Hip-Hop Dance

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Hip-Hop Dance Hip-Hop Dance Anthony H ovington Hip-hop culture sprang from the hearts of the ground, comes back up to his feet, and young Mrican Americans and Latinos as a way to then lowers himself again while maintaining his express themselves in the inner cities of New spin. Although there is structure to their rou­ York. Beginning around 1973, it became a pow­ tines, many times the best performances are the erful influence on popular culture across the ones that happen instantaneously in a moment globe. of creativity. To put the dancing being done today in per­ There is a tradition involved with hip-hop spective, I interviewed members of the Rock dancing. Older generations continuously pass Steady Crew, one of the first b-boy crews to on what they've learned to younger genera­ emerge with hip-hop. The term "b-boy" was tions. Almost all the dancers agreed that they coined by DJ Kool Here. It means break-boy. The learned to dance by going to parties or by get­ dance was done to the "break" of the record, the ting together with peers when they were funkiest part, the part that was mostly a hard-dri­ younger. Little kids learn by watching their ving beat. An example of a "break" would be a elders dance then going home to practice. Pee­ drum solo in a james Brown record. The Rock Wee Dance studies styles that are similar but Steady Crew still performs and aspires to make came before, namely buck dancing and the hip-hop dancing an accepted art form, like ballet Lindy Hop. He frequents the Schomburg Cen­ and tap dancing. ter in New York to research and to keep his "Crazy Legs," of the Rock Steady Crew in mind focused on the tradition of hip-hop danc­ New York, said that hip-hop dancing started as a ing. This style of dancing dates back to Mrica way out of violence. It kept young people out of because there is one common thread - the trouble. Due to the influence of hip-hop, gang music. The music is percussive. It is based on members began to settle their differences by the beat. Mrican communities used the drum dancing rather than fighting. as a primary form of communication and mod­ Opinions vary on the importance of names ern-day dancers rely on the beat as well. in hip-hop dancing. Pee-Wee Dance of the Rock Hip-hop dancing needs to be nurtured and Steady Crew says the crew is named that because accepted by those within the communities that "we steady be rockin." Crazy Legs got his name hip-hop comes from, places like New York, because he is quite bowlegged and does some Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Detroit, and unique things with those legs. Pee-Wee Dance is Miami, that have large concentrations of named for his diminutive stature. Also, he is 32 Mrican Americans. As inner city youth strive for years old, so he is called "the dance that won't something to call their own, hip-hop dancing is die." one way to provide them with the means to Some dancers name their moves as well. control their own energies and to display them Break dancing gave us the "continuous back­ at will. Therefore, hip-hop culture and its spin," "windmill," and the "whirl." Crazy Legs dances will continue to influence popular cul­ invented the continuous backspin while Pee-Wee ture in the years to come. Dance invented the whirl. The continuous back­ spin was a method of using one's legs to contin­ Anthony Hovington received his B.A. in African American ue spinning when the dancer would otherwise Studies from Duke University. He works as a Database Man­ have come to a stop. Pee-Wee Dance describes ager at the National Endowment for the Arts. He is Vice-Pres­ the whirl as a move where he spins while low to ident of the Washington Chapter of the Zulu Nation. AMERICAN SOCIAL DANCE 73 .
