Voguing Death Drops & Death Drops In Other Performing Arts (information, speculation & examples)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This posts showcases several different performance arts movements that are known as "death drops". Featured in this post are examples of death drops in LGBT ballroom voguing, RuPaul's Drag Race television show and other drag performances, majorette/contemporary dance groups (battle stands), figure skating, salsa dancing, and contemporary swing dancing.

This post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

WARNING:
All forms of death drops can be very dangerous, and shouldn't be attempted without proper instruction or practice.

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FORMS OF DEATH DROPS: BALLROOM VOGUING
"Vogue, or voguing, is a highly stylized, modern house dance that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s.[1][2] It gained mainstream exposure when it was featured in Madonna's song and video "Vogue" (1990),[3] and when showcased in the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning... After the new millennium, Vogue returned to mainstream attention when the dance group Vogue Evolution competed on the fourth season of America's Best Dance Crew.[4]

Inspired by Vogue magazine, voguing is characterized by model-like poses integrated with angular, linear, and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. This style of dance arose from Harlem ballrooms by African Americans and Latino Americans in the early 1960s. It was originally called "presentation" and later "performance".[2] Over the years, the dance evolved into the more intricate and illusory form that is now called "vogue". Voguing is continually developed further as an established dance form that is practiced in the gay ballroom scene and clubs in major cities throughout the United States—mainly New York City.

Formal competitions occur in the form of balls held by "houses"—family-like collectives of LGBT dancers and performers.[2][5]

...Hand performance refers to the illusions and movements of the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. The catwalk is the upright sashaying in a linear fashion. The duckwalk refers to the crouched, squatted, foot-kicking and scooting movements requiring balance on the balls of the feet. Floor performance refers to the movements done on the floor using primarily the legs, knees, and back. The dip is the fall, drop, or descent backward onto one's back with one's leg folded underneath. Mainstream dance forms popularized the dip, which is occasionally called the "death drop" when done in dramatics style. Due to popular media, the dip is sometimes incorrectly called the "5000", the "shablam", and the "shabam"; these misnomers stem from ballroom commentators chanting the word "shawam" when a voguer successfully completed a dip in time with the music while entertaining the audience.
-snip-
Italics are included to highlight this definition of "death drop".

I'm curious about how the voguing death drop came about. Is the death drop an outgrowth of the Lindy Hoppers' fancy dipping dance movements? Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitey's_Lindy_Hoppers for information about the Jazz (Swing) dance groups that were known as "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers". That name was used by several groups of professional [African American] performing groups of Savoy Ballroom swing dancers. [Those groups were] started in 1935 by Herbert "Whitey" White. Lindy Hoppers under other names also performed professionally during the late 1930s and thereafter. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnECH77wL5c for a film clip of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the late 1930s.

Also notice that the sentence following the one which is given in italics indicates that "mainstream dance forms" popularized the death drop. I wonder if that sentence means that the movements that are known as "death drops" in figure skating, salsa dancing, and swing dancing were modifications of the voguing death drop.

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FEATURED VIDEOS

VOGUING DEATH DROPS AND DEATH DROPS PERFORMED IN MAJORETTE/DANCE ROUTINES

Example #1: Vogue: Dips & Drops [LGTB Ballroom]



Jay SetterUploaded on Apr 6, 2010

Jay R. Revlon Mix Conceited Ha
-snips-
Here are two comments from that video's discussion thread:
silvermoonwolf19, 2011
"Someone give me the story. The death drop is something that requires alot of practice and conditioning, right? You can't just bust it out after watching, correct?"
**
Carlos Silva, 2011
in reply to silvermoonwolf19
"@silvermoonwolf19 yes it need alot of practice u just cant bust into a drop after watching this vid lol just start simple like having ur legs bend back like how they do it and have it get used to it u know stuff like that"

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Example #2:
Laganja Estranja Death Drop at Toucans [Drag queen nightclub performance]



eyesofsaline, Published on Sep 23, 2013

Werk!
-snip-
Laganja Estranja is the stage name for a drag queen who was a contestant on Season 6 of the American television series RuPaul's Drag Race. Notice the two different types of death drops that Laganja performs.

"Werk!" ="Work!" (meaning that the person addressed is doing a great job)

Another contestant on two earlier seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race, Shangela Laquifa Whatley broke two bones in her leg while performing the death drop on stage at a nightclub during a Halloween party. Previously, Shangela traveled widely teaching the death drop which she considers/ed her signature move. In 2011 Shangela was also was featured on the American television show Dance Moms teaching the death drop to those dance students. Here's a statement from Shangela's [DJ Pierce] statement about that injury:
"DJP: I was performing on stage at the Halloween event in New York City at Providence Nightclub. I was in the middle of a number, I did do a death drop, and I came down the wrong way -- my leg didn't go in the direction that it usually goes for the death drop. I don't know if my heel had gotten caught on the carpet of the stage or how that worked out, but anyhow, needless to say, it did break two bones in my lower right leg, the tibia and the fibula. They basically just snapped right there on stage. I've been doing the death drop for the last three years. I don't think it was the death drop itself that broke my leg. It was a death drop gone wrong that broke the leg."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/justin-hernandez/rupauls-drag-races-shangela_b_4564177.html
-snip-
Shangela reports that this injury resulted in over $100,000 in medical bills. This injury points out how dangerous doing death drips can be.

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Example #3: Bring It!: Stand Battle: Dancing Dolls vs. YCDT Supastarz Part 1 (S1, E15) [Death Drop In Majorette/Dance Battle Stands



Lifetime Published on Aug 7, 2014
The Dancing Dolls start the battle with the stand "Stuntmaster" and the YCDT Supastarz respond with a stand called "Hush Puppy," in this video extra from Episode 14 (A New Rival Emerges) of Bring It! [American television program]
-snip-
A very brief example of death drops occur at .25 of this video.

The YCDT [Young Contemporary Dance Theatre] Supastarz that are featured in the video given as Example #3 in this post ended their stand battle with the Dancing Dolls by performing a death drop routine that is the same or very similar to the MNW [Miami Northwestern] High School dance team's routine that is shown in that video. Unfortunately, Part II of this battle stands ends before it shows the Supastarz's death drop routine.

From comments that I've read online*, it appears that a number of the YCDT Supastarz attend MNW, and may be, or may have been members of that high school's dance team which is an auxiliary of that school's athletic teams.

I wonder if the "Hitch kick death drop is a new development of the death drop itself. If so, did this move originate with that Miami, Florida high school dance team?

*From lipstickalley.com "Re: BRING IT!! Season 2 Airs Tonight @ 9 The Dancing Dolls Are Back!"

