Examples Of Audience Etiquette & Audience Participation At Black American Non-Religious Performances

 

@Artbyartists1, January 26, 2023

This Girl Killed this Beat ( LOJAY X SARZ - MONALISA ) Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals 2022
-snip-
"AI Overview

The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals for 2025 were held in Los Angeles, California at the Intuit Dome with Dutch dancer Jaïra Joy taking the title in an electrifying all-female final. The event showcased freestyle dancers from around the world, with the crowd deciding the winners
-snip-
The publisher of another YouTube video of this clip* and some commenters in its discussion thread  indicates that this dancer is named Sara.* https://youtube.com/shorts/ayyTkZKd89E?si=RyeNRrukuNbFKk6k

Here's a comment from that discussion thread:
"@GG-eq3lq, 2025
"She was having so much fun, it was contagious and everyone in the crowd had no choice but to enjoy also! Well done sister!🎉🎉"
-snip-
*Thanks to another AI Overview write-up, I learned that this dancer is Sara Trellez from Colombia, South America. Read that complete AI Overview write-up below about this dancer and her dance at that Red Bull competition.  

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest update: December 14, 2025

This pancocojams post showcases five YouTube videos that focus on audience reactions at Black American non-religious performances.

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube. 
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/12/the-differences-between-black-american.html for the closely related pancocojams post "The Differences Between Black American Audience Etiquette And Mainstream American Audience Etiquette During Performances".

Also click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/12/two-videos-of-performances-at-2025-red.html "Two Videos Of Performances At The 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final Competition (Street/Freestyle Dancing)".

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These YouTube videos are given in no particular order with very little descriptions or explanations.

Numbers were assigned to these examples for referencing purposes only.

SHOWCASE VIDEO #1-Viral Dance At The Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final
Here's a December 14, 2025 Ai Overview write-up that is the result of my request for information about the viral dancer named Sara whose video of her performance at the 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final competition went viral:

"AI Overview

The dancer you are likely thinking of is Sara Trellez (also known as Sara Tréllez or @ssstrellez), a prominent street dancer from Colombia residing in Spain whose performances have consistently achieved viral status online in connection with various Red Bull Dance Your Style events, though her most famously viral "Monalisa" routine was from the 2022 events, not the 2025 World Finals. While clips of her continue to circulate widely in 2025 and are associated with the event, the main viral moments of the actual 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final centered on the winner, Jaïra Joy, and other finalists like Silent and Rylee.

The Phenomenon of Sara Trellez

It's fascinating how a single performance can capture the imagination of a global audience and continue to resonate years later. Sara Trellez's enduring popularity stems from her unique and powerful dance style, which many have described as spiritual and emotionally charged. Her memorable performance at the Red Bull Dance Your Style South Africa event in 2022, set to the song "Monalisa," is the primary clip that continues to resurface and gain millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

People are consistently drawn to several key elements of her performance:

Raw Emotion: Viewers often comment on her intense facial expressions and the feeling that she is completely channeling the music, allowing the "spirits to take over".

Musicality: Her ability to deeply connect with the music and interpret the beats with precision and creativity is a hallmark of her style.

Authenticity: Fans appreciate the unfiltered power and passion she brings to the dance floor, moving like the beat was "written for her".

Unique Fusion: She expertly blends different street dance styles, creating a performance that is both technically impressive and visually captivating.

The 2025 Red Bull Dance Your Style World Finals

The most recent Red Bull Dance Your Style World Final took place in Los Angeles in October 2025, and it produced a fresh set of viral moments of its own. The event was historic, featuring the first-ever all-female final showdown. The dancers who dominated the 2025 social media timelines were:

Jaïra Joy: The 18-year-old Dutch phenomenon who ultimately won the title. Her rounds, including an homage to an iconic moment, accumulated over 23 million views on TikTok alone.
Silent: The French krump artist who delivered a powerful, intense performance to a Burna Boy track that was noted for its "raw Parisian energy".

Rylee: A voguer from Philadelphia who brought ballroom flair, death drops, and intricate arm work to the stage in high-heeled boots and a feather boa, captivating the audience.

A Concluding Thought

So, while Sara Trellez remains an icon of the Red Bull Dance Your Style circuit, known for a timeless viral moment, the 2025 event was dominated by new talent like Jaïra Joy. The user's query beautifully illustrates the long tail of internet virality, where a powerful performance from years past can feel as current and impactful as the latest competition highlight. This ongoing engagement with past and present dance battles highlights the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the street dance community and the power of social media to keep incredible moments alive for new and old fans alike. If you want to dive deeper into the world of street dance and see more viral moments, you can explore the official Red Bull Dance YouTube channel or check out various dance clips on TikTok."