Recommended publications
  • Internet Killed the B-Boy Star: a Study of B-Boying Through the Lens Of
    Internet Killed the B-boy Star: A Study of B-boying Through the Lens of Contemporary Media Dehui Kong Senior Seminar in Dance Fall 2010 Thesis director: Professor L. Garafola © Dehui Kong 1 B-Boy Infinitives To suck until our lips turned blue the last drops of cool juice from a crumpled cup sopped with spit the first Italian Ice of summer To chase popsicle stick skiffs along the curb skimming stormwater from Woodbridge Ave to Old Post Road To be To B-boy To be boys who snuck into a garden to pluck a baseball from mud and shit To hop that old man's fence before he bust through his front door with a lame-bull limp charge and a fist the size of half a spade To be To B-boy To lace shell-toe Adidas To say Word to Kurtis Blow To laugh the afternoons someone's mama was so black when she stepped out the car B-boy… that’s what it is, that’s why when the public the oil light went on changed it to ‘break-dancing’ they were just giving a To count hairs sprouting professional name to it, but b-boy was the original name for it and whoever wants to keep it real would around our cocks To touch 1 ourselves To pick the half-smoked keep calling it b-boy. True Blues from my father's ash tray and cough the gray grit - JoJo, from Rock Steady Crew into my hands To run my tongue along the lips of a girl with crooked teeth To be To B-boy To be boys for the ten days an 8-foot gash of cardboard lasts after we dragged that cardboard seven blocks then slapped it on the cracked blacktop To spin on our hands and backs To bruise elbows wrists and hips To Bronx-Twist Jersey version beside the mid-day traffic To swipe To pop To lock freeze and drop dimes on the hot pavement – even if the girls stopped watching and the street lamps lit buzzed all night we danced like that and no one called us home - Patrick Rosal 1 The Freshest Kids , prod.
    [Show full text]
  • The B-Boy Summit Internationally Acclaimed B-Boy/B-Girl Event
    THE B-BOY SUMMIT INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED B-BOY/B-GIRL EVENT Produced by No Easy Props OVERVIEW The B-boy Summit continues to be a major trendsetter in Hip-Hop street dance, art and music culture. Established in 1994, The Summit presented innovative ideas in Hip-Hop culture, offering a conference forum complete with competitions, performances, panels, workshops, and a marketplace for consumer friendly products marketed toward the Hip-Hop community. Never content with success, The B-boy Summit continues its mission to bring the hottest street dance, art, and music above ground to the masses. The B-boy Summit has grown into an internationally acclaimed 3 day festival incorporating all aspects of Hip-Hop in different plateaus, including the most intense battles, rawest circles, theatre performances, a DJ/MC Talent Showcase and live aerosol art painting. The B-boy Summit was created in 1994 out of the need for a community orientated Hip-Hop event that encompassed knowledge of the history of Hip-Hop culture and the skills of B-boying and B-girling. At that point in time B-boys and B-girls didn’t have a platform in which to come together, dance and pay homage to the traditional dance of Hip-Hop. Each year the event has expanded to encompass B-boys, B-girls, MCs, Aerosol Artists, and DJs from across the globe, steadily building into what is now the foremost Hip-Hop cultural event in the world. More recently, The Summit has become one of the most important events for Lockers, Poppers, Freestyle and House Dancers to take part in during The Summit’s Funk Fest.
    [Show full text]
  • 'What Ever Happened to Breakdancing?'
    'What ever happened to breakdancing?' Transnational h-hoy/b-girl networks, underground video magazines and imagined affinities. Mary Fogarty Submitted in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of Interdisciplinary MA in Popular Culture Brock University St. Catharines, Ontario © November 2006 For my sister, Pauline 111 Acknowledgements The Canada Graduate Scholarship (SSHRC) enabled me to focus full-time on my studies. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to my committee members: Andy Bennett, Hans A. Skott-Myhre, Nick Baxter-Moore and Will Straw. These scholars have shaped my ideas about this project in crucial ways. I am indebted to Michael Zryd and Francois Lukawecki for their unwavering kindness, encouragement and wisdom over many years. Steve Russell patiently began to teach me basic rules ofgrammar. Barry Grant and Eric Liu provided comments about earlier chapter drafts. Simon Frith, Raquel Rivera, Anthony Kwame Harrison, Kwande Kefentse and John Hunting offered influential suggestions and encouragement in correspondence. Mike Ripmeester, Sarah Matheson, Jeannette Sloniowski, Scott Henderson, Jim Leach, Christie Milliken, David Butz and Dale Bradley also contributed helpful insights in either lectures or conversations. AJ Fashbaugh supplied the soul food and music that kept my body and mind nourished last year. If AJ brought the knowledge then Matt Masters brought the truth. (What a powerful triangle, indeed!) I was exceptionally fortunate to have such noteworthy fellow graduate students. Cole Lewis (my summer writing partner who kept me accountable), Zorianna Zurba, Jana Tomcko, Nylda Gallardo-Lopez, Seth Mulvey and Pauline Fogarty each lent an ear on numerous much needed occasions as I worked through my ideas out loud.