Warning: Some comments in this discussion include profanity, explicit references, racialized statements and other content that I find problematic. For that reason, I'm not linking to it.

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Example #4: 2012-2013 MNW Golden Girls "Hitch kick death drop" [high school dance team]



heatdiva, Published on Sep 22, 2012

08/24/12 death dropping at their 1st pep rally

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Example #5: 2012-2013 MNW Golden Girls "Hitch kick death drop" [high school dance team]



heatdiva, Published on Oct 28, 2012

Ggirls death droppin & split walking at the MNW vs. Central game 10/27/12

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DEATH DROP IN FIGURE SKATING

Piece on Men's Short Program Elements - 1988 Calgary



3Axel1996, Uploaded on Oct 26, 2009

Calgary, Alberta, CANADA - 1988 Winter Games, Men's Short Program - Piece on Short Program Elements. Note Boitano's death drop. Perfect. Skaters these days don't have the flight and amplitude in the air to perform this move properly anymore. These days, it looks more like a flying camel-to-immediate-back sit spin.
-snip-
From
http://figureskating.about.com/od/glossarylett3/g/deathdrop.htm figure skating
"The difference between a death drop and a regular flying sit spin is the position of the skater in the air. Also, a skater takes off from one foot and lands on the other. In the death drop, the position is horizontal to the ice and the skater's body faces towards the ice for a short second. In a regular flying sit spin, the skater just does a traditional sit spin position in the air and lands on the take off foot. The positions in the air and the spins are really very different.
1988 Olympic Figure Skating Champion, Brian Boitano, did a spectacular death drop."
-snip-
The voguing death drop and figure skating death drop don't appear to have anything in common but their names and the dangers associated with performing those movements.

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DEATH DROP IN SALSA DANCING

How To Do the Death Drop in Advanced Salsa



TVLessonDotCom, Published on Jun 20, 2012

Advanced Salsa - How To Do the Death Drop in Advanced Salsa

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DEATH DROP IN SWING DANCING

Deathdrop walk through.MP4



David Berger Uploaded on Sep 3, 2010

This Video is an in class demonstration for ASU's Ballroom Latin Swing Classes of the Death Drop Dip. It can be performed in a variety of dances. Do not try this step without proper practice or instruction.
-snip-
As I speculated earlier in this post, I wonder if the death drop in Salsa dancing and in Swing dancing are adaptations of the voguing death drop. Or was the voguing death drop an adaptation of the Swing dance or the Salsa dance movement?

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What "Sissy That Walk" Means (with video examples)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post presents a definition of and information about the saying "Sissy that walk!" This post also includes six video examples of people "sissying their walk".

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured on these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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WHAT "SISSY THAT WALK" MEANS
"Sissy that walk" is a saying that means "to walk with a very noticeable or an exaggerated switch or strut".

The word "sissy" is a diminutive form of the word "sister". In its capitalized form it has been used as a nickname for a female sibling - i.e. American actress "Sissy Spacek".

The word "sissy" has also been used as a taunting referent to a male who some believe acts feminine. While that switching style of walking is most closely associated with female catwalk fashion models, the saying "Sissy that walk" is probably most closely associated with drag queens. In that sense, "Sissy that walk" means to walk like a female, but not just any female- a self-confident female catwalk model who isn't afraid of strutting her stuff.

"Sissy that walk!" may be voiced as an imperative sentence (a command) or as a statement of approval for the way that the person being addressed is already walking.

The saying "sissy that walk" is being popularized in 2014 by recording artist, producer, and enteprenuer, RuPaul Charles in his American television show RuPaul's Drag Race, in his recorded song "Sissy That Walk" and elsewhere. Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4d20Tyzlv0 for a link to the official music video of that song. (Warning: That song includes mild profanity and some comments on that discussion thread also contain profanity.)

Here are two comments from that YouTube discussion thread:
Suzy Hernandez, May 2014
"I haven't loved a new pop song in a very long time... I hear this in my head when walking around town and it makes me Sissy That Walk. Gotta love trends being set by a 53 year old man dressing up in women's clothing."
**
Arnold S, May 2014
"That is now my daily affirmation "If I fly or if I fall, I gave it my all. Now, SISSY THAT WALK!""
-snip-
Here's information about how RuPaul came to use that saying:
From http://www.billboard.com/articles/6084802/rupaul-sissy-that-walk-video-premiere-drag-race-exclusive
RuPaul, 'Sissy That Walk': Exclusive Video Premiere By Keith Caulfield | May 12, 2014 2:15 PM EDT
“Fun fact: the phrase "Sissy That Walk" came to RuPaul by way of his friend, writer Rich Juzwiak, who heard a parent screaming the line at their kid in a child beauty pageant.”
-snip-
Given the fact that most of the children who compete in beauty pageants are female, it's likely that the parent who screamed "Sissy that walk" directed that comment to his daughter because he wanted her to walk "harder" (with more verve).
-snip-
Here's a brief clip of RuPaul on the Queen Latifah talk show using that "Sissy that walk" saying:

"Sissy That Walk" With RuPaul and Queen Latifah



Queen Latifah Published on Mar 31, 2014

RuPaul notices a fierce pair of shoes in the audience and tells her to "sissy that walk.".
-snip-
RuPaul incorporates some voguing hand movements when he demonstrates how to "sissy that walk". Cleo, the audience member with the sylish shoes does that hand movement while seated. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part_5.html for Part II of a pancocojams series on voguing.

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EDITORIAL COMMENT
The word "sissy" has long been a pejorative referent for males who are gay or males who are said to "act gay". However, when it is used by drag queens, the "sissy that walk" saying is a positive command or encouragement that means that that the person is "strutting" his (or her) stuff" . In other words, a person who is "sissying that walk" is really "walking that walk", "working it ("werking it"), "shaking his or her thing- with "thing" meaning "butt". In that sense, the saying "sissy that walk" may be an indication that - at least to some extent - members of the gay community are reclaiming the word "sissy", removing the pejorative connotations from that word. That said, I believe that it is still usually very hurtful for boys to be called a sissy.

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FEATURED VIDEOS THAT SHOWCASE PEOPLE "SISSYING THEIR WALK"
These videos are posted in chronological order based on their posting date on YouTube with the oldest dated videos presented first.

Example #1: Briannet Borrego'model,niña modelando,modelaje,hna actriz Liannet Borrego



montana1664 Uploaded on Mar 10, 2009

La graduacion del primer curso de modelaje de Briannet Borrego(4 añitos)
-snip-
I think the English translation for this Italian sentence is "The graduation for the first class [course?} of Briannet Borrego school of modeling (children age four years).

