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Showing posts with label African American Rhythm and Blues and Hip Hop dances. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African American Rhythm and Blues and Hip Hop dances. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Information About & Videos Of The "Camel Walk" Dance (with information about The Prince Hall Shriners & "The Camel Walk" Procession)ha


CharismaticJayy, Oct 28, 2022 -snip- This YouTube video replaces one that is no longer available.

**** Edited by Azizi Powell Latest Revision: August 31, 2026

This pancocojams post presents information about the dance called "the camel walk" . This post also showcases several videos of contemporary examples of social dances called "the camel walk". This post also presents some comments from the discussion threads for a few of these showcase videos. The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and entertainment purposes. Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post. -snip-
Some of the content of this post is included in this 2012 pancocojams post entitled " Videos Of R&B "The Camel Walk" Dance & Videos Of Shriners "Riding" Camel Walk" 
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/09/videos-of-camel-walk-dance-shriners.html
**** INFORMATION ABOUT THE "CAMEL WALK" DANCE Source #1 From https://lsc-pagepro.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=678894&article_id=3801653&view  The Rag-Time Origins Of The Camel Walk by Noble Damajo Smith, Rameses Temple  #5,Charlotte, North Carolina [no publishing date, but the latest citation is 2020]

…"The [Camel Walk] dance has actually been in the African American community for a great deal of time with multiple variations of the dance showing up in various forms and reintroduced with revivals in relationship to rag-time music. The dance done in connection to the Mystic Shrine still contains some visual and rhythmic similarities to the older versions of the dance.  Rag-time music became popular in the mid/late 1890s as a precursor for Jazz and Blues. The music style found its characteristic expression in formally structured piano compositions and was influenced by African American banjo styles and syncopated (off-beat) dance rhythms o the cakewalk as well as elements of European music.

The dances that accompanied this Rag-time style of music were in some cases labeled “Animal dances” mimicking distinctive moves from sea, land, and air animals. The CamelWalk was one of such dances along with others such as the Crap Step, Horse Trot, Kangaroo Dip ,and the Grizzley Bear to name a few.

[…] These dance moves were popular with Americans but none more than the African American community as such they were looked down upon and considered ungraceful type dances.  As these dances became more popular with the broader society, the leadership of many cities, including mayors  and evangelists condemned them in favor of dances considered to have more decorum such as new versions of the waltz, gavotte, and polka.

These dances would continue to be popular in the 1920s when we would see jazz era break out and new dances such as Charleston, Foxtrot, and later the Lindy Hop and jitterbug grow in popularity.”

[…]

So what is the connection between the camel walk dance and the A.E.A.O.N.M.S.?  It may be obvious that both are African American creations and found within the African American community.  Both would have been very familiar to the community and would have overlapped in the community service and social arenas.  However, the connection goes further, the A.E.A.O.N.M.S. is a benevolent and fraternal organization built upon symbolic teachings of morality.  The backdrop for the Shrine is the deserts of Arabia and the Islamic culture, and within the symbolic teachings of the Mystic Shrine you find references to the camel.

The camel is a very important animal and resource in the desert and is the national animal of Saudi Arabia.  They can travel for long distances without food or water…They are one of the best sources of transportation in sandy areas and can move quickly (up to 40 mph) due to the natural design of their feet which allows easy movement in sand. It has always been very important to properly tie your camel to a hitching post or other firm supports so that you don’t lose such a valuable resource in the desert.

The camel, a useful means of support in the desert, is used to move people and goods between one oasis and another (an oasis is a fertile spot in the desert, where water is found.) 