    [Show full text]
  • Lh/1/0512 Lindy Hop – Rules
    LH/1/0512 LINDY HOP – RULES 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 In all items, not regulated separately in the following, the appropriate conditions stipulated by the WRRC especially in the Tournament Rules shall be applicable. 1.2 Lindy Hop must remain free to allow evolution of the dance. Lindy Hop is danced to Swing music. Lindy Hop is based on 6 and 8 counts. Lindy Hop belongs to Lindy Hoppers. Lindy Hop shall give priority to musical interpretation There are NO syllabus for Lindy Hop 1.3 All competitors in WRRC tournaments must arrive and report to the tournament directors at least one hour prior to the beginning of the event. The specific required arrival time shall be stated in the tournament announcement. 1.4 The concept for Lindy Hop events arranged within the World Rock ‘n’ Roll Confederation is a smaller form of event where the audience, the dancers and the dance should be in focus. The competition should be arranged in a social context, the audience, participators and officials should have the possibility to dance and enjoy the spirit of Lindy Hop. There is no need for a huge arena like concepts and in coherence with Lindy Hop spirit the event can be arranged in Clubs, Theaters and smaller forms of arenas where the audiences can come close to the dancers and the joy and happiness that the dance spreads. The events should preferably be arranged together with other type of Swing dances. 1.5 LINDY HOP TOURNAMENTS Age Age music music music (bars/min) Duration of Duration of Speed of the the of Speed Juniors 8-17 1:30 50 Main Class Min.
    [Show full text]
  • Balboa West Coast 6:30 Pm to 7:30 Pm a Closed Position Dance of RUEDA This Style of Swing Is California’S Official State Dance $18 Per Person Quick and Fancy Footwork
    Erin and Tami are sisters who have co-owned and operated PBDA since 1983, making this our 37th year! If you have never danced Swing before, start here! Calling all hepcats! This is the original 1930s ”Savoy” style Swing – This 6-count style of Swing was all the rage in the ’40s Join our classes and enjoy our Saturday night up-tempo with Charleston movements, kicks, and character – and ’50s – up-tempo with an easy basic step. Swing dances featuring some of the best it’s the most show-stopping style! This dance is still very popular the world over. Swing bands in the country. Instructor: Erin Stevens Instructor: Tami Stevens It’s a proven fact that dancing promotes health Saturday Mornings ADVANCED STEPS & STYLINGS Monday Nights Sunday Afternoons and happiness – come join the fun! Starting: Feb. 22nd Saturday Afternoons Starting: Feb. 24th Starting: Feb. 23rd Six Week Series – $90 Starting: Feb. 22nd Six Week Series – $90 SAVE THE DATE…on Memorial Day Six Week Series – $90 LEVEL I: 10:00 am to 11:00 am Six Week Series – $90 LEVEL I: 7:15 to 8:15 pm LEVEL I: 4:15 pm to 5:15 pm Weekend, May 23–24, we will be hosting LEVEL II: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm LEVEL III: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm LEVEL II: 8:15 to 9:15 pm LEVEL II: 5:15 pm to 6:15 pm Instructor: Tami Stevens a Swing Camp in honor of World Lindy Easy dips and flourishes to finish Hop Day (and Frankie Manning’s birthday).
