Mama Africa
Choreographer: Shanthie De Mel , Melbourne, Australia, June 2010
Step Sheet
For split floors, see “Makeba” Beginner line dance to the same music.
‘Mama Africa’ – the late Miriam Makeba, in 1957, sang ‘Pata Pata’ in Xhosa, the ‘click’ language. ‘Pata Pata’
means ‘touch touch’. Pata Pata the dance, originated in Johannesburgh, & was done seated. There is
touching & patting the ground, & one’s body, in its various dance forms. The steps & hand movements in this
line dance have been adapted from the many popular versions of the South African Pata Pata dance.
(1-8) WALK, WALK, BACK, HITCH- CLAP X3, SIDE, RETURN
1&2& Turning 1/4 right walk fwd R, L, turning 1/2 left step back on R, hitch L clapping hands (9:00)
3&4& Walk fwd L, R, turning 1/2 right step back on L, hitch R clapping hands (3:00)
5&6& Walk fwd R, L, turning 1/2 left step back on R, hitch L clapping hands (9:00)
7, 8 Turning 1/4 right take big step on L to left side, drag R together (12:00)
(9-16) PADDLE RIGHT FULL CIRCLE, SIDE, RETURN (slightly bend knees & keep feet together on turns)
(Wave L hand over head & click fingers at ‘pivot’. R hand on hip, sway & look over R shoulder.
1&2& Step fwd L, pivot 1/8 right on R, step fwd L, pivot 1/8 right on R (3:00)
3&4& Step fwd L, pivot 1/8 right on R, step fwd L, pivot 1/8 right on R (6:00)
5&6& Step fwd L, pivot 1/8 right on R, step fwd L, pivot 1/8 right on R (9:00)
7, 8 Turning 1/4 right rock L to left side, return R (12:00)
(17-24) BRONCO, ( RIGHT & LEFT REPEAT), SIDE, RETURN
(Clasp hands & raise them out to the side of, & with the knee lift. Hands to waist for ‘touch’)
1&2& Lift L knee across body, touch L to left side, lift L knee across body, step L down
3&4& Lift R knee across body, touch R toe to right side, lift R knee across body, step R down
5&6& Lift L knee across body, touch L to left side, lift L knee across body, step L down
7, 8 Rock R to right side, return L (12:00)
(25-32) OUT, OUT, IN, IN X2, SHIMMY RIGHT, TOUCH, SHIMMY LEFT, STOMP
(Raise fists over head for ‘out- out’. Bring to waist for ‘in- in’)
1&2& Step R fwd out to right side, step L fwd out to left side, step R back in, step L back in
3&4& Step R fwd out to right side, step L fwd out to left side, step R back in, step L back in
5, 6 Step R to right side shaking shoulders, touch L together clapping hands
7, 8 Step L to left side shaking shoulders, stomp R together clapping hands (12:00)
(33-40) FWD, CLAP X4, BACK, CLICK X2, BACK, BACK
(Move fwd bending at the waist & clap at knee level. Straighten going back & clicking fingers)
1&2& Step L fwd, clap hands, step R fwd, clap hands,
3&4& Step L fwd, clap hands, step R fwd, clap hands
5&6& Step L back, click fingers, step R back, click fingers
7, 8 Step L back, step R back (12:00)
(41-48) SIDE, TOGETHER SIDE, HOOK X2, PADDLE, PADDLE, SIDE, HOLD
(Swing arms to moving side with every side move. Click fingers on ‘hook’)
1&2& Step L to left side, close R to L, step L to left side, hook R behind L
3&4& Step R to right side, close L to R, step R to right side, hook L behind R
5&6& Turning 1/4 right step fwd L, pivot, turning 1/4 right step fwd L, pivot
7, 8 Step L to left side, hold. (6:00)
Translating…
Music
About the Choreographer
Shanthie De Mel , Melbourne, Australia, June 2010
Shanthie De Mel is a talented dancer based in Melbourne, Australia, known for her vibrant performances and creative choreography. With five captivating dances showcased in our archive, she continues to inspire audiences and fellow artists alike since June 2010.Can't find the right video?
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