Waacking
Back to the 70ies!

Waacking is a style evolved from the 1970ies, and is the father of House dance. It was born in the New York Clubs and is based on imitation of actors in early 1900- silent movies. Some say it has influences from Locking and Popping, as it has similarities.

Learn the basics, the culture and history of Voguing and Waacking from a dynamic artist!
These workshop will broaden your horizon of urban dance styles.


Voguing
strike a pose!

Voguing is a style developed in the 1980ies and is characterised by poses, similar to the ones of photo model poses with some influences from the Harlem ballrooms of the 1930ies. Characteristics are formation of lines, symmetry, and precision in the execution of such formations and graceful, fluid-like action.


Archie Burnett
Archie Burnett is a highly respected underground club dancer in New York City who was one of the prime dancers during the late 70s and 80s, becoming well known for his individual freestyle of "Waacking" and "Voguing". He was a close friend and assistant of the grandfather of "Voguing", the legend Willi Ninja, and is up until now an striving force in the NYC dance scene. He is invited as a judge for battles, such as for the Funky Stylez 2009 a.o.

He appears in the documentary film Check Your Body at the Door(2001) by Dr. Sally Sommer, (Professor of Dance at Florida State University), that explores the movement vocabulary of legendary NYC house dancers, including Archie Burnett, Willi Ninja, Ejoe Wilson, Marjory Smarth and Conrad Rochester. Made possible in part by contributions from the National Endowment of the Arts, Dr. Somner interviews dancers from the local NYC scene and captures now-vintage footage from the late 80s and early 90s. Check Your Body at the Door now stands as an historical document and testament to the early years of NYC’s house dance culture.

"I've travelled all over the world doing what I love to do best: that's spreading the house vibe that lives and thrives in the NYC. I have a documentary produced by Sally Sommer, Check Your Body at the Door, that chronicles the lives of some of the dancers that are the life's blood of this underground scene. We began filming in 1991. Now I'm happy and proud to say it has become a historical record of that moment in time. Dancing has always been my voice, my body my instrument and music my passion. May the music never die. It's not over till it's over!!!".