Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Update: May 22, 2022
This is Part V of a five part pancocojams series about Jamaica's Dancehall Reggae dances.
This post presents online article excerpts and discussion thread comments about some Dancehall dances that inspired or are similar to or the same as certain African American Hip Hop dances
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/information-about-jamaican-dancehall.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about legendary Jamaican dancer/choreographer "Mr. Bogle" ("Mr. Wacky") and showcases three YouTube videos that feature Mr Bogle.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/how-dancehall-dance-willie-bounce-got.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post showcase a YouTube video of the Dancehall dance "Willie Bounce" and provides information & comments about that dance got its name. Information about Elephant Man who first recorded the "Willie Bounce" in 2006 is also included in that pancocojams post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/jamaican-dancer-latonya-styles.html for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a YouTube video demonstration of some of the dances that were created by Dancehall dancer/ creator "Mr. Bogle". Selected comments from that video's discussion thread is also included in that pancocojams post.
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The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those musical artists, choreographers and dancers who have contributed to Jamaica's Dancehall music and dance. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2022/05/excerpts-about-history-of-jamaicas.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Excerpts About The History Of Jamaica's Dancehall Reggae Music".
Also, click the Dancehall Reggae tag below for other pancocojams post about that music and dances.
In addition, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/02/the-charleston-butterfly-tootsie-roll.html for a 2012 pancocojams post entitled "The Charleston, The Butterfly, & The Tootsie Roll"
Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-butterfly-cabbage-patch-dances-in.html for the somewhat related pancocojams post entitled "The Butterfly & The Cabbage Patch Dances In Children's Cheers".
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DISCLAIMER
This pancocojams post isn't comprehensive. There are probably many other Dancehall and Hip Hop dance moves that could be included here.
This post doesn't mean to imply that Dancehall dances were/are the only dance forms that have influenced and continues to influence African American (and other forms of) Hip Hop dances. Futhermore, this pancocojams post recognizes that Dancehall music and dance was (and probably continues to be) influenced by African American Hip Hop and other forms of Hip Hop music and dance.
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ONLINE EXCERPTS & COMMENTS
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
Some of the Dancehall dance moves that are mentioned in these quotes are featured in YouTube videos that are embedded in other posts in this pancocojams series.
Excerpt #1
From https://theboombox.com/90s-dances-kid-n-play-running-man/ Do You Remember These Famous 90s' Moves, published by Sharee Hereford, March 27, 2018
"The Butterfly
"Who remembers watching one of Patra's music videos and
trying hard to imitate her while she did the Butterfly?
Reggae and Dancehall had a big impact on pop culture in the 90s. The Butterfly not only became popular within those genres, it crossed over and many hip-hop and R&B artists incorporated the dance into their performances.
[...]
The Bogle
Before Ciara was doing the matrix dance, it was The Bogle
that made people bend as far back as they could go. While the actual dance is
easy, it was always how far one could bend back that garnered the cheers from a
crowd.
The Heel Toe
This is a dance that you need some coordination to execute
properly otherwise you could find yourself on the floor. The Heel Toe was a
dance that was done to hip-hop and reggae songs.
The Tootsee Roll
"Cotton candy, sweet and low, let me see that tootsie
roll." It was in 1994 that 69 boyz publicly declared that the Butterfly
dance was now old and the new dance was the Tootsee roll. There wasn't a block
party, barbecue, or house party that didn't drop this song when it was hot."...
****
Excerpt #2
From https://www.xxlmag.com/best-hip-hop-dance-songs-2000/ History
of the Best Hip-Hop Dance Songs Since the 2000s - XXL, May 18, 2020
..."Lean Back"
"Terror Squad Featuring Fat Joe and Remy Ma
Released: 2004
Fat Joe and Remy Ma had everyone leaning in the summer of
2004 with their dance anthem “Lean Back.” Inspired by the dancehall move the
Rockaway, the dance allows you to just simply cross your arms and sway side to
side while leaning back. The Scott Storch-produced banger reigned at the apex
of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three consecutive weeks in August of 2004."...
****
Excerpt #3
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POqSVFKSaMA Jun Nuh Linga - Latonya Style, published by Danceja, June 4, 2008
[video summary] "Latonya Style of First Class Dancers demonstrating the Nuh Linga dance
created by Ovamarz - Above A Dem..."
[comments]
1. Madameo8, 2009
"stanky leg is a rip off of the NUH LINGA"
**
2. Fun Sag, 2010
"the nuh linga was out first ,, i knew ppl were gonna say it
look like the stanky leg smhh"
-snip-
The South African dance "gwara gwara" has been mistaken by Americans for the "stanky legs". Click https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/38824/1/rihanna-gwara-gwara-dance-grammys-wild-thoughts for a 2018 article about gwara gwara. Also, click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/10/five-videos-of-south-african-gwara.html for the pancocojams post entitled "Five Videos Of The South African "Gwara Gwara" Dance (information & videos)".