An oasis also can be considered a pleasant or peaceful area or period in the midst of a difficult, troubled, or hectic situation.  We hve designed each city wherein a Temple of a Mystic Shrine resides as an Oasis, the Desert has been designated as the state or region that houses that Oasis/Temple and the national body that is the umbrella covering for the Dominion of the Imperial Council.  Therefore, these fertile, pleasant, and peaceful Temples draw a direct relationship with the symbolic nature of the Mystic Shrine.  They are the center for our community service activities such as voter registrations, college scholarship awards, back to school supply giveaways, health screenings and our diabetic initiatives. We invite all that are within our walls to share in our social functions as well”…

****
Source #2 From http://www.streetswing.com/histmain/z3camel.htm
"The Camel Walk was a ragtime animal dance, came originally from Vaudeville shows. The Camel Walk was mainly done by college students and "flappers" during the Jazz age in the 1910's and 20's with the public as a social dance. It was basically done with a Straight Up (Posture) but otherwise was walking 1920's fox-trot from start to end while dragging your steps slightly, done to slow music and in a zigzag direction or rotary direction. The Camel Walk drew a lot of displeasure among many mainly because the Girls would rest their heads on the leaders shoulder while dancing which many frowned upon as vulgar dancing. Occasionally the dance was varied with Fox-Trot steps by those who disliked anything quite so extreme.

[..]

The Camel Walk spin-offs of the 1910's became a popular retro dance to do at the time in the 1950's/60's, however these spin-off's were freestyle rather than couples. With such dances as the Camel Walk, Dance the Camel Walk, The Camel Walk Stroll etc ... It is said the the Horse dance was just another Camel Walk. The Camel Walk became the Stroll in the 1950's.

The two signature step's of the Camel Walk was the ronde or fan (rotary-walk rather than a gait or a transverse walk? of the leg, and the high slow lifting walking step forward. There is also the 'knee pop' or funky "Camel-Walk" variation with the leg hooking behind the other as seen in the above clip by Sammy. The Boogie Walks / Shorty George are also related to the Camel walk."
**** PART 1: CAMEL WALK R&B DANCES, HIP-HOP DANCES (Including a 2021 dance that is an updated form of the Camel Walk)
The original video that was embedded for Showcase Video #1 is no longer available. ****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: James Brown and Sammy Davis Junior There was a time dancing together [demonstration of a 1960s style of dancing the camel walk]

jeffcher, Oct. 19, 2016
-snip- The portion of the camel walk begins around 2:22 in this video.  Actor, singer, dancer Sammy Davis, Jr. demonstrates the 1960s way of dancing "the camel walk" to singer, composer, dancer James Brown.
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: - Al Minns - 1935 Camel Walk

Trickeration, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNiWLJxxK70 **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 -
The Official Camel Walk Dance Video [2011] WARNING: From 2:28 to 2:55, this next video includes the repeated cursing refrain "Do dat sh*t".

Uploaded by jrkmsu on Jan 1, 2011

Hitting that Camel Walk. Song by my boy Gevonte Davis. Gulfport, Mississippi
-snip-
Here's some comments from that video's discussion thread:(with numbers added for referencing purposes only)

1. bmo, 2011
"search for "james brown dancing" - big time camel walk!"

**
2. Chris Styles, 2012
"wow.  we did this back in the mid 80s. I can't believe kids are bringing this back."

**
3. infocus2008, 2012
"History does repeat itself"

**
Reply
4. DeathAngel7030, 2013
"Yeah I know. It was originally used as an intro while breakdancing

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #5:  Camel Walk Tutorial - Flockey [2013]

flockey12, Apr 3, 2013
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread, with numbers added for referencing purposes only.

1. KM3W, 2014 "A dance from the past! mid 60's!" ** Reply 2. Anders, 2018 "right back to at least the 30s they still did the same thing

... the jazz dance became a soul dance and its still goin strong ..."
** 3. packleader87, 2014 "Sammy Davis' walk was amazing too." ** Reply 4. Anders, 2018 "word ......" -snip- "Word" here is an African American Vernacular English term that is a shortened form for the statement "I hear the words that you're saying and I agree".