    [Show full text]
  • The Miseducation of Hip-Hop Dance: Authenticity, and the Commodification of Cultural Identities
    The Miseducation of Hip-Hop dance: Authenticity, and the commodification of cultural identities. E. Moncell Durden., Assistant Professor of Practice University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance Introduction Hip-hop dance has become one of the most popular forms of dance expression in the world. The explosion of hip-hop movement and culture in the 1980s provided unprecedented opportunities to inner-city youth to gain a different access to the “American” dream; some companies saw the value in using this new art form to market their products for commercial and consumer growth. This explosion also aided in an early downfall of hip-hop’s first dance form, breaking. The form would rise again a decade later with a vengeance, bringing older breakers out of retirement and pushing new generations to develop the technical acuity to extraordinary levels of artistic corporeal genius. We will begin with hip-hop’s arduous beginnings. Born and raised on the sidewalks and playgrounds of New York’s asphalt jungle, this youthful energy that became known as hip-hop emerged from aspects of cultural expressions that survived political abandonment, economic struggles, environmental turmoil and gang activity. These living conditions can be attributed to high unemployment, exceptionally organized drug distribution, corrupt police departments, a failed fire department response system, and Robert Moses’ building of the Cross-Bronx Expressway, which caused middle and upper-class residents to migrate North. The South Bronx lost 600,000 jobs and displaced more than 5,000 families. Between 1973 and 1977, and more than 30,000 fires were set in the South Bronx, which gave rise to the phrase “The Bronx is Burning.” This marginalized the black and Latino communities and left the youth feeling unrepresented, and hip-hop gave restless inner-city kids a voice.
    [Show full text]
  • Hip Hop Culture and Its Foundational Elements
    Lindsay Rapport, Gluck Fellow in Dance Hip Hop Culture and its Foundational Elements Hip Hop’s origin story begins in the 1970s in the South Bronx (Image 1) in New York with predominantly African American and Latino-American youth (around your students’ ages!). Hip hop culture has four foundational elements: the DJ, the MC, graffiti, and breaking. The DJ The hip hop DJ didn’t just put a record on the turntable and let it play. These DJs recognized that the dancers got really excited during certain parts of the songs, the breaks (a percussion section when the rest of the instruments drop out), so they devised ways to just repeat—or loop—the dancers’ faVorite sections of the music. DJ Kool Herc (Image 2) is perhaps the earliest pioneering figure in hip hop history, and he was known for having massiVe, incredibly loud speakers, the Herculoids. DJ Afrika Bambaataa is recognized as the Godfather of hip hop for his influential role, and DJ Grandmaster Flash is known for his scientific approach to deejaying and perfecting the loop. The MC Grandmaster Flash deejayed a party and the crowd wasn’t into it, so he came up with the idea to haVe someone proVide Vocal accompaniment on a microphone to get the crowd excited. While DJs played the music, MCs began with simple phrases to get the crowd hype, some started rhyming, and eVentually this eVolVed into rapping as we know it today. (Image 3) Graffiti Although graffiti is obViously known for its rule-breaking, it is so important to acknowledge the incredibly innoVatiVe artistry graffiti artists deVeloped.
    [Show full text]
  • Urban Street Dance Department
    Urban Street Dance Department Divisions and Competition Rules Break Dance Division Urban Street Dance Division Implemented by the WADF Managing Committee January 2020 Artistic Dance Departments, Divisions and Competition Rules WADF Managing Committee Nils-Håkan Carlzon President Irina Shmalko Stuart Saunders Guido de Smet Senior Vice President Executive Secretary Vice President Marian Šulc Gordana Orescanin Roman Filus Vice President Vice President Vice President Page 2 Index Artistic Dance Departments, Divisions and Competition Rules Urban Street Dance Department Section G-2 Urban Street Dance Division Urban Street Dance Competitions Urban Street Urban Street Dance is a broad category that includes a variety of urban styles. The older dance styles that were created in the 1970s include up-rock, breaking, and the funk styles. At the same time breaking was developing in New York, other styles were being created in California. Several street dance styles created in California in the 1970s such as roboting, bopping, hitting, locking, bustin', popping, electric boogaloo, strutting, sac-ing, and dime-stopping. It is historically inaccurate to say that the funk styles were always considered hip-hop. "Hip-Hop Dance" became an umbrella term encompassing all of these styles. Tempo of the Music: Tempo: 27 - 28 bars per minute (108 - 112 beats per minute) Characteristics and Movement: Different new dance styles, such as Quick Popping Crew, Asian style, African style, Hype Dance, New-Jack-Swing, Popping & Locking, Jamming, etc., adding creative elements such as stops, jokes, flashes, swift movements, etc. Some Electric and Break movements can be performed but should not dominate. Floor figures are very popular but should not dominate the performance.