Excerpt #4
From https://www.redbull.com/us-en/dys-street-dance-styles-101 [no author or publishing date given, retrieved on May 18, 2022]
..."Bone Breaking
Bone-Breaking or FlexN is a style of dance based on exactly
what the title suggests. It started in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York and is
characterized by rhythmic contortionist movements and unreal levels of
flexibility. The dance is often performed shirtless to show off the
complexities of the moves. It also has an interpretative style and flowing, liquid
rhythms that make it unique.
Unlike other street dance styles originating in
the United States, Bone-Breaking did not come from hip-hop dance, funk music,
or hip-hop culture. It evolved from a Jamaican style of street dance called
Bruk-up. The dance roots are traced back to dancehall and a reggae style of
animation. When it emerged from Jamaican dancehalls in Brooklyn, it upended the
dance world"
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Excerpt #5
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLuYj9ZKxd4 Bruk Up origins (The movement) pt.1, published by LBXdancers, April 28, 2011 [video summary] "The Bruck Up style was founded in Jamaica nd moved to NY around the yr 94'.
Bruck Up was founded by the man dancing in this named Bruck Up (George Adams)... it has its own interpretation of animation (jamaican flavored) and storytelling.... with trademark moves such as the crabwalk, the shoulder pop, and many many more. Bruk Up (the original style) also has more looser movements tht look similar to Shotta dancing. Bruck Up in the current days incorporated waving, gliding, and bone breaking into the style for transitional purposes. The style has gradually evolved since then.."
[comments]
1. ReggMuff, 2011
"I miss these days in Jamaica yo fi real... I saw
Bruck up perform in person in Jamaica and I'll never forget that night... I
think that was like 1997 0r 1998... Maddd"
**
2. Hanzo Zer0, 2013
"I remember when this was the dance back in Brooklyn...The
good ol days."
**
Reply
3. panor penny, 2019
"Still exist family I'm apart of flex in use to be on the
cable show on bcat , we just doing videos and gigs , but it's still around ."
-snip-
Other commenters wrote that that Nw York City cable show aired Friday nights.
**
4. Silver Cat, 2018
"Lolš,I came here because my
son was trying to do this new dance here in America called,break them shoulders
or some shit like that”,anyway I said this reminds me of an old school
dancehall dancer name Brukup’and that’s what brought me here.I had to show my
son lol,and I just think black people all over the world lost a lot during the
slave trade but not that soul."
Reply
5. Dior Connor, 2018
"L
**
6. Vi Jo, 2019
"Even in NYC; when people would battle doing the bruk up;
everyone made faces to go with their moves."
**
Reply
7. Meta4ce ODOT, 2022
"This looks like Oakland Turf Dancing/Locking/New Orleans dance. Not saying it was influenced by it, but y'all need to stop saying it's that original when there were already ongoing dance styles in the US with these type moves: 20+ years before 1994."
-snip-
"Oakkand" probably refers to Oakland, California.
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Excerpt #6
From https://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/a-history-of-hip-hop-dances/ A History of Hip-Hop Dances, by Linda Hobbs, Jan 19, 2013
..."Tootsee Roll
Song: 69 Boyz "Tootsee Roll" (1994)
1994 was the year of major musical breakthroughs: Nas
dropped Illmatic, Kurt Cobain was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot
wound, Aaliyah, Brandy, and Usher all dropped their debut albums, and a crew
from Florida dropped one of the biggest summertime hits of all time, coined
after a popular piece of candy.
Pre-90s babies can still remember the magnitude of the Tootsee Roll, which appeared on the group's platinum-selling debut album 199Quad. The Miami bass jam was the brainchild of the young crew of eight... Though people mainly consider the dance to be the leg-rolling move, they forget it's an entire line dance too, equipped with commands, making it a former favorite for college parties.
The opening rap of the song starts off with, "I don't know what you've been told, it ain't the butterfly it's the tootsee roll," so no one got the dances twisted (even though they're pretty much the same thing). 199Quad was re-released in 2006, and to this day "Tootsee Roll" is hailed as a '90s cult favorite.
[...]
Flap Your Wings
Song: Nelly "Flap Your Wings" (2004)
In the opening line to 1994's "Tootsie Roll" by
the 69 Boyz, Thrill Da Playa raps, "The butterfly, uh-uh that's old! Let
me see ya tootsie roll!" Fast-forward to 2004 and you have Nelly who can
now pretty much throw that same shade to the Tootsie Roll, thanks to his
reinvention of the dance called Flap Your Wings. The dance move serves as
another cousin of the Butterfly, where you basically drop and roll your legs
together. Besides being a club favorite, the single became the No. 1 record in
the UK the same year it came out.
-snip-
"The Butterfly" is a Jamaican Dancehall dance move.
I added italics to highlight these words.
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This concludes Part V of this pancocojams series.
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