a regular at the one you enjoy the most. Buy African dance DVDs if classes are not an option or you prefer to learn at home.
Improve your overall fitness. African dance choreography can include jumps, kicks, leaps and other powerful moves that require strength and agility. African dancing will build these physical qualities in practitioners over time, but being in good shape when you start African dancing will help you master the moves with more ease and less pain. Try calisthenics to build strength without over-building muscles and yoga or some other form of deep stretching to gain flexibility.
Practice African dancing often. Play African music and absorb the rhythms. Feel how your body responds to the music and follow its lead. Run through any routines learned from a teacher, class or DVD. Make up your own choreography and perform it to a song you enjoy. Include improvisation time in your practice. Improv performance is an important part of African dancing. Experiment with spontaneous movements, letting your personality and the music guide you. Record your practice and review the footage to see what areas in your form or technique need improvement.
Boost your dance confidence. African dance is a bold art form that is not for the meek. Some of the movements can feel awkward to those new to it, leading to feelings of clumsiness when performing. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about your dancing. Attend any African dance exhibitions you can. Turn to video websites and find African dance clips. Study the dancers' facial expressions and energy level and imagine yourself performing with the same intensity and attitude. Carry this attitude into your practice. Dance freely and energetically the next time you dance with others. Be proud to show off any movements you've worked hard to master.