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Example #2: Diva Davanna walk at the "So you think you can walk modeling competition"

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Joe Clarke, Uploaded on May 18, 2010

Diva Davanna struts her stuff at this modeling competition. The models her needed to take some real lessons from this Diva as she delivers the cutting edge moves needed to represent any brand.

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Example #3: ORPHEE BLACK FEMALE MODELS RUNWAY & SWIMWEAR SHOW, produced by ORPHEE!



ORPHEUSS100, Uploaded on Mar 23, 2011

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Example #4: Raja Runway Season 3

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art pop, Published on Sep 23, 2012
-snip-
Raja is the winner of RuPaul Drag Race, Season #3.
-snip-
Warning: One of the songs played in this compilation contains mild profanity.

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Example #5: Rupaul's Drag Race Season 6 looks - Sissy That Walk



locoreptilectric, Published on Apr 28, 2014

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UPDATE: June 4, 2014
Click http://abc.go.com/shows/sing-your-face-off/video/most-recent/VDKA0_xbteoq0o for a recent video of RuPaul showing how he "sissies that walk" on the ABC television show "Sing Your Face Off". Rupaul was serving as a celebrity judge for that competition.

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Stand Routines From Historically Black Colleges & Universities Dance Line Audition

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases videos clips from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) dance audition preparation training clinic in Albany GA on March 16, 2013 and led by the Albany State University (Albany, Georgia) Golden Passionettes dance line's choreographer, Dee Perkins. The videos featured on this page aren't the only videos of that event that are found on YouTube.

This post also showcases two additional videos of dance stands performed by Dee Perkins and other dancers.

The content of this post is posted for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

This is a companion post to http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/stand-battles-changing-meaning-of.html "Stand Battles & The Changing Meaning Of Majorettes In African American Culture".

Thanks to Dee Richards and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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DEFINITION OF "DANCE STANDS"
Editor: I've not found any definition of "dance stand" as it is used by dance teams (majorettes) such as Jackson, Mississippi's "Dancing Dolls" (featured on the American television show "Bring It!") other than this definition that is given by the founder/choreographer of that group Dianna Williams (Miss D.) in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrio6Fp6bHw:
"A stand battle is when two teams take the dance floor at the same time. They take turns throwing eight counts back and forth until the judges declare a winner. “An eight count” is known as a stand."
-snip-
A Lifetime television page about the terms used in "Bring It!" http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/bring-it/dance-dictionary “Bring It! [television show] includes a definition of "stand battles" which ends with the sentence "The Captain must decide when to use what sequence based on the opposing team's sequence."

Using those two definitions of "stand battle", here's my understanding of what "dance stands" means: A dance stand is a dance sequence that is made up of a series of motions that are performed for eight counts. Various dance sequences (stands) are combined to form a dance routine.
-snip-
This is my attempt at a definition of what "stand" means in the context of this type of dance performance, but I'm not sure if what I posted is correct. I hope that some dancer or choreographer who uses that term will add a definition to this post.
-snip-
This amalgam dance style is most closely associated with dance lines that are affiliated with HBCU marching bands, and community based dance (majorette) teams that are patterned after those dance lines.

This style of dancing includes elements of voguing and R&B/Hip-Hop dance. I don't know if there is a separate name for this particular dance style. Nor do I know when the style of dancing (that is shown in the videos featured on this page) first began, although my guess is it likely began in the 1980s (since that was the date that voguing first began or was popularized. If there's no identifying name for this dance style, perhaps it can be referred to as "the HBCU style" of dancing.
-snip-
It occurs to me that this dancing style is probably a form of modern dance mixed with African dancing, Hip-Hop dancing, and voguing, nixed with African American stepping/party walks and probably more. [Duh!]

Maybe that's why I can't find anyplace online where this dance form is identified.

Still, I'd love comments about this dance style. Thanks in advance.

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FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: Stand Routine Slow Counts - Learn it



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013
-snip-
Information about this HBCU Dance Audition Preparation Training Clinic is found in the summary of the video given below as Example #5 & the summary of the videos given as Example #3 & Example #7.

The music is the song "Da Wop" by Lil Chuckee. This is the clean version of this record. However, as a warning, there's also an explicit version of this song.

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Example #2: Stand Routine2 Slow Count - Learn it too



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013

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Example #3: Stand Routine2 Practice



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
HBCUDance, 2013
"This was an HBCU Dance Audition Prep event where the young ladies learned how to prepare for tryouts. They actually went through a mock audition so that they'll know what to expect on a collegiate level. Most of them are auditioning for the ASU Golden Passionettes and tryouts are tomorrow, March 23, so keep them in your prayers!! :-)

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Example #4: Stand Routine Practice and impromptu



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013

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Example #5: HBCU Dance Audition Prep March 16, 2013 - stand routine 1 - lead by #8



Albany State University, Published on Mar 18, 2013

www.HBCUDance.com - This is a video clip from the HBCU Dance Audition Preparation Training Clinic in Albany GA on 3/16/13 led by the ASU Golden Passionettes' choreographer, Dee Perkins. Our training events are fast paced, intense and exciting dance workshops where we help dancers understand what to expect at an HBCU dance line audition. These young ladies had approximately 1.5 hrs to learn prancing & marching styles as well as 2 stand routines and their audition choreography. Find more danceline info, training events, vids, scholarships & audition dates on http://hbcudance.com/
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video:
HBCUDance, 2013
"Thanks for participating in the HBCU Dance Audition Prep event, #8! You WERKED it!! Best of luck to you at ASU Golden Passionette auditions tomorrow!!! Everybody, #8 and #6 received our Highest Scorecard Awards for their mock auditions at the event... They were both werking!!
That linked HBCU page lists the dates for dance line auditions for 14 historically Black colleges & university (HBCU) dance lines."

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Example #6: Stand routines - Choreographer Dee Perkins



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 19, 2013

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Example #7: HBCU Dance Audition Prep_Performance choreography - Dee Perkins



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 20, 2013

www.HBCUDance.com - HBCU Dance Audition Prep Training Event- a fast paced, exciting and fun workshop where dancers learn what to expect and how to prepare for a dance team audition. This is a video clip of Dee Perkins, choreographer from the ASU Golden Passionettes, showing the participants their mock audition choreography at the HBCU Dance Audition Preparation Training Clinic held in Albany GA on March 16, 2013. Watch more vid clips if you're interested in learning this choreography. WE DO NOT OWN THIS MUSIC!

