‘Fitness Around the World’ Brings Cultural Values Home
By Kate Lehmkuhler

“Are you ready to move your body?”

With that one sentence, Kukuwa’s Dance Workout sprang to life on the basketball courts of McComas Gym on Friday April 7th at 3:00 p.m. One hundred and twenty-five Blacksburg bodies, both faculty and students, male and female, of all different backgrounds, began to attempt the foreign dance moves Kukuwa exhibited with such ease.

Immediately, Kukuwa began to work not only the stage provided for her but the floor as well. Donned in a red workout outfit and constantly motivating over her headset, she was captivating. Behind her sat her three drummers – Greg, Joe, and Esi, who provided an upbeat and exotic soundtrack for the workout. She introduced a constant flow of fresh and exciting moves to her audience, and set off encouraging individuals and simultaneously the entire group while they practiced. She would become so involved within the group of “Shake your boombsey!” shirts that, at times, she was lost to those on the outside watching. However, within moments she would be located with her permanent smile and energetic presence. “I think that when God created me, I think and I always say he gave me a burst of energy that is a little bit more than the norm, and I think that is how I manage …” Kukuwa said. “Even at schools, George Washington University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, all these schools I go to I think I wear the students out with even within one-hour classes.”

Not only did Kukuwa physically challenge her attendees, she infused the class with her passion and culture. “Everything means something, from the moves to the music to the sounds she makes. She really tries to unify everyone through dance,” said the event planner and Fitness Coordinator for VT Recreational Sports Ali Arner, “She brings such a different exposure that you don’t really look for every day.” Kukuwa encouraged everyone to immerse themselves as much as possible, demanding they move their heads and imitate her movements completely. She further highlighted her African culture with references such as always placing the right hand on top because it is regarded as the “respected hand.”

Throughout the first thirty minutes a few exhausted participants were lost during water breaks, but Kukuwa continued to encourage everyone with her joy and genuine enthusiasm. She warned that the group had only gotten through the warm up, and would now begin the real workout. The remaining group was split into two large lines with a partner across from them to begin an African line dance, quite different from typical American line dances. She would perform a dance move, and the lines would then circle the gym executing the move. This required a large amount of stamina, and Kukuwa announced that no one was allowed to leave her lines. It wasn’t necessary to enforce, however, as all the passing participants had large smiles on their purple faces and were sincerely enjoying themselves despite the sweat and hard work. Not only did they break out in chants along with Kukuwa, but they began to clap along to the beat as they danced. After an hour and a half Kukuwa had gotten the class so drawn in that she lost track of time and exclaimed that everyone was “saved by the bell!”

For the conclusion of the session Kukuwa chose a handful of winners, along with her assistant Sonia, to receive her fitness DVD “Kirango.” To decide who won, the two women walked around the room watching everyone attempt the moves. Those who put forth the most effort or mastered the technique were deemed the winners. Virginia Tech also gave out Student Crew cards as door prizes to a few randomly chosen participants, aside from the razors, Subway sub coupons, and Fitness Around the World shirts every attendee received.

The event was scheduled as part of the University’s annual International Week, beginning April 7th and including such events as a street fair, a culinary contest, a film festival, concerts, and more. “We have done the class during both the fall and the spring in past years, and we always see different results,” said Arner. “This year we decided to do it as part of International Week because this event helps bring diversity to the University. This workout is very much so about her culture.” The class will continue to be taught here by Anna Sterling, certified by Kukuwa as an instructor, on Monday and Thursday nights at McComas.

Kukuwa comes from Ghana West Africa, where she began dancing at the age of three. From her home there she traveled to Paris to study linguistics, and then came to the United States. Upon arriving she became certified, with over twenty years of dance experience, and started her Kukuwa Dance Workout classes because “… I saw people doing very boring movement with repetitive music and I was very turned off. I thought ‘is this what they call exercise here? This is horrible!’ I was not too impressed, so I was like ‘can I show you guys a very neat way of working out?’” She now teaches multiple dance classes including African dance at George Mason University, runs the Gye Nyame African Cultural Dance Company, runs her Kukuwa Dance Workout company, and is a mother and a wife. “I have convinced myself that I am a woman that can do ten things at one time, so to speak,” she said.

When asked to describe her workout, Kukuwa said “My workout is very exciting, and it’s a lot of fun. It brings the best out in you. In other words, when you’re doing it you’re smiling the whole time. No matter what mood you’re in you’re going to snap out of it because of the music, the enthusiasm, the yelling, the excitement about the whole class makes you snap out of the mood you’re in if it’s negative. It also gives you the results you’re looking for – the sweat, the weight loss, the firm, toned muscle sculpt. It’s all within the total body workout because of the African dance. I would say my workout is fun, exhilarating, and a total body workout.”

Lastly, she warned that after her workout participants should “Always make sure to take a shower after you’re done and don’t forget to sleep like a baby!”