    [Show full text]
  • Hip Hop Dance: Performance, Style, and Competition
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Oregon Scholars' Bank HIP HOP DANCE: PERFORMANCE, STYLE, AND COMPETITION by CHRISTOPHER COLE GORNEY A THESIS Presented to the Department ofDance and the Graduate School ofthe University ofOregon in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the degree of Master ofFine Arts June 2009 -------------_._.. _--------_...._- 11 "Hip Hop Dance: Performance, Style, and Competition," a thesis prepared by Christopher Cole Gorney in partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for the Master ofFine Arts degree in the Department ofDance. This thesis has been approved and accepted by: Jenife .ning Committee Date Committee in Charge: Jenifer Craig Ph.D., Chair Steven Chatfield Ph.D. Christian Cherry MM Accepted by: Dean ofthe Graduate School 111 An Abstract ofthe Thesis of Christopher Cole Gorney for the degree of Master ofFine Arts in the Department ofDance to be taken June 2009 Title: HIP HOP DANCE: PERFORMANCE, STYLE, AND COMPETITION Approved: ----- r_---- The purpose ofthis study was to identify and define the essential characteristics ofhip hop dance. Hip hop dance has taken many forms throughout its four decades ofexistence. This research shows that regardless ofthe form there are three prominent characteristics: performance, personal style, and competition. Although it is possible to isolate the study ofeach ofthese characteristics, they are inseparable when defining hip hop dance. There are several genre-specific performance formats in which hip hop dance is experienced. Personal style includes the individuality and creativity that is celebrated in the hip hop dancer. Competition is the inherent driving force that pushes hip hop dancers to extend the form's physical limitations.
    [Show full text]
  • Cross‐Cultural Perspectives on the Creation of American Dance 1619 – 1950
    Moore 1 Cross‐Cultural Perspectives on the Creation of American Dance 1619 – 1950 By Alex Moore Project Advisor: Dyane Harvey Senior Global Studies Thesis with Honors Distinction December 2010 [We] need to understand that African slaves, through largely self‐generative activity, molded their new environment at least as much as they were molded by it. …African Americans are descendants of a people who were second to none in laying the foundations of the economic and cultural life of the nation. …Therefore, …honest American history is inextricably tied to African American history, and…neither can be complete without a full consideration of the other. ‐‐Sterling Stuckey Moore 2 Index 1) Finding the Familiar and Expressions of Resistance in Plantation Dances ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 6 a) The Ring Shout b) The Cake Walk 2) Experimentation and Responding to Hostility in Early Partner Dances ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 14 a) Hugging Dances b) Slave Balls and Race Improvement c) The Blues and the Role of the Jook 3) Crossing the Racial Divide to Find Uniquely American Forms in Swing Dances ‐‐‐‐‐‐ 22 a) The Charleston b) The Lindy Hop Topics for Further Study ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 30 Acknowledgements ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 31 Works Cited ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ 32 Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Moore 3 Cross‐Cultural Perspectives on the Creation of American Dance When people leave the society into which they were born (whether by choice or by force), they bring as much of their culture as they are able with them. Culture serves as an extension of identity. Dance is one of the cultural elements easiest to bring along; it is one of the most mobile elements of culture, tucked away in the muscle memory of our bodies.