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Stand Battles & The Changing Meaning Of "Majorettes" In African American Culture

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post provides definitions for "stand battles" and provides video examples of stand routines (battle stands) that are performed by community based groups such as Jackson, Mississippi's "Dancing Dolls", Jackson, Mississippi's "Purple Diamonds, and Memphis, Tennessee's "Prancing Tigerettes".

These female groups refer to themselves as "majorettes"* and battle (compete) with each other and other groups in majorette tours. This post includes videos of "the Dancing Dolls" and "the Prancing Tigerettes" prior to these groups being showcased on the television series "Bring It!"

*In the "Bring It" series edition that aired on September 10, 2014, the coach of the showcased group the "Dancing Dolls" referred to that group's performance style as "Hip Hop majorettes". Here's the definition of "majorettes" that is given by Jackson Mississippi "Dancing Dolls" Coach Miss D (Diana Williams) in the video "'Majorette' is a form of dance that incorporates hip-hop, ballet, jazz, and a mixture of lyrical dance all together. It’s high energy, high paced. It’s fun, energetic, and it’s entertaining. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_k7UfFcoQA
"Miss D's Dance Dictionary "Dance Styles" [.14-.26]
-snip-
The older meaning of "majorette" (also known as "drum majorette") is "a young woman or girl who wears a uniform and makes a pattern of movements with a baton (= stick) by turning it and throwing it into the air, as part of a group of girls who do this or as the leader of a musical group" http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/british/majorette
-snip-
Note that the Jackson, Mississippi "Dancing Dolls" and other majorette groups that they compete with perform choreographed, synchronized movements to percussive music. However, that music is recorded, not played by live drummers. Also, those new style majorette groups don't twirl and catch any batons or sticks.

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The Addendum to this post provides examples of Southern University's "Dancing Dolls", Alcorn State University's "Golden Girls", and Jackson State University's "Prancing J-Settes", three of the historically Black colleges & universities (HBCU) marching band affiliated dance lines whose performance styles have greatly influenced the (Jackson, Mississippi) "Dancing Dolls" and other community based dance groups (majorettes) who are featured on the American television series "Bring It!" Note that the names of the Jackson, Mississippi "Dancing Dolls" dance group and their competitors the Memphis, Tennessee group "The Prancing Tigerettes" probably came from two of those HBCU dance lines.

The Addendum to this post provides information about how the female groups that are auxiliaries of historically Black universities' marching bands changed their referent from "majorettes" to "dance lines". That excerpt also documents changes in the performance styles of those groups.

The content of this post is posted for historical, cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/dance-stand-routines-from-hbcu-dance.html
"Stand Routines From Historically Black Colleges & Universities Dance Line Auditions"

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BUCKING [Update: October 12, 2014]
"(Majorette) bucking" isn't the same as a 19th century American term "buck dancing" which refers to clogging/tap dancing ("buck and wing"). Nor is "majorette bucking" the same as "buck jumping", a very old style of dancing and processional marching that members of New Orleans Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs & New Orleans second line paraders do.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-pigeon-wing-buck-wing-and-buck.html for information and video examples of both of these types of dancing.

"Bucking" as performed by some African American majorette groups, particularly in the South, consist of performing rhythmic pelvic thrusts (pops) as part of a dance routine.

The term "bucking" is probably a new name for this very old African originated dance movement. The Houston, Texas group X-Treme Motion was the first to popularize "bucking" on television. That group competed on the 2010 television show "America's Best Dance Crew. Here's a link to a January 4, 2010 video of X-Treme motion and the publisher's Trecia KneCole Fan Page's summary statement:
"X-Treme Motion Dance Crew is a Houston Based Crew from "The Motion of the Ocean" Majorettes at Texas Southern University. They specialize in Hip-Hop, Jazz, Ballet, Funky Jazz, and Modern. But, Showcasing and bring their own dance style called "Bucking" to the forefront"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apu78i3-K1s
-end of update-

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DEFINITION OF "STAND BATTLES"
From http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/bring-it/dance-dictionary “Bring It! [television show]
"Stand Battle: The stand battle works like a single elimination bracket tournament. The teams draw numbers and are randomly paired together. Each pair take turns trying to out dance each other. The teams go back and forth until the judges determine that one team wins. This is the most intense of all the categories because while the dance sequences are choreographed, when they are used is decided on the fly. The Captain must decide when to use what sequence based on the opposing team's sequence."

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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrio6Fp6bHw [quote beginning at 1:24 of that video]
" “What is a stand battle?”
“A stand battle is when two teams take the dance floor at the same time. They take turns throwing eight counts back and forth until the judges declare a winner. “An eight count” is known as a stand.

Exchanging an eight count is like two boxers in the ring throwing punches back and forth with each team trying to land a killer combination. In war it’s back and forth shootin at each other. It’s the same thing. The only difference is that we don’t do that-we throw stands."
-Miss D (Diane Williams), Founder & Instructor/Coach - The Dancing Dolls (Jackson, Mississippi)
-snip-
This video is embedded as Example #6 below and features a definition of "bucking" and other definitions.

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These examples are presented in chronological order based on their posting dates with the oldest dated examples given first.

WARNING: A number of comments on some of these videos’ viewer comment threads contain profanity, racist language, and other objectionable content.

Example #1: The Dancing Dolls of Jackson...AKA "MINI J-SETTES"



oneyouluvtohate, Uploaded on Oct 30, 2009
-snip-
"AKA" means "also known as". Information about & a video of the "J-Settes" are found in the Addendum to this post.

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Example #2: DIP IT DOWN LOW BATTLE PURPLE DIAMONDS



dixie2176, Uploaded on Aug 16, 2011

THIS BATTLE WAS W I L D... YOU BE THE JUDGE!!!!! LOVE THIS PERFORMANCE... THESE GIRLS ARE ALL REALLY GOOD...YET PURPLE DIAMONDS TOOK THE WIN... video by D & M PRODUCTION Of Djamale's Dancingdivas
-snip-
Given the comments in the summary statement, I think the dance (majorette?) team "battling" the Purple Diamonds is the Dancing Divas.

I'm particularly interested in this video because it documents stand battles taking place on stages (as opposed to the floor of a gymnasium). I'm also interested in the way that the audience in this video reacts to the performances ("battles"), and the way that the dance captains shook hands when the result of the competition was announced.

