Miley Cyrus is surely the most famous proponent of twerking.
My friends say I have a twerking disorder, because I twerk to everything – even gospel music. But, mostly, I twerk to hip-hop. My friends call me the baddest. I suppose because I’m really free-spirited. I live my life. I mean I get to go to school because I want to and because I have the opportunity to do so.
I was studying strategic communications and marketing at the University of Johannesburg. It was exciting, but tough – especially maintaining a balance between studying and having a social life, because I do enjoy going out.
I love partying and I love dancing. When I am dancing, I am using my body in a way that is sensual and self-empowering. I’m on top of the world when I’m dancing. And that’s how it felt when I graduated – on top of the world. Throughout varsity, I was going out and twerking, so at my graduation it was a perfect time to start twerking.
After graduation, I remember people were taking pictures at the fountain, where people usually take those kinds of pictures. People were there with their families. My family and friends were also there and they were like, “of course… she’s definitely going to twerk”. And I was like, “oh, yes… that’s right; that’s me” and I started twerking. People were cheering and clapping. I mean, the booty was clapping, so of course they would be clapping. I posted a video of it online and someone was like, “you can’t be a UJ badass and not post a twerking video”. Someone else said, “seeing that video made my day”.
Twerking is easier than pantsula dancing and all those things. I don’t have to move my legs or anything – my bum does all the work. I feel sexy doing it. It builds my confidence. That’s the power of expressing yourself through dance – it empowers you. But also it empowers others. Like graduating, it empowers them to claim their space.
Laone Molefe, 20, as told to Carl Collison, the Other Foundation’s Rainbow Fellow at the Mail&Guardian