Line Dances Performed At Black Cookouts, Wedding Receptions, & Other Get-Togethers, Part I - "Jump Off Line Dance"

Lee Wells, July 9, 2017
The dance is being led by Level #10 out of Victorville, CA.

Song: The Jump Off
Artist: Lil' Kim
-snip-
Level #10 is the name of a line dance group.

WARNING: This Hip Hop song includes the n word and some profanity.  

However, the words to the song are difficult to decipher in this video.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of an ongoing pancocojams series on lines dances performed at Black (African American) cookouts, wedding receptions, and other get-togethers (informal social gatherings).

This post showcases a YouTube video of  the "Jump Off"* line dance.

Selected comments from that video's discussion thread are also included in this post. I'm particularly interested in documenting some of the comments in that discussion thread which include African American Vernacular English words and phrases, especially the number of referents that were used for "Black women" and "older Black women".

The content of this post is presented for cultural, linguistic, and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners. 

Thanks to the choreographers of this line dance and thanks to all those who are featured in this video. Thanks also to Lil Kim for the music and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
*In the context of this line dance, the term "jump off" means "the place where something really hot (really good) is happening (or is going to happen).  

I've added an explanation for only three of the African American Vernacular English words/phrases in these selected comments: comment #2, comment #8, and comment #34. 

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.  

Notice how the dancers keep to the basic moves of the line dance while adding their own "flavor to the mix" (adding their own style to some of the dance moves).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eloGcexpGD8&feature=emb_logo

2017

1. Tamara Sanders
"The name of this Dance is Jump Off 

Choreographed by Mickey Fergusion/Hill City Sliders"

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2. Glaistig 1000
"Black Sista Ladies. Often imitated. Never ever reproduced. Fly. As. Shhhhhyt*"
-snip-
This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread. "Fly as sh-t" (or that  purposely misspelled euphemism of the word "sh-t") is a compliment.

A person who is "fly" is someone who is up to date with the latest urban (street) fashions/culture.

I think that one reason why the word "sh-t" began to be used as a superlative in African American Vernacular English is because "sh-t" is essential for the creation of life. (Think of fertilizer). I've also read that the phrase "the sh-t" is shortened form of "the real sh-t", meaning something that is of high quality. Of course, "something" has been extended to "someone" as it can be a compliment to describe a person as "the sh-t".   

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3. Anointed Actress
"Y'all better work."

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2018

4. CHOCOLATE PLATINUM SOUL LINE DANCE CLASS DANCE PARTY
"THE CHOCOLATE PLATINUM "SOUL LINE" DANCERS.......WE  ARE TAKING IT "2 DA CLUB".    CHOCOLATE SMILES!! ..GREAT DANCE.  LOTS OF ENERGY...WE LIKE THIS!!"

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2019

5. Aaisha Tillman
"Ok ok ok💃"

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2020

6. Zennia white
"Where the hell yall at cause im comin over"

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7. Julia Brown
"Hot damn this ladies was really getting down on this dance.. the lady with black shades was burning up the streets.  She was really in her own groove. I love this dance ther all was during..💃💃💃👍🏾✌🏽😊❤❤"

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8. The Lead Commander
"Just seen this...dem ladies ballin.. "
-snip-
In the context of this comment, "ballin" means "to dance" (i.e. Some formal social events where people dance are still called "balls") .

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9. Sterilyn Silver
"Definitely going to learn this dance love that music you can get down right funky"

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2021 

10. pecan brown
"Look at these QUEEN..YA'LL BETTER SHAKE SOMETHING..LOL..THIS MADE GET UP AND 2 STEP..LOVE  IT..

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11. Aqua Timer
"You go queens shake what your mama gave yall. Great dancing and thank you all for giving the world a smile !"

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12.  Brown Sugar
"That was sooo fun. I just picked up the moves right here in my living room. Next time I'm out and I hear this song I'm doing it again. And if nobody knows it I don't mind teaching on the spot. Let's go ladies and gents lol"
-snip-
Although most of the comments in that discussion thread refer to the women dancing, if you look closely, you'll see a few men also doing this line dance.

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Reply
13. Stephanie Shaw, 2022
"Is it easy to learn?"