** 5. RIFICA777, 2015 "Nice. This the dance from the 60's?" ** Reply 6. Jacqueline Boswell, 2019 "Yes this is very much a dance the was very popular in the 60's." ** 7. KingNoble Martin, 2015 "You should change the name of the step because it is already belonging to all of the Shriners who actually do the real camel walk so out of respect to them and us. Love the dance but please call it something else ok.

** Reply 8. Benoit Guerin, 2015 "@Dwayne Martin  the camel walk is a charleston walk, It was already used in the 20's - 30's.

** 9. Hazel Eyes, 2018 "You done a excellent job teaching the camel walk.   I remember the camel walk dance from the 70s.  You are very good.

** 10. David Windhorst, 2019 "Well, that was awesome enough. :>)

Researching the history of the camel walk brought me here.  I heard it mentioned in a rockabilly song from the 50's; didn't realize it dates all the way back to ragtime and the Roaring '20's.

** 11. Quilter Nancy, 2020 "My mother, who would have been 90 this year, demo’d this dance to me when I was in high school. 

She said she and her friends did it when they were in HS!  1946?  She was almost as good as you!

** 12. Oxygen 7, July 2021 "People are calling it the 3 walk now"

** 13. Liams World, Sept. 2021 "And the camel walk is backkkkkkkkkk🔥🔥🔥🔥🥳" **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #6: How to 3 Step Walk TikTok Dance Tutorial [2021]



Lord Hec., July 20, 2021

-snip- Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgIQ2LFOeTc&ab_channel=LordHec for Part II of this tutorial video. -snip- The TikTok "3 step walk" challenge are danced to a brief clip of Beethoven by the Hip Hop artist Kenndog. Here's a link to a YouTube video of that TikTok challenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvplQn1-Q9w&t=11s&ab_channel=TikTube, published by TikTube, July 23, 2021 WARNING: That song includes the four letter form of what is commonly known as "the n word". **** PART #2: INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRINCE HALL SHRINERS AND EXAMPLES OF SHRINER'S RIDING (CAMEL WALK) Excerpt #1 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Hall_Freemasonry "Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of North American Freemasonry for African Americans founded by Prince Hall on September 29, 1784.

There are two main branches of Prince Hall Freemasonry: the independent State Prince Hall Grand Lodges, most of which are recognized by Regular Masonic jurisdictions, and those under the jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest (300,000+ initiated members) predominantly African-American fraternity in the nation.[1]"...

**** Excerpt #2 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shriners#Black_shrines "Shriners International, also commonly known as The Shriners or formerly known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, (AAONMS) is a Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.[1]

Shriners International describes itself as a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief,and truth. [...]

In 1893, a black counterpart to the Shriners movement was initiated by John G. Jones and other Prince Hall masons, initially called The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions.[14] Early in the group's history, there was legal conflict between the white and black orders, with a white order from Texas filing suit against a local black order for infringement of white Shriners regalia and traditions. The white order was initially successful in quashing the black temple until the ruling was overturned in appeals in 1929, protecting the right of black Shriners to continue practicing and fundraising nationwide.[15] The Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family counts 35,000 members in 227 shrines, with its own women's auxiliary organizations. Their primary recipients of charitable donations are the NAACP, The Urban League, the UNCF, and various hospitals and universities."...

**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #1-Menelik Temple#36 Nobles Camel Walking

Dayna on the Bart, Dec 6, 2015

November 14, 2015 Prince Hall Shriners Annual Joint Illustrious Potentate Ball. Nobles Camel Walking, bringing  Potey in! AEANOMS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLlUqikutIo -snip- Notice that the first group that is shown in this video are marching to a United States military cadence. United States military cadences originated with and are largely composed by African Americans. ****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Moussa Temple No. 106's 2018 Illustrious Potentate Ball Ride