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Black Nativity Promo

Barn Dinner Theatre, Aug 11, 2017

Langston Hughes' heart-felt musical is the most entertaining way to relive the birth of Jesus Christ through the beat of the drum, the feet of high-energy dancers, and the souls of passionate storytellers. Enjoy The Nativity in a new light through great gospel music.
-snip-
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Nativity
"Black Nativity is an adaptation of the Nativity story by Langston Hughes, performed by an entirely black cast. Hughes was the author of the book, with the lyrics and music being derived from traditional Christmas carols, sung in gospel style, with a few songs created specifically for the show. The show was first performed Off-Broadway on December 11, 1961, and was one of the first plays written by an African American to be staged there."...
-snip-
You can hear some people in the audience clapping to the beat during this musical theatre production. At certain times in the video such as around 1:21 you can also see some audience members clapping during this song and dance performance. 

**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - Black Nativity Play at Hillside High School(4)

LaShon Brown,  December 20, 2015
-snip-
Read information about the play Black Nativity from the Wikipedia excerpt given for Showcase Video #2. In this video, I'm particularly interested in the reactions that the woman dressed in red has to the play.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4 - Spelhouse Homecoming 2025 Step Show

Creation n Motion, October 18, 2025 Spelman College -snip-
This YouTube video documents the audience reactions during a step show that is performed by members of Spelman College's chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. These reactions, which are made by other members of that historically Black Greek letter sorority who are in the audience, consist of vocalizations such as "Let's go A.J. let's go, girl!", making that sorority's signature "call", and making that sorority's signature hand gesture.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - INTERMISSION AT A BLACK CONCERT IS A VIBE!!



@ItsSimplyShonda, November 11, 2023
-snip-
This YouTube video shows audience members remaining on the concert floor and enjoying themselves during that concert intermission. 

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The Differences Between Black American Audience Etiquette/Participation And Mainstream American Audience Etiquette/Particpation During Performances

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents an AI Overview write up about the differences between Black American audience etiquette/participation and mainstream American audience etiquette/participation. I asked about this subject on December 11, 2025.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their oweners.

Thanks to AI Overview for this write-up..
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/12/examples-of-audience-etiquette-audience.html for the closely related pancocojams post "Examples Of Audience Etiquette & Audience Participation At Black American Non-Religious Performances."

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THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLACK AMERICAN AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE/PARTICIPATION AND MAINSTREAM AMERICAN AUDIENCE ETIQUETTE/PARTICIPATION

"AI Overview

Understanding the nuances of audience etiquette across different cultural contexts within the United States is a fascinating inquiry that touches upon core aspects of cultural communication and social norms. The query asks for the differences between Black American audience etiquette and mainstream American audience etiquette, and it is important to first acknowledge that "mainstream" etiquette in the US often reflects dominant white cultural norms, which have historically excluded or marginalized the cultural practices of other groups. Black Americans are also not a monolith, as intersectionality (how race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other identities intersect) plays a critical role in shaping individual experiences and behaviors.

Nevertheless, some general patterns emerge regarding audience interaction styles, which primarily revolve around the level of verbal and physical engagement and the expectation of interaction between the performer and the audience.

Key Differences in Audience Etiquette

The primary distinction lies in the concept of "active" versus "passive" reception of a performance.

Active Participation in Black American Culture: Black American audience etiquette often encourages a more dynamic and vocal participation, rooted in traditions like the "call and response" found in the Black church and other community gatherings. This engagement is seen as an essential, reinforcing part of the shared experience, providing energy to the performers and the audience alike. It's a two-way conversation, where the audience's reaction directly influences the flow and intensity of the performance.

Vocalizations: This can include verbal affirmations (e.g., "Yes, ma'am," "Amen," "Tell it like it is," "preach"), cheering, singing along, and direct comments to the stage. These expressions signify agreement, excitement, or appreciation and are generally welcomed by the performers.

Movement and Physicality: The audience may move more freely, clap along, or exhibit enthusiastic physical reactions like standing up or gesturing during peak moments of the performance.

Punctuality and Flow: While traditional theater etiquette prizes promptness, some performances in Black cultural settings may have a slightly more flexible start time, occasionally with a short grace period.

Passive Reception in Mainstream American Culture: Mainstream (often white-dominant) American audience etiquette, particularly in formal settings like classical theater, symphony orchestras, or certain formal concert venues, traditionally emphasizes silence and minimal disruption. The expectation is that the audience provides a quiet, focused environment where all attention is directed solely at the stage without interruption.