    [Show full text]
  • Hip Hop Terms
    1 Topic Page Number General Hip Hop Definitions ………………………………………………. 3 Definitions Related to Specific Dance Styles: ♦ Breaking ………………………………………………………………………. 4 ♦ House ………………………………………………………..………………… 6 ♦ Popping / Locking …………………………………………….….……… 7 2 GENERAL • Battle A competition in which dancers, usually in an open circle surrounded by their competitors, dance their routines, whether improvised (freestyle) or planned. Participants vary in numbers, ranging from one on one to battles of opposing breaking crews, or teams. Winners are determined by outside judges, often with prize money. • • Cypher Open forum, mock exhibitions. Similar to battles, but less emphasis on competition. • Freestyle Improvised Old School routine. • Hip Hop A lifestyle that is comprised of 4 elements: Breaking, MCing, DJing, and Graffiti. Footwear and clothing are part of the hip hop style. Much of it is influenced by the original breaking crews in the 1980’s from the Bronx. Sneakers are usually flat soled and may range from Nike, Adidas, Puma, or Converse. Generally caps are worn for spins, often with padding to protect the head. To optimize the fast footwork and floor moves, the baggy pants favored by hip hop rappers are not seen. o Breaking Breakdancing. o MCing Rapping. MC uses rhyming verses, pre‐written or freestyled, to introduce and praise the DJ or excite the crowd. o DJing Art of the disk jockey. o Graffiti Name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted usually on buildings, trains etc. • Hip Hop dance There are two main categories of hip hop dance: Old School and New School. • New School hip hop dance Newer forms of hip hop music or dance (house, krumping, voguing, street jazz) that emerged in the 1990s • Old School hip hop dance Original forms of hip hop music or dance (breaking, popping, and locking) that evolved in the 1970s and 80s.
    [Show full text]
  • B-Girl Like a B-Boy Marginalization of Women in Hip-Hop Dance a Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Division of the University of H
    B-GIRL LIKE A B-BOY MARGINALIZATION OF WOMEN IN HIP-HOP DANCE A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN DANCE DECEMBER 2014 By Jenny Sky Fung Thesis Committee: Kara Miller, Chairperson Gregg Lizenbery Judy Van Zile ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to give a big thanks to Jacquelyn Chappel, Desiree Seguritan, and Jill Dahlman for contributing their time and energy in helping me to edit my thesis. I’d also like to give a big mahalo to my thesis committee: Gregg Lizenbery, Judy Van Zile, and Kara Miller for all their help, support, and patience in pushing me to complete this thesis. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract…………………………………………………………………………… 1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………. 1 2. Literature Review………………………………………………………………… 6 3. Methodology……………………………………………………………………… 20 4. 4.1. Background History…………………………………………………………. 24 4.2. Tracing Female Dancers in Literature and Film……………………………... 37 4.3. Some History and Her-story About Hip-Hop Dance “Back in the Day”......... 42 4.4. Tracing Females Dancers in New York City………………………………... 49 4.5. B-Girl Like a B-Boy: What Makes Breaking Masculine and Male Dominant?....................................................................................................... 53 4.6. Generation 2000: The B-Boys, B-Girls, and Urban Street Dancers of Today………………...……………………………………………………… 59 5. Issues Women Experience…………………………………………………….… 66 5.1 The Physical Aspect of Breaking………………………………………….… 66 5.2. Women and the Cipher……………………………………………………… 73 5.3. The Token B-Girl…………………………………………………………… 80 6.1. Tackling Marginalization………………………………………………………… 86 6.2. Acknowledging Discrimination…………………………………………….. 86 6.3. Speaking Out and Establishing Presence…………………………………… 90 6.4. Working Around a Man’s World…………………………………………… 93 6.5.
    [Show full text]