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Example #3: PURPLE DIAMONDS VS DANCING DOLLS



TDABEST2011, Published on Aug 11, 2012

STAND BATTLE...DIP IT LOW 8/11/2012 THE MOST CRUNKEST STAND BATTLE I HAVE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES TAKE 1..
-snip-
This 2012 video example of two Jackson, Mississippi pre-university dance groups feature “The Dancing Dolls” before they were showcased on the American television series “Bring It!”. These dance teams refer to themselves as “majorettes”.* This style of majorette performance is a distinct change from the “old style” of majorette performances.**

*http://www.dollhousedancefactory.com/ http://www.dollhousedancefactory.com/. The Dancing Dolls (Jackson, Mississippi)'s home page includes “pre-majorette, majorette I and majorette II” in the list of dance classes that are offered. Also, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dancing-Dolls/116220078408472
Comment posted by “Dancing Dolls” March 28 [2014] “Majorette Tour is underway!!!”

**Here's a comment that I wrote on the pancocojams post http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/01/african-american-south-african-batons.html
"...it appears that many (if not most) contemporary African American marching bands and African American drill teams have changed the definition of majorettes from "female baton twirlers" to "females who perform certain styles of dancing and/or marching/step movements to certain types of music", which rarely includes snare drums.

It's very difficult to find any video of a HBCU (historically Black college and university) or an African American high school unit (or predominately African American high school unit) that features baton twirling. However, three examples of that majorette style are included in that 2014 pancocojams post.

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Example #4: Memphis elite battles tigerettes



pimp1908, Published on Jun 9, 2013
-snip-
Notice that the Memphis Elite is a male group who are performing in a Hip-Hop/breakdancestyle and not the same style as the "Prancing Tigerette" or other "majorette" dance group. However, to date, I've only found one video of a stand battle that includes a high school group that included two males with its female members. That video is given as Example #2 in the Bonus video section below.

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Example #5: Stand Battle 2013



BayAreaThuggn, Published on Aug 18, 2013

Dynamic Dancing Dollz vs. Purple Diamonds
Buck or Die 2013
Jackson, MS
-snip-
Notice that the Dancing Dolls performed a death drop. "Death drops" came from voguing, a performance style that originated in New York City gay ballroom scenes.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_(dance)
Vogue, or voguing, is a highly stylized, modern house dance that evolved out of the Harlem [gay] ballroom scene in the 1980s...

The dip is the fall, drop, or descent backward onto one's back with one's leg folded underneath. Mainstream dance forms popularized the dip, which is occasionally called the "death drop" when done in dramatics style. Due to popular media, the dip is sometimes incorrectly termed the "5000", "shablam", and "shabam"; such misnomers likely stem from older commentators chanting the word "shawam" when a voguer successfully completed a dip."
-snip-
I don't think that this definition of the death drop has anything to do with the use of the phrase "dip it low" in the video title of Example #2 and the summary statement of Example #3.

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Example #6: Bring It!: Buzzwords



Lifetime Published on Mar 6, 2014

Check out a dictionary of the different dance routines that the Dancing Dolls participate in, in this Bring It! video extra.
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's viewer comment thread
Book Multimedia, 2014
"This show is an accurate display of how many dance teams function. and it would be no different without the cameras. i believe those kids and their sponsors are doing a great job. they train those girls with basic to advanced collegiate & Professional dance technique. if you were a fan of the marching band culture in the south. you would understand.. this is how Many dance teams function. i see influence from the A few teams in the SWAC on display."
-snip-
Two examples of SWAC dance teams are presented in the Addendum to this post

-snip-
BONUS VIDEOS
I've just come across a number of videos of dance battles whose performances are very similar to the performances shown above. However, those performance styles differ from those previously showcased groups n that the dance teams represent specific high schools AND the dance teams perform to the beat of live (snare) drums & cymbals. Unfortunately, no location is given for these events, but I've identified one of the groups as "the Dancing Diamonds" from Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas. It's likely that the other competing dance groups are also from Texas, if not from that Texas city. If you have any information about these groups, please add it in the comment section below. Thanks!

Bonus Example #1: Battle Of The Dance Lines 2012 - (Stands Competition Group -1)



atlbattle, Published on Jan 13, 2013

high school band
-snip-
One of these competing groups include two males.

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Bonus Example #2: Battle Of The Dance Lines 2012 - ( Stands Competition Group - 4 )



atlbattle, Published on Jan 13, 2013

high school band

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ADDENDUM - TWO VIDEO EXAMPLES OF DANCE LINES FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
The style of dancing of these Southern region, historically Black colleges & university's dance lines has greatly influenced the performance of the non-university dance teams (majorettes) that are showcased above. Also, notice that the Jackson, Mississippi dance group "Dancing Dolls" which is featured on the television show "Bring It!" have the same name of the Southern University dance line. And the name of Jackson, Mississippi "Dancing Dolls"'s competitor's "The Prancing Tigerettes" (Memphis, Tennessee) is probably modeled after the name of the Jackson State University's "The Prancing J-Settes".

Example #1: SU Dancing Dolls at SWAC Championship 2013



HBCUBANDS.COM, Published on Dec 9, 2013

SU Dancing Dolls at SWAC Championship 2013
-snip-
Southern University is a historically Black university that is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "Dancing Dolls" is the name of that university band's dance line.

"HBCU" = Historically Black Colleges & Universities
The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is a collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_Athletic_Conference

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Example #2: The Golden Girls vs The Prancing J-Settes Both Dancing to Bad Girls @ The SWAC Championship



HBCUBANDS.COM, Published on Dec 12, 2013

Which Squad had the Better Routine?...
-snip-
The Golden Girls is the name of the dance team that is an auxiliary of the Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi) marching band.

"The Prancing J-Settes" is the name of the Jackson State University (Jackson, Mississippi) dance line. Here's an excerpt from http://sonicboomofthesouth.com/history/the-prancing-j-settes/. I'm including this excerpt for historical purposes, particularly the fact that members of that dance line (and probably other current HBCU dance lines) were originally considered "majorettes".

"“Prancing J-Settes” is the official name of the Jackson State University dance line, an auxiliary group of the Jackson State University Marching Band, “The Sonic Boom of the South.” ...
Shirley Middleton, a former majorette, initiated the concept of the majorettes abandoning their batons and dancing to popular musical selections. As the majorette sponsor, Shirley Middleton and the majorettes met with Dr. John A. Peoples, the University’s sixth president, and requested that they be permitted to “put down their batons.”

Dr. Peoples agreed and thus legends were born. In 1970, Middleton assembled 18 majorettes, and their notoriety immediately began to soar in rapid proportions...

The group was initially named the “Prancing Jaycettes.” The group’s name became official in 1971. However, in 1982, the Prancing Jaycette organization officially changed its name to Prancing J-Settes, because of a name conflict with a local organization known as the Jackson Jaycees/Jaycettes.