Silence is Golden: Talking, whispering, or making noise (including from rustling candy wrappers) during the performance is generally frowned upon and considered a significant distraction.

Applauding at Specific Times: Applause is typically reserved for specific, sanctioned moments, such as the end of an act, the conclusion of a piece of music (like an overture), or a curtain call. Enthusiastic reactions like cheering or standing ovations are common, but only at the performance's end or during an intermission, not typically in the middle of a dramatic monologue or musical number (unless the performers explicitly encourage it).

Minimizing Physical Presence: Audience members are expected to remain seated throughout the performance unless an emergency arises, to avoid blocking the view of others.

Historical and Cultural Context

The origins of these differences are deeply rooted in history. Mainstream etiquette evolved from European upper-class norms, which emphasized restraint and decorum as marks of sophistication. In contrast, Black American performance traditions often developed in community spaces, such as churches and social gatherings, where shared experiences and collective emotional release were paramount. This history fosters a strong sense of community, where the audience's shared identity and active engagement enrich the overall experience. Performers of color often express appreciation for an engaged audience, viewing the energy as a positive reinforcement of their work.

A Note on Contextual Blending

It is also important to note that these are not rigid boundaries and can vary greatly depending on the specific venue and type of performance. A pop or rock concert for a mainstream audience will feature cheering and singing along, which is encouraged. Similarly, a formal Black tie gala featuring a classical performance might see Black audience members adhering to more formal, quieter norms. The key is that while mainstream norms often default to quiet reserve in formal settings, Black cultural norms more frequently default to an open and affirming interaction.

So, in conclusion, the fundamental difference lies in the value placed on the interactivity of the event versus its silent reception. Black American audience etiquette generally embraces a lively, vocal, and physically engaged communal experience, whereas mainstream etiquette for formal arts typically prioritizes silence and passive observation until designated moments for applause. Understanding these differing cultural expectations helps to appreciate the diverse and vibrant ways Americans experience live perform."

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Angelique Kidjo - "Afirika" ("Mama Africa") At The Grammy Awards 2020 (with three other videos of Angelique Kidjo singing that song)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a pancocojams series about the song "Afirika" (also known as "Mama Africa" and "Afrika") that has been performed throughout the world by Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo.*

Part II of this pancocojams series showcases a video of Angelique Kidjo singing "Afirika" ("Mama Africa") at the Grammy Awards 2020.

My transcription of Angelique Kidjo's opening remarks at that performance are included in this post along with a few selected comments about audience participation at that concert.

Part II also showcases three additional videos* of Angelique Kidjo singing "Afirika" ("Mama Africa") and a few additional comments from those videos' discussion threads.

*These additional videos don't include the 2016 Grenada video that is showcased in Part I of this series.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/02/angelique-kidjo-afirika-aka-mama-africa.html for Part I of this pancocojams series showcases a 2016 video of Angelique Kidjo singing "Afirika" ("Mama Africa") during a Grenada (Caribbean) music festival.

Information about Angelique Kidjo is included in that post along with lyrics to "Afirika" in Fongbe (Fon) & Yoruba, with English translations.

Some information about Fongbe (language) and Yoruba (language) is also included in that post along with an explanation of the Yoruba word "ase" (also given as "eshe").

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The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Angelique Kidjo for her musical legacy. Thanks to the composer/s of this song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
* There are a number of other YouTube videos from 2009 to January 2020 (and at least one sound file during that period of time) of Angelique Kidjo singing "Afirika" ("Mama Afirika") that aren't included in this pancocojams series.

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS & COMMENTS
Video #1: Angelique Kidjo performing “Afirika" | 2020 GRAMMYs Performance



Recording Academy / GRAMMYs, Jan 26, 2020
Watch Angelique Kidjo performing “Afirika" at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony.

Full Winners List: 62nd GRAMMY Awards https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/2020-grammy-awards-complete-winners-list...
-snip-
Here's my [unofficial] transcription of Angelique Kidjo's opening remarks (Additions and corrections are welcome)

"Hello, Hello everybody. How ya’ll doing?

Alright. Come on, you too sleepy for me. Alright.

You know that all music come from Africa, alright?

Now we are all Africans, alright?

Okay. I want tonight [indecipherable comments to someone] to celebrate our shared humanity by singing with you and teaching you this song you are about to sing.

It goes like this [Angelique Kidjo speaking to the band says] "Can I have a G, please".