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Reply
14. Brown Sugar, 2022
"@Stephanie Shaw  it was really easy. Just let the video play and repeat the moves as the beat drops. It's very repetitive. Those are the easiest dance moves. Most of all just have fun with it. It's good exercise if anything 😊"

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Reply
15. Stephanie Shaw, 2022
"@Brown Sugar  girl thanks 😊!..Imma sure give it a try..they were really enjoying themselves too😊"

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16. Vicki Tewfik
"This is great.. these sisters have the best moves.😁"

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17. Monique Wallace
"I loved this place was amazing to me so much fun I want to jump in there enjoying the party every time I watched it but one thing that did piss me off is this big headed bald man that keeps walking in front of the camera so disrespectful it’s a good thing they were so talented and having so much fun or his big head would’ve ruined it✊🏾🌹🙏🏾"

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Reply
18. Lee Wells
"Thanks Monique for your comments.  Glad you enjoyed the dance.  I must say that the guy you are referring to was the host of the event.  He wasn't aware the camera was recording.  He was simply trying to make sure the event went off without a hitch.  He was running around like crazy making sure everyone was enjoying themselves, so on behalf of my brother and Dance Instructor of Verlosity Soul Line Dance, cut him a break.  :)"

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19. JDS 00
"Yeeeeez. Black queens having fun. The tall girl in the yellow was grooving her behind off."

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20. RitaBugg Thomas
"Old guhh in the white shades behind grandma in the leopard too cool with it."

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21. Kemeyartus Niki
"Looks like they are having a ball"

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22. Murties Frierson
"Go black Queens."

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23. Monica Rucker
"Y’all are jammin’, jammin’, jammin’, LADIESSSSS!!!🤩👏🏾😍💃🏾🎵I love dance and love the togetherness, the positive vibes and JOY this brings! Keep on dancing…it brightens 🆙 so many and keeps our bodies strong!

🥰👑✊🏾😅💪🏾👑😌"

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24. D White
"I'm sending this to my Aunties so they ready by LABOR DAY WEEKEND!"

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25. pecan brown
"Look at these QUEEN..YA'LL BETTER SHAKE SOMETHING..LOL..THIS MADE GET UP AND 2 STEP..LOVE  IT.."

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26. Aqua Timer
"You go queens shake what your mama gave yall. Great dancing and thank you all for giving the world a smile !"

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27. Lisa Ferola
"ABSOUTLY love this for older woman"

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28. RitaBugg Thomas
"GRANDMA IN THE YELLOW AND LEOPARD AND THE ONE WITH THE YELLOW SPLIT SHIRT WITH RED UNDERNEATH KILLIN IT‼️‼️"

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29. haida hzouz
"Y'all are soooo beautiful!!! Inspiring to all Feminine world wide!!! YESS!!!"

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30. Cherry Blossom
"My kind of dancing  doing this when my husband  walk in he said get mommy  lol"

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31. Meshunna Siggers
"That's right get it West Coast!"

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32. Stewart Buford
"Great party ❤️ it! But if this dude walk in front of this camera one mo time😂 Sit down somewhere and I'm being nice😂"

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Reply
33. Lee Wells
"Funny!  This whas "That Dude's" event.  He was trying to make sure things continue to run smooth.  Without him, this event would not have been possible.  He's our very own Verlosity Line Dance Instructor."

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34. 9096valerie
"Get it Aunties🥰"
-snip-
In the context of this comment, "aunties" is a respectful informal referent for older women (especially an older African American women) who don't have to be related to the person using that term. The singular form for "aunties" is "aunty", and not "aunt"). 
 
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35. Lisa Thomas
"Black women are beautiful!!!"

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36.  Leisa Jacobs
"Black girl's doing the damn thang looking beautiful as we are!!"

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2022

37. Linda Thompson
"Work it out ladies..."

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38. Liz Dawkins
"Check out great granny out there. that lady probably 70 years old. But she moving  LOVE IT !!"

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Reply
39. Lee Wells
"I sure wish I knew which one you're talking about.  Lol"

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40. Linda Mchenry
"Yes the girl in the baseball cap did her thang she looks good best out of all them"

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41. Tflyisme
"It's the sisterhood, for me."

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42. Ms. Allie
"The girl in the stank red shorts and white top on fire. 🔥 lol"

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43. PG's Continuing Journey
"I love seeing line dance videos!!  First, COVID, then the recent Mass Shootings?  We need more positive vibes like this one!!  So much fun I can tell!"

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Reply
44. Lee Wells
"You are so right!  Glad you enjoyed watching this video.  Yes, everyone had a blast at our annual July picnic."

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