Shirley Middleton served as sponsor of the J-Settes from 1970-1975. In 1975, Narah Oatis was appointed the sponsor of the J-Settes. Under her leadership, the Prancing J-Settes became nationally renowned. During her reign, J-Sette marching technics such as the “Salt and Pepper,” “J-Sette Walk,” “Strut,” and “Tip Toe” were perfected. The J-Settes consisted of lines of 12-16 young ladies who marched in rows affectionately named “Short and Sassy,” “Magnificent Middle,” or a “Tall and Tough.” ...
-snip-
The fact that the Prancing J-Settes' signature moves have greatly influenced the Jackson, Mississippi Dancing Dolls (and probably other majorette groups) is noted in this announcement for auditions on the (Jackson, Miss.) Dancing Doll's website http://www.dollhousedancefactory.com/DWilliams_Dance_Company_2_3.html
"Dancing Dolls Dance Team 2015 Tryouts are February 2015 at the Dollhouse Dance Factory....

Dancing Dolls is for girls ages 10-17. Dancing Dolls FINAL tryouts for the 2013 season will be held February 2015 at the Dollhouse Dance Factory. There is a $20 fee per dancer. Troyout Camp times are as follows...

***Dancing Dolls require the following: Marching (Salt N Pepper & Swing), Struts (J-Sette Walk & Prancing), Splits, Kicks (both legs), Rollovers (front and Back), Cartwheel, Toe Touch, Back bend and Deathdrop. All moves are taught during camp sessions. A group dance will be taught consisting of 9-12 eight counts..."

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Waacking and Voguing (Street dances) Part II

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on the styles of street dancing known as "waaking" and "voguing". This post provides information & comments about voguing and showcases six videos of styles of vogue dancing.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part.html for Part I of this series.

Parr I provides information & comments about waacking and showcases two videos of that dance.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the featured dancers. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

WARNING: Music played for street dancing may contain mild profanity (such as the word that rhymes with "ditch") or more than mild profanity. Also, a number of YouTube street dancing comment threads contain profanity, homophobic content, and other content that may be considered objectionable.

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INFORMATION ABOUT VOGUING
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_(dance)
"Vogue, or voguing, is a highly stylized, modern house dance that evolved out of the Harlem ballroom scene in the 1980s.[1][2] It gained mainstream exposure when it was featured in Madonna's song and video "Vogue" (1990),[3] and when showcased in the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning (which went on to win the Grand Jury Prize at the 1991 Sundance Film Festival)...

Inspired by Vogue magazine, voguing is characterized by model-like poses integrated with angular, linear, and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. This style of dance arose from Harlem ballrooms by African Americans and Latino Americans in the early 1960s. It was originally called "presentation" and later "performance".[2] Over the years, the dance evolved into the more intricate and illusory form that is now called "vogue". Voguing is continually developed further as an established dance form that is practiced in the gay ballroom scene and clubs in major cities throughout the United States—mainly New York City.

Formal competitions occur in the form of balls held by "houses"—family-like collectives of LGBT dancers and performers.[2][5]... ("Legendary" in ballroom terms refers to a house that has been "serving", that is, walking or competing on the runway, for twenty years or more). The House of Ninja was founded by Willi Ninja, who is considered the godfather of voguing.[5][6] Members of a house are called "children". Sometimes children legally change their last name to show their affiliation with the house to which they belong.[2]...

Styles
There are currently three distinct styles of vogue: Old Way (pre-1990); New Way (post-1990);[7] and Vogue Fem (circa 1995).[2] Although Vogue Fem has been used in the ballroom scene as a catch-all phrase for overtly effeminate Voguing as far back as the 1960s, as a recognizable style of Voguing, it only came into its own around the mid-1990s.

Old way
Old way is characterized by the formation of lines, symmetry, and precision in the execution of formations with graceful, fluid-like action. Egyptian hieroglyphs and fashion poses serve as the original inspirations for old way voguing. In its purest, historical form, old way vogue is a duel between two rivals...

New way
New way is characterized by rigid movements coupled with "clicks" (limb contortions at the joints) and "arms control" (hand and wrist illusions, which sometimes includes tutting and locking)...

Vogue Fem
Vogue Fem (the spelling being an English appropriation to fr. femme, feminine) is fluidity at its most extreme with exaggerated feminine movements influenced by ballet and modern dance. …There are five elements of Vogue Fem: hand performance, catwalk, duckwalk, floor performance, and spins and dips. When competing in a Vogue Fem battle, contestants should showcase all five elements in an entertaining fashion.

Hand performance refers to the illusions and movements of the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers. The catwalk is the upright sashaying in a linear fashion. The duckwalk refers to the crouched, squatted, foot-kicking and scooting movements requiring balance on the balls of the feet. Floor performance refers to the movements done on the floor using primarily the legs, knees, and back. The dip is the fall, drop, or descent backward onto one's back with one's leg folded underneath. Mainstream dance forms popularized the dip, which is occasionally called the "death drop" when done in dramatics style. Due to popular media, the dip is sometimes incorrectly termed the "5000", "shablam", and "shabam"; such misnomers likely stem from older commentators chanting the word "shawam" when a voguer successfully completed a dip"...
-snip-
Additional information about voguing is also included in Part I of this series.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are posted in chronological order with video with the oldest date posted first.

Example #1: Vogue Classique



trill, Uploaded on Jun 10, 2006

Energetically edited clips of all the legendary children (Willi Ninja, José and Luis Xtravaganza, et al) of the New York houses from the late 80's to early 90's. A handsome portion of New Way style thrown in with mostly Old Way (no Vogue Fem Queen this time; sorry Miss Dramatics) stylings. Features clips from the video for Malcolm McLaren's "Deep in Vogue," public access television demonstrations, and ball performances.

The soundtrack opens with the intro to "Happiness" by the Pointer Sisters and segues quickly into "Dub Break" by Ellis D, one of Junior Vasquez's monikers.

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Example #2: Old School Vs. New School Vogue



chuckiechuckles2006, Uploaded on Jul 3, 2006
Vogueing ball footage from the guys at Sterile Cowboys & Co. Uploaded on Jul 3, 2006...