[Angelique Kidjo sings the chorus while pointing the microphone at the audience, Some people in audience sing.]

Ahhhh. That’s how you want to show- to celebrate our shared humanity? We are that boring?

No. Come on. Let’s go backwards.

[Angelique Kidjo begins the song again, beckoning to the audience to sing with more intensity. The audience sings louder and with more feeling.]

That’s what I’m talkin about.

[The audience continues singing.]

Un hun, Come on.

Let’s do this."

[Angelique Kidjo begins actual performance of this song with the audience singing the chorus they have learned.]
-snip-
Here are some selected comments from this video's discussion thread. Most of these comments are about the audience's relative lack of intensity during this performance (with numbers added for referencing purposes only). All of these comments are from 2020.

1. Lord Yadof
"She brought the house DOWN. The voice and the musicians was all REAL no back track NOTHING. That’s how Africa does it. Taking it back to the roots."

**
2. la mulata linda Martinez
"That's how you rock a house. No need for 50 dancers, pyrotechnics, etc to hide the fact that you really can't sing or perform. This music is the foundation of salsa, soul, samba, jazz, blues reggae, pleina, merengue, bomba, Cha Cha Cha and more. Ashe Mama Africa!"

**
3. Cherry Snow
"Who dances holding a phone on themselves. Tacky and self absorbed. Put the damn phones down and let the rhythm flow through you"

**
4. Arnold Kavaarpuo
"She lit the place up. Now that is what I am talking about! We don't just show up, we bring the place down. Mama africa in the building!"


**
5. Samantha Bumgarner
" “Is that how you want to celebrate our shared humanity? Are we that boring?! “ 😂"

**
6. LoveNotCult
"Geez a whole auditorium of stiff losers representing the 'music industry'. Countless other auditoriumfulls around the world would put them to shame with explosive enthusiasm for this obviously real music from the unabashed willingness to show the real joy in their souls."

**
7. Sinazo Mafanya
"Aaah, Mama Kidjo, beautiful!!💓💓💓🥰🇿🇦 Get them moving Queen!"

**
8. ilnaz shahmoradi
"Disrespectful audience"

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REPLY
9. brwnish eyes
"The crowd doesn't know her. This is america not Africa. The crowd didn't agree with her opening statement about all music coming from Africa when drums were invented in China. Most in the crowd wasn't having it. People are tired of parroting the phrase of the day, especially when researchers unearth new truths. She sang in her language which we don't know. She could have been saying anything. The audience was hesitant for good reasons; like signing an agreement without reading it first. What would have been disrespectful is if most people stayed in their seats. Stop crying and calling foul when things don't go exactly how you want them to go, especially when you're in someone else's country country."

**
10. Adhi Pratama
"The Goddess of Africa!! Always excellent performance from Ms. Kidjo!

(PS. Why this crowd is less excited compared to the one in Nobel Peace Prize Concert a few years back?)"
-snip-
That video is given as Video #3 below. Read my comment in this post's discussion thread about possible reasons why the Nobel Peace Prize audience was more involved in Angelique Kidjo's audience participation performance of this song than the Grammy Awards 2020 audience.

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11. Chellsie Adams
"I know that anyway I say this, people are going to say I'm a racist, and whatever else. But I just couldn't get into this. It was like a 3 word song, just repeated over and over and over again. The band was good. But this was a little uncomfortable to watch. I don't like it when artists try to FORCE their audience, into dancing or singing or whatever else, to their performance. If people like it, they will sing. They will dance. They will stand. They will shout. They will scream and clap. I wouldn't want to have to BEG my audience, to get into my music. If you have to beg like that, it's probably because people just don't like the song, or the performance you are putting on. It keeps you humble. Then you know that you need t0 change something, or step up your skills. Because you can tell if your audience is into it or not. It's extremely embarrassing and uncomfortable, to watch someone have to pull life out of their audience. If I could be better. I want t0 know about it. I don't want t0 be lied t0. I don't want people to cheer me on, just because I'm begging them to. How is that talent? Idk if people just get in their own heads, and think they deserve more attention, or respect than they are getting, or what?.. but a good performance is a good performance. No matter if you are into that genre or not. It doesn't matter. Everyone can accept and appreciate a talented artist, an a good performance. This just didn't do that for me. The audience looked very uncomfortable, and this performance just wasn't it. No shade to anyone. I just wanted t0 give my opinion on it. ♡"

**
12. musweu mulijani
"If she was to perform at the Namibian Annual Music Awards like this she would get booed and kicked off the stage for failing to make the crowd dance"

**
13. Grace Art
"I didn't know she existed, but she is here to stay. She commanded her respect, the whole crowd stood up."