Burrell Palmer, Oct. 22, 2018

SAN ANTONIO - (Oct. 20, 2018) Let's take a Ride. The Prince Hall Shriners of Moussa Temple No. 106 held their annual Illustrious Potentate Ball honoring Noble Burrell Parmer at the Holiday Day Inn International Airport Hotel. Thanks to the Ball Department and to the many guests who attended. (Song by EPMD: You Got's To Chill, Remix) -snip- Here are the only two comments from this video's discussion thread:(as of Auguat 21, 2026)

1. Victor Sherrod, 2019 "Ride Nobles" ** 2. Randy Coe, 2020 "Thank you for sharing. 

Camel riding is lots of fun and fellowship." **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Nasty Omar 21 Nobles ride Amos “Big Slimm” Tunstall Jr, May 6, 2019

Georgia Gala Conference, Oasis of Savannah Desert of

Georgia.. camel (ride Clyde) A.E.A.O.N.M.S. Slimm Music -"Here I Go" - Mystikal -snip- Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread: @Nawlinsfanforlife, 2016 "Ride NOBLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEgw3GfkeeY&t=186s

**** Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Videos of Old School Hip Hop Dances From The 1980s & 1990s

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases five videos that demonstrate "old school" Hip Hop dances. I believe all of these dances are from the 1980s and the 1990s,.

The content of this post is presented for folkloric, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

WARNING: Some comments from urbandictionary.com and from the YouTube videos that are embedded in this post include profanity and the "n word".

Also, remember that multiple songs & dances may have the same or similar names and some of the videos for those dances aren't suitable for children's viewing.

****
WHAT DOES OLD SCHOOL MEAN?
From http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=old%20school
by cazort Mar 31, 2004
"old school
Anything that is from an earlier era and looked upon with high regard or respect. Can be used to refer to music, clothing, language, or anything really."

**
From Spoot Juice May 23, 2004
"old school
1) Retro
2) As Before (as something was done, said, etc.)

1) Those shoes are so old school!
2) We're just kickin' it ol' school!

-snip-
"Kickin it" = "doing it"
-snip-
Given the age group of the majority of the population in the United States who use the hip hop coined term "old school" [ages 45 and under], at this time "old school" appears to mostly refer to R&B/Hip Hop music/dances from the 1980s and the 1990s. That term also appears to be a mostly positive, nostalgic reference to African American clothing & hair fashions and slang from the 1980s and the 1990s.

"Old school" music isn't the same thing as "old time music". "Old Time Music" is the formal genre name for American banjo & fiddle music that is from the 19th century and the early 20th century. A lot of that music has Black American roots, although nowadays it is mostly performed by non-Black musicians & singers. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/10/reeltime-travelers-shout-lula-example.html for an example of an Old Time Music song entitled "Shout Lula".

****
FEATURED VIDEOS
(These videos are posted in chronological order with the oldest dated video presented first.)

Example #1: Throwback dance moves from the 80s and 90s



verballyunspoken, Uploaded on Feb 24, 2009

Just being silly and showing off my skillz..lol How many throwback dance moves can you name? Put them in the comment box. I hope you have fun watching..cuz I had a blast making this video..lol

Soundtrack:

1) It takes Two - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
2) Humpty dance - Digital Underground
3) Push It- Salt N Pepa
4) Every Little Step- Bobby Brown
5) Control - Janet Jackson
6) Poison - Bell Biv Devoe
7) Pleasure Principle - Janet Jackson
8) What Have You Done For Me Lately - Janet Jackson
9) Don't Be Cruel - Bobby Brown
10) Ruffneck - MC Lyte
11) What about your Friends - TLC
12) Can't Stop no playa - Da organization
13) Whichaway - Intoxicated

I don't know the names of all..I just know how to perform the dance moves..if anyone can name these:

1) the Alf
2) Humpty Hump
3) Reebok
4) Running Man
5) Snake
6) ????
7) Whop
8) Prep
9) L-V (some call it the heel-toe)
10) The Heavy D
-snip-
A commenter wrote that #6 was called “the poison dance”. But that commenter added question marks to the end of his or her comment meaning that he or she wasn’t sure about that name.
“Poison” is a record name by Bell Biv Devoe [listed as #7]