More info at www.sterilecowboys.org Video by Nicolas Jenkins
-snip-
Comment:
Franklin M. Lopez, 2012
"Those who comment negatively about "VOGUING" have no concept about the culture and its importance. VOGUING is about BELONGING, FAMILY, PRIDE, EXCELLENCE and is also a GATEWAY to MUCH greater things...Where "Kids" prove themselves by earning their "10's" and many get discovered by artists and accept CAREERS as professional dancers, models"

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Example #3: Best VOGUE CLIPS you can't stop watching


PhillyProdigy09, Uploaded on Jun 27, 2010

some performance battles I just can't stop watching
-snip-
Comments:
Koleton Cox, 2012
"Can someone explain to me why is it this big deal when someone falls down to the beat? like i have seen this in every video i have seen on youtube and i never really got the history behind it? where does it come from and why is it used so much when dancing to this beat?"

**
LadyOrnitia, 2012
in reply to Koleton Cox
"It's called a dip, one of the elements of Vogue Fem."...

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Example #4: Battle the Kings -vogue myzak-neu & beck be fab vs Honeysha Khan & amber lee revlon(2)*



Bruno Marignan, Published on Jan 4, 2013

Battle the Kings 2vs2 hiphop, house dance, popping, break et waacking-voguing.
-snip-
Comments:
itzpokey891, 2013
"yall betta work honey...a lil to wild but it was awsome where yall frm?"

**
*Corrected video title as per the dancer's comment:
Roseau Sabin Kevy, 2013
"from paris !! n thx u but my name is honeysha khan , from house of khan n not honey shak lmao !! but thx :) i appreciate that"

**
swaid wise, 2013
"How the hell you expect to win a vogue battle with no dips, no dives, or deathdrops?"

**
FERN IGU7, 2013
"two different era of vogin"

**
cojack424, 2013
"WHy am i just seeing this.......Work out.......I love a good old fashion vogue battle.....Although this is vogue fem vs new way vogue, but it's cute.......I'm sorry but the guy in all black is serving......He has all the elements of vogue,,,,arms, hands,.....He gets 10's across the board....... plus he's a cutie"

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Example #5: STREETSTAR 2013 - Vogue Femme Final Battle Lasseindra (FRA) vs Ida"Inxi" Holmlund (FIN)



Published on Aug 22, 2013

Streetstar Vogue Femme Final Battle: WONDER WOMAN Lasseindra (FRA) WINNER against SAILOR MOON Ida "Inxi" Holmlund (FIN) at the Streetstar festival february 2013 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Judges: Archie Burnett (US), Javier Ninja(US) and Leiomy(US).

Dj: Vjuan Allure.

Comentator: Dashaun Wesley (US).
-snip-
Comments:
Naiilah Raks, 2014
"Actually Inxi (Sailor Moon) is a woman and Lasseindra (Wonder Woman) is a drag queen from the famous House of Ninja. Both are feeeeeeerce though!

**
Helen Preis, 2014
"...Women dance differently. Which is why ideally there should be separate categories for femme queen performance and women's performance. Girls are a bit more cautious if they do dramatic dips. But Streetstar did a great job doing old way, new way, femme and runway that year. "

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Example #6: JAVIER NINJA - Vogue Demo at STREETSTAR 2013



streetstar, Published on Aug 22, 2013

Fantastic dancer Javier Ninja presents a New Way Solo at Streetstar.
-snip-
Note that the commenters on this video's viewer comment thread loved the dance but had less praise for the announcer as demonstrated by this comment:
Down Clown, 2014
"...the commentor was attempting to chant which is distracting to the dancer if not done right. Chanting is just as much part of vogue as are the angles of the dance, so you can't say that it isn't a big deal. Again, you don't know what your talking about homie.”

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Waacking and Voguing (Street dances) Part I

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part series on the styles of street dancing known as "waaking" and "voguing". This post provides information & comments about waacking and showcases two videos of that dance.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/waacking-and-voguing-street-dances-part_5.html for Part II of this series. That post provides information & comments about voguing and showcases six videos of that dance's styles.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all the featured dancers. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

WARNING: A number of YouTube street dancing comment threads contain profanity and homophobic content.

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INFORMATION ABOUT WAACKING
From http://dancepundit.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/strike-a-pose/
"Waacking and voguing both fall under the “urban” or “street” dance genres. Waacking began in the 1970s on the West Coast, more specifically in Los Angeles. It can be recognized by it’s wild yet controled arm movements and posing. Waacking incorporates arm movements, footwork, and elements of drama as well as the dancer’s personal and unique style. There is also a wonderful aspect of musicality because the dancers are specifically tailoring their movements to the beats and the rhythm of the song.

Voguing, while very similar to waacking, began on the East Coast and became popular in the 80s. This dance emerged from the Harlem ballroom scene (and I am not talking about the waltz). Voguing is characterized by model-like poses integrated with angular, linear, and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. In its original form, it served as a non-aggressive battle between two feuding individuals. Just in case you were wondering, the term voguing was influenced by the poses models often take when gracing the pages of fashions magazines, like Vogue"...

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From http://danceparade.org/wp/dp2012/genre-buzz-celebrating-the-waacking-style-of-street-dance/
"The dance style called Waacking involves fast and dynamic movements of the arms, which resemble the wrist roll in locking but more exaggerated and extended. This style of dance also incorporates sharp angular poses, which is called Voguing, a style commonly done together with Waacking. Essentially, I like to think of waacking as elements of jazz dance combined with locking because of the distinct arm actions and styling involved...

Disco Music was the perfect vehicle for Waacking, with its driving rhythms and hard beats. In the early 1970s in Los Angeles, dancer Lamont Peterson was one of the first to start using his arms and body to the music...
-
At the time Waacking was primarily a gay Black and Latino dance. Many people mistakenly believe that “Waacking” came from “Locking” because some of the movements are very similar. The Gay community is solely responsible for the creation of Waacking style of dance. Waacking and Locking do have some similarities but they are different dances. Waacking is the original name of the dance...

The name “Waacking" originated from The Soul Train Dancer Tyrone Proctor and Jeffrey Daniel’s of the Outrageous Waack Dancer’s in 1972 themselves (Because of the thrusting of the arms). “Garbo” is another name given to the dance by Andrew because of the posing he did (like the pictures of the glamour women of the 40’s) ...

The difference between “Waacking” and “Voguing” is “Waacking” became popular in the early 70’s on the West Coast. “Waacking” is mostly done to Disco Music. “Voguing” became popular in the late 70’s on the East Coast.”Voguing” is done to mostly House music.”…
Over 35 years “Waacking” is still going strong..."

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are posted in chronological order with video with the oldest date posted first.