👏"

**
REPLY
14. Me1586 Me
"I'm 33 now, I remember watching her every Saturday on TV when I was growing up in Ghana. She still fly, hasn't aged one bit! And still rocking!!
I LOVE HER!!!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍🇬🇭"

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REPLY
15. Vi lia
"And she is almost 60yrs"

**
16. Jonathan Cineus
"That little kid @ 2:39 made my day. Let’s end racism from the time people are kids."

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REPLY
17. GiveMeShelter
"He was singing beautifully, too. Really enjoying singing this song. I'm so proud of Queen Angelique Kidjo."

**
18. Letoya Johnstone - Kenya
"It's so wrong how the Grammy don't even broadcast this live . You must learn to give African musicians enough airplay on the academy Chanel's and on Grammy ."

**
19. anicmarina
"The Grammys aren’t really known to appreciate world music - Angélique Kidjo has been making music for decades and the majority of the people there have probably have never heard of her even though she’s one of the most well known and talented African musicians"

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REPLY
20. Stefan
"She’s been putting Africa on the map for decades.. she now has 4 Grammy awards"

**
21. Claudia Grant
"I couldn't understand her language but she kill the stage and got everybody on their feet's and she even got me dancing here too
Bravo ma'am 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼"

**
22. Noelle Parris
"Weak audience participation. But Angelique is a queen 👏🏽❤👏🏽"

**
23. Maurice Rivers
"I've been listening to her since 2001: the woman is a legend that NEVER gets her deserved props. It's sad that this portion of the Grammys never gets shown to the public, and most of the audience is seat-fillers and non-celebs. The jazz, blues, classical and world music categories are always given the cold shoulder at the Grammys."

**
24. manganbor nungchim
"3:00 gotta love that man"

**
REPLY
25. Sam
"Boy BOPPED👏🏾👏🏾"

**
REPLY
26. Krystin Grant
"Yes 🤣🤣🤣🤣"

**
REPLY
27. Temi Ojoye
"Fell in love with him😊😊"

**
28. StaceyFoxx
“Come on come on you’re too sleepy for me” 🤣 she’s so fearless, but great performance 🤝"

**
REPLY
29. Acharich Speaks
"
🔥🔥🔥"

**
30. Rydiah Barron
"Im glad she got the audience involved. The audience can really kill an awesome vibe with their lameness"


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Video #2: Angelique Kidjo & Carlos Santana - Mama Africa (Live @ Montreux)



Bedlem7, Feb 13, 2011

Live @ Montreux Jazz Festival [Switzerland]
-snip-
Here's a few comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).

1. Little Flower, 2019
"I love how most Africans can switch from French to English and back to their native tribes in 60 second. Like they didn’t do anything."

**
REPLY
2. BILIKISU MOHAMED, 2019
"oh yes we can do that. proudly african"

**
REPLY
3. Mary Hernandez, 2019
"This is the ONLY country that brags about being monolingual (tho mostt DON'T speak English well!)"


**
REPLY
4. Blandina Mnyinga, 2020
"that's us Africans sweetheart, thanks by the way.much love from my beautiful land of mount Kilimanjaro,TANZANIA,East Africa
-snip-
I believe that the lack of familiarity that many people in the United States have with languages other than English and the fact that many people in the United States only speak English may at least partly explain why the audience at the Grammys weren't as enthusiastic about Angelique Kidjo's performance of "Afirika" ("Mama Africa"). [Read comment #9 after Video #1 about audiences in the United States not knowing Angelique Kidjo and not knowing the language/s that she sings in.]

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Video #3: Angélique Kidjo Africa 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Concert



Nobel Peace Prize Concert, Nov 20, 2012
-snip-
Here are two comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).

1. Celestine Ranft, 2018
"That’s our rythym go africa🤩🤩😍😍"

**
2. Latifa Ahmed, 2019
"These are the kind of artists that I would pay to go and enjoy their concerts without regrets"

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Video #4: Angelique Kidjo on Austin City Limits "Afrika"



AustinCityLimitsTV, Jan 22, 2016
-snip-
Here's a few comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).

1. GL Morticia, 2016
"those white folks dont know what the hell to do with all that rhythm"

**
REPLY
2. Cindy Morre, 2020
"Oh please, this is so tired!! who cares what is important is that people are having fun."

**

3. Kol by, 2018
"Why cant this world be like this..everyone just have fun and dance together!!! 💗💗💗"

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Video comments are welcome.