Jerusalema Dance Challenge Heritage Day

Photo: YouTube / MasterKG

Watch: Doing the Jerusalema Challenge? Here’s an easy five-step guide

President Ramaphosa has asked South Africans to complete the Jerusalema Dance Challenge on Heritage Day – here’s your step-by-step guide.

Jerusalema Dance Challenge Heritage Day

Photo: YouTube / MasterKG

After a traumatic six-month battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, we can take Heritage Day as a time to reflect. For some, it will be a case of counting our blessings. For others, there is cause for optimism – and also, reasons for a celebration. That’s why the Jerusalema Challenge will prove very popular on Thursday.

Cyril Ramapohosa sets out a Heritage Day challenge

Last week, during his address to the nation, President Ramaphosa suggested South Africans should perform the Jerusalema dance. The song which sparked the phenomenon has gone global in an enormous sense and was even used by Cristiano Ronaldo on a recent Instagram post. South African DJ Master KG has hit the big time with this track.

“I urge everyone to use this public holiday as family time, to reflect on the difficult journey we have all travelled, to remember those who have lost their lives, and to quietly rejoice in the remarkable and diverse heritage of our nation.”

“And there can be no better celebration of our South African-ness than joining the global phenomenon that is the Jerusalema dance challenge. So I urge all of you to take up this challenge on Heritage Day and show the world what we are capable of.”

Cyril Ramaphosa

Already on Thursday, there have been some incredible performances of the Jerusalema Challenge:

How to do the Jersualema dance in five steps

Step 1

Put your left foot in front of your right foot and step four times, with a swinging motion coming from the hips. Your feet should be tapping the ground.

Step 2

Then switch to your right foot in front of your left foot, and repeat the four-tap motion.

Step 3

The comes something of a shuffle: While remaining on the spot, replicate a walking motion by putting one foot in front of the other, taking four ‘steps’ in total.

Step 4

You’re then required to ‘bounce’ forward, walk forward four steps, then walk backwards four steps. Meanwhile, your upper-body can ‘freestyle’ as the beat goes on.

Step 5

After completing the previous stage, you then turn to your left and walk backwards four steps, incorporating the same moves as before. After taking these four steps, you’re required to ‘shake’ on the spot, before the whole process starts again

Don’t worry, we have a video…

Watch the step-by-step guide for the Jerusalema Challenge here