Heading to a party and want to hold your own? Start with the legwork step, then add the Ratomilton and a simple combo. These amapiano dance moves all have step-by-step tutorials listed on Snapchat’s topic pages.
Dance is one part of south african club music, and the moves below are the ones with documented tutorials or challenge listings. To hear what you are dancing to, read about the amapiano log drum. For the setting on a night out, see soweto nightlife.
Legwork step: the best place to begin
The legwork step is the most clearly documented named amapiano move. Snapchat’s amapiano dance tutorial topic page lists a tutorial titled “Learn the Amapiano Legwork Dance Step: A Step-by-Step Tutorial”, with a listed figure of 268K. That is the largest figure among the single-step tutorials in the listings, which makes it a safe first choice.
It suits complete beginners and anyone who wants one move to repeat through a whole track. The name points to the legs as the focus of the move, so keep your upper body relaxed while you learn the leg pattern. The limitation is that a single step is not a routine. On a crowded floor you will want a second move to switch to, and that is where the next two options come in.
Ratomilton: a named step with a guided tutorial
The Ratomilton is a named dance step with its own tutorial. The same how-to-dance-amapiano topic page lists “Learn the Ratomilton Dance Step-by-Step with Ayo!”, with a listed figure of 32K.
It suits dancers who already have the legwork step and want something with a distinct name, so friends know what you mean when you suggest it. Use the tutorial as a guide, and rehearse it slowly before you add speed. The listing does not tie the step to a particular song, so choose any steady amapiano track for practice rather than hunting for one “correct” tune.
A simple combo for linking moves
A combo strings several moves together so you are not repeating a single step. Snapchat lists “Learn This Simple Amapiano Combo With Me | Ayo’s Dance Tutorial”, with a listed figure of 12K. It is the smallest of the three tutorial figures, but it fills a different need.
Choose the combo when you can already do one or two steps cleanly and want to flow between them. Skip it if the individual steps still feel clumsy, because a combo hides weak transitions only until the music speeds up. Learn the single moves first, then use the combo to join them.
Viral amapiano dance challenges
Viral amapiano dances are usually shared as a challenge routine rather than a single named step. The listings on Snapchat’s topic page show three kinds of challenge content.
CRISPDAL’s viral challenge
The page lists “CRISPDAL’s Viral Amapiano Dance Challenge: How to Join the 2024 Trend”, with a listed figure of 77K. It is explicitly framed as a 2024 trend and as a how-to for joining in, so it works as a tutorial and a trend marker at once.
Voltages’ best-of compilation
“Amapiano Dance Challenge: Best of 2024 | Voltages” is listed at 74K. A compilation suits you if you want to see many takes on the same challenge before choosing one to learn. It shows the range of styles, but it is not a lesson.
Comparing 2023 and 2024 styles
A listing titled “The Amapiano Dance Challenge: 2023 vs. 2024 Styles Compared” sits at 6.8K. Its existence suggests challenge styles change from year to year. If you are learning for a party now, learn the most recent version rather than an older one.
Crew clips and TikTok-style tutorials
Not every popular listing teaches a named step. The tutorial topic page lists “Eric’s Crew Pulls Off Epic Parking Lot Dance Move” with 1.1M listed views and no date given. It is a crew performance rather than a lesson, so treat it as inspiration for what a group can do with one move.
The same page lists “How to Learn This Viral TikTok Dance Challenge | Step-by-Step Tutorial”, with a listed figure of 569K. It shows that TikTok challenges are taught through step-by-step tutorials, not only copied by eye. If a challenge catches your attention on TikTok, search for its tutorial and follow the steps rather than pausing the original clip.
Comparing the options
The table sets the documented items side by side. Choose by what you need to do, not by the biggest figure.
| Item | Type | Listed figure | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legwork step | Single-step tutorial | 268K | First move to learn; repeatable through a whole track |
| Ratomilton | Single-step tutorial | 32K | Second move once the legwork step is comfortable |
| Simple combo | Combo tutorial | 12K | Linking moves once single steps are clean |
| CRISPDAL challenge | 2024 challenge how-to | 77K | Learning a current routine to share |
| Voltages best-of | Challenge compilation | 74K | Browsing variations before choosing one |
| Parking-lot crew move | Crew performance | 1.1M listed views | Ideas for group choreography |
| Viral TikTok challenge tutorial | Step-by-step tutorial | 569K | Learning a challenge from TikTok |
Figures are the listings shown on Snapchat’s how-to-dance-amapiano and amapiano dance tutorial topic pages.
How dance challenges spread
A dance challenge spreads when people can copy it easily and share their own version. The listings show the usual ingredients. A challenge gets a named how-to, then compilations of different attempts, then crew clips that push it further. The CRISPDAL how-to, the Voltages compilation and the comparison of 2023 and 2024 styles are all separate pieces of content about the same kind of challenge.
TikTok is a major route for this. The listed tutorial for a viral TikTok dance challenge shows that a challenge generates its own learning material once it has traction. The practical lesson for a learner is to look for the tutorial, not only the viral clip, because the tutorial slows the routine down.
Where the DJ and the beat fit in
Neuroscience research defines dance as synchronizing body movements to rhythmic sound, according to Rockefeller University. In a club, the DJ’s selection sets the rhythm you will be synchronizing with, so hear a track before committing to a step. A challenge tied to one song works best when you know that song well.
The same Rockefeller piece describes learning choreography with different auditory cues, from a metronome beat to a more complex drum beat. A reasonable reading for beginners is to start with a plain pulse, then move to the full track once the steps feel automatic.
A short learning checklist
- Pick one move. Begin with the legwork step and ignore everything else until it feels natural.
- Follow a step-by-step tutorial. Use the listed legwork tutorial and watch it slowly rather than copying the speed of a viral clip.
- Practise against a steady beat. A plain pulse first, then a full amapiano track.
- Add the Ratomilton. Learn it from its own tutorial and alternate it with the legwork step.
- Join moves with the combo. Use the simple combo tutorial to practise transitions.
- Try a current challenge. Pick the most recent version, such as the 2024 how-to, and learn it from its tutorial.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dance challenge the same as a named step?
No. A named step such as the legwork step or the Ratomilton is a single move. A challenge is a shared routine that people copy and post, and it can include several moves.
Do I need to know the song before I learn a move?
It helps. Dance is defined in neuroscience research as synchronizing body movements to rhythmic sound, so knowing the track makes it easier to land each step on the beat.
Where can I find amapiano tutorials?
Snapchat’s topic pages for amapiano dance tutorials list step-by-step lessons for the legwork step, the Ratomilton and a simple combo, plus a tutorial for a viral TikTok challenge.
When did the listed challenges trend?
The CRISPDAL how-to and the Voltages compilation are both titled as 2024 content, and another listing compares 2023 and 2024 styles. The parking-lot crew clip carries no date in its listing.
