’Wine It Up!
Our intrepid editor tried the hip-twisting fun that is the Brukwine dance fitness craze
BY JASMINE GRANTTHE BREAKDOWN
The dancehall-influenced car-
dio class was started in 2012
by professional dancers
Autavia Bailey and Tamara
Bradshaw (both have worked
with Sean Paul, Rihanna and
Missy Elliott). The two added
pumps to the mix while
teaching a dancehall ses-
sion in Taiwan and then put
the new class on the roster
at their headquarters in
New York City. The concept
quickly caught on, and now
their Brukwine franchise has
expanded to fitness centers
in Philadelphia, Houston and
Long Island, New York. But
don’t be fooled by the booty
shorts and twerking. The
routine is hard work. “We’ve
had people who burn up to
1,100 calories,” says Bailey.
“We put a lot of thought
into our moves and how we
structure our class so that
it’s an effective workout.”
THE EXPERIENCE
I felt a sense of community
when I arrived at Bailey and
Bradshaw’s Midtown
Manhattan location. My
classmates were a diverse
bunch of #brukwinenation
diehards and rookies like me,
but we instantly bonded
during the high-intensity
hour. The instructors encour-
age students to bring heels,
but I played it safe with mytrusty sneakers. First there is
a warm-up and stretch to a
playlist of reggae favorites.
We learned a sexy number
that required us to “Bruk’ it
down” to the floor. All the
moves are connected to the
core, and those deep-squat
twerks will make your thighs
feelthe burn. As the room tem-
perature increased, so did
our sweat levels. “We want
that intensity,” says Brad-
shaw. “The heat also helps
your muscles.”
THE VERDICT
You may be sore the next
day, but the calories burned
and the “Brukwiner” fellow-
ship are well worth it. I’m
already plotting my return—
this time with heels in hand!Jasmine Grant is ESSENCE’s
associate lifestyle editor.
She resides in Brooklyn, loves
trap music and is always ready
for an adventure.WHAT TO KNOW
- GET THERE EARLY.
The classes fill up quickly. - BRING STURDY HEELS.
No mules or thin straps,
ladies. - PLAN TO SWEAT.
Stay hydrated and wear
clothes that breathe.
BLACK GIRL APPROVED(^) B
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A packed Brukwine
class in formation.
A Brukwiner
gets into the
rhythm in New
York City.
H
itting the gym can feel like a chore, but what if your work-
out felt like pure joy? My search for something different
led me right to Brukwine, the Caribbean-inspired dance
workout that may be popping up at studios near you.
PH
OT
OS
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OU
RT
ES
Y^
OF
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KW
IN
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ESSENCE.COM I 149 I SEPTEMBER 2019