****
Example #2: Throwback Dance Moves-Part 2



verballyunspoken, Uploaded on Mar 3, 2009

It's Part 2 Ya'll...there were a lot of dance moves in the 80's and 90's. I'm takin' ya'll back with a suprise at the end...lol

Soundtrack:

1) Straight-up - Paula Abdul
2) Groove Me - Guy
3) Feels Good - Tony! Toni! Tone!
4) Back to Life - Soul II Soul
5) ALright - Janet Jackson
6) Girls Dem Suga - Beanie Man ft Mya
7) Rebirth of Slick - Digable Planets

1) Roger Rabbit
2) Robo Cop
3) Heavy D
4) Cabbage Patch
5) ??? (It was in Janet's "alright" video..)
6) Butterfly & Bolo
7) Bobby Brown
8) The "Carlton" Dance

****
Example #3: Old School Dancing



oaklandtobrentwood, Uploaded on May 27, 2009

Old School Dancing 101
-snip-
"101" [pronounced "one oh one"] means something that is fundamental (basic; beginner's level). The term "101" comes from the course number that is given in United States universities & collegs for entry level courses in a particular subject.
-snip-
Dances (from subtitles in the video)
the camel walk
Guess
Mc Hammer
Biz Markie
Cabbage Patch
Body Talk
Medfly
Polio Medfly
69 Yoke “N”
Penguin Walk
Reebox
Pacman
Ms. Pacman
Fluke “N”
???? [means the dancer wasn’t sure what this dance is called]
The Smurf [not the 1-2 Step]

Selected comments from that video's viewer comment thread:
24ohmy, 2013
"The names are right for Cali. The names for the same dances sometimes were regional. In LA we'd have one name but my cousins in Philly, NJ, NY had a different name for the same dance."

**
tony, 2009
"the mc hammer was actually called the "Shaka Zulu" "

Reply
oaklandtobrentwood, 2009
"in Oakland, Ca. We call it the Hammer"

**
Guyver X, 2009
what's the name of this song?

Reply
oaklandtobrentwood, 2009
"Its a old school song called "Yella" "

**
Frostgrl681, 2013
"Hold up ...the dance you are doing is not Fluke N . That dance was called the Prep"

**
Frostgrl681, 2013
"Uhm excuse me sir but your MC Hammer dance is actually the alf dance"

****
Example #4: Teisha & Kia Do Old School Dances



NewKiTV, Uploaded on Jul 21, 2009

...Teisha & Kia Pay Tribute To Old School Dances-salt n pepa, mary j. blige, hammer etc.
-snip-
One of the women said that these dances are from the late 1980s and the early 1990s.

No dance names are given. The records' names are given as subtitles.

****
Example #5: Hip Hop Old School Dictionary

.

COSMOSUKR, Uploaded on Dec 26, 2010
-snip-
Note that hoaxer87 (2013) identified these dancers as the”world famouse ELITE FORCE CREW (MOP TOP), Henry Link and Buddha Stretch”

Here are the names of the dances that are demonstrated in that video as indicated by subtitles and the dancers' calling out the dance names:
The Smurf
Prep
Reebox
The Wop
Cabbage Patch
Happy Feet
The Fila
-snip-
Here's a comment from that video's viewer comment thread:

37janie, 2013
"Everybody tells us smthing different...so confusing. Last week at the Street Dance Kemp in CZ Henry Link taught that the Reebok is actually the Gucci. Just sayin for those who want to learn.

Yo and the 'Mike Tyson' move(which is not in this video but I dont mind mentioning it) is just a variation of a running man.

Peace yall #Always a student"

****
My thanks to the musical artists whose songs are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the dancers and to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.