Example #1: WAACKING DANCE: Step Ya Game Up (NYC 2009)



TheRussianTiger, Uploaded on Jul 30, 2009

Waacking preliminary at a hip hop jam called Step Ya Game Up. Battles in wacking (whacking), popping, locking, hip hop and house all took place directly after this. This jam happened in New York City on July 25th from 2:00pm to 4:00am. Very cool and rare dance style to see in battle. Battles judged by Tyrone Proctor! Enjoy the footage :)...
-snip-
Here are three comments from this video's viewer comment thread:
tenchichrono, 2010
"This dance started out in the gay dance clubs in LA/Hollywood. It's really similar to locking in a way."

**
baeksoltang, 2011
"I have first watched this vid in 2009 at the time when it was posted. I don't know what is going on in US, but waacking scene in East Asia (including Korea, Japan, China) has grown so big that it is almost as big as that of popping and locking now. It is getting recognized as a disdinct style under the umbrella of funk styles, as popping and locking do. You can see Pop&Lock events are transitioning to Pop&Lock&Waack events nowadays. As a locker my self, it's nice that Funk Style is flourishing"

**
Laggin6, 2013
"I love watching this very dramatic style of dance, but can't help thinking about people dancing like this in clubs and getting WAACKED in the head by those flying arm movements. I'm guessing that's where it gets that name? LOL!"
-snip-
“whack” = slang word for forcefully hitting (striking) someone or something
Note that "wack" also is a slang word that means "foolish" and "uncool" but that definition doesn't apply to this dance form.

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Example #2: WAACKEISHA (CAN) vs PRINCESS MADOKI (FRA) Whacking Finals I STREETSTAR 2013


Published on Mar 22, 2013

Dazzeling Final Whacking Battle at Streetstar festival 2013. Winner is Waackeisha from Canada. www.streetstar.se
-snip-
Here are four comments from this video's viewer comment thread:
exit planet dust, 2013
"It's not "Whacking". It's Waacking."

**
Luiss Mota, 2013
"YASS Ms. Princess Madoki was giving me life honey she was serving WAACKeisha"

**
MrDambiSchool, 2014
"I have to strongly disagree with that. Madoki was a crowd pleaser, she gave face and attitude and sexiness and she grooved a lot, which was nice, but at the end of the day it's a waacking battle and girl you need to waack at some point. From 1:10 to 2:00, which is almost her entire round. She did 6 waacks... 6 And they were sloppy. Shes great at doing lines and feeling the music but like I said It's waacking and Waackeisha will give face while still showing that her technique is amazing and her waacks are just powerful and clean. It was a pretty obvious choice. "

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Geoff Simmons, 2014
"waackeisha was hellllla clean though - they are both amazing and their styles are off the charts, but waackeisha was more on-point"

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RELATED LINK
Here's a link to a Soul Train video that I believe showcases some of the dancers waacking:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P-TXxoWTSE
"Soul Train Line Don't Stop Til You Get Enough Michael Jackson"

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Blaze featuring Palmer Brown - "My Beat" (Can You Dance To My Beat) video and lyrics

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases a video of the 1998 song "My Beat" (also known as "Can You Dance To My Beat") by Blaze, featuring Palmer Brown. The song lyrics to this House music beat are given as part of the summary statement for this video. Information about House music and information about Blaze are also presented in this post.

The content of this post is provided for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Blaze featuring Palmer Brown for this recording. Thanks also to all featured musicians & dancers, and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.

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INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSE MUSIC
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_music
"House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in the American city of Chicago in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized circa 1984 in Chicago, but beginning in 1985, it fanned out to other major cities across North and South America, as well as Europe and later Australia.[1] Early house music commercial success in Europe saw songs such as "House Nation" by House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House (1987) and "Doctorin' the House" by Coldcut (1988) in the pop charts. Since the early to mid-1990s, house music has been infused in mainstream pop and dance music worldwide.

Early house music was generally dance-based music characterized by repetitive 4/4 beats, rhythms mainly provided by drum machines,[2] off-beat hi-hat cymbals, and synthesized basslines. While house displayed several characteristics similar to disco music, it was more electronic and minimalistic,[2] and the repetitive rhythm of house was more important than the song itself. House music today, while keeping several of these core elements, notably the prominent kick drum on every beat, varies a lot in style and influence, ranging from the soulful and atmospheric deep house to the more minimalistic microhouse. House music has also fused with several other genres creating fusion subgenres,[2] such as euro house, tech house, electro house and jump house."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT BLAZE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaze_(band)
"Blaze is a house-music group formed in 1984 in New Jersey, USA...It was formed by Josh Milan, Kevin Hedge, and Chris Herbert, when Herbert introduced Milan, a member of his church choir, to Hedge, his childhood friend. Ironically, Herbert was the one who left the group in 1991, leaving Milan and Hedge to keep working together.[1]

The group's output consists mainly of house-music tracks with heavy gospel, soul and afrobeat influences (sometimes referred to as gospel house). When the group started, Herbert was the singer, with Milan playing the piano, and Hedge on production. After Herbert left, both Hedge and Milan started to share production duties, vocals, and playing most of the instruments of the group's tracks and albums. The group achieved notoriety with its remix of Lisa Stansfield's "People Hold On" in 1989, after signing with Motown/MCA Records.

... It is best known to modern audiences by its singles featuring Palmer Brown on vocals, the oft-remixed "My Beat," and the tribute anthem "I Remember House." Blaze's most recent album, released in 2005, is a mix compilation title called Found Love.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Blaze ‎- My Beat (1998)



DaGhostChild Published on Jun 7, 2012

http://www.discogs.com/Blaze-Feat-Pal...

As we dance to beat that seems out of time...
...To the one you feel in the metronome of your mind
Does it offend you that our rhythm looks strange
Or causes your thinking to be re-arranged
Could it be that you would understand those beat to which we dance
More clearly had you been given the chance
So as you struggle to find the feel with your feet

Ask yourself... can you dance to my beat

Watch us get down to this groove with a afro-funk feel
While we get hiiiiigh to a rhythm with spiritual appeal
Expressions of freedom from the descendants of slaves
God gives us the strength for new horizons we must breathe
First bondage than mental now financially oppressed
With this beat we dance we know we've passed the test
So as you struggle to catch the rhythm with your feet

Ask yourself... can you dance to my beat
(to my beat)

The rhythm... rhythm... rhythm... is our power section.

The freedom we feel in our soul
We dance to learn those lessons,
As our story continues to unfold
Our beats, our words our melodies, our gifts
From the givers of those gifts,
We're merely the terminals through which they have passed
So as you struggle to catch the rhythm with your feet,

Ask yourself, can you really dance to my beat
(to my beat)
(the rhythm)
(to my beat, the rhythm, to my beat)
(to my beat)

-snip-
The video shows people doing breakdancing (b-boying).
Click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-boying for information about breakdancing.

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