Introduction to Urban Dances

Relevance of the Theme

Urban Dances are a form of artistic expression rooted in Afro-American and Latin cultures. They have gained prominence in popular culture and contemporary music, becoming a significant form of culture and identity. Studying urban dances allows for a greater understanding of the richness and diversity of movement arts.

Contextualization

Urban Dances are part of the broader Arts curriculum, aiming to provide students with the opportunity to engage in various forms of artistic expression. Learning about this theme helps build bridges between different cultures and understand the influences of these dances on our society and the world. By studying Urban Dances, we enter a universe that goes beyond movement, including issues of identity, belonging, struggle, and resistance. These elements are as relevant today as they were in the past, and are topics that resonate through urban dances.

Theoretical Development

Components

• Origin: Urban Dances have their roots in the ghettos of New York, the birthplace of hip-hop culture. They are a product of the creativity and resilience of minority communities, being a form of expression amidst social adversities.

• Styles: Urban Dances encompass various styles, with the most common being B-boying or Breaking, Popping, Locking, Voguing, Dancehall, and Krump. Each of these styles has unique characteristics of movement, music, and attitude.

• Elements: The elements of Urban Dances go beyond body movement. They also include music (usually hip-hop music and derivatives), fashion (streetwear and distinctive styles), and discourse (lyrical content and gestures associated with movements).

• Cultural Belonging: Urban Dances are more than just a set of movements. They represent the culture and identity of the people who practice them, strengthening the sense of community and belonging.

Key Terms

• Hip-Hop: A cultural and artistic movement that emerged during the 1970s in the United States. Composed of four main elements: rap, DJing, graffiti, and dance.

• Breakdance (Breaking): A style of dance that is part of hip-hop culture, characterized by acrobatics, floor movements, and freezes (static positions).

• Popping: A dance style characterized by fast movements and muscle tensions.

• Locking: A dance style that emphasizes rigid and slow movements, highlighting the use of locks (sudden stops) and synchronization with music.

• Voguing: A dance style inspired by the poses of Vogue magazine models. It originated in the LGBTQ+ community and is a means of expressing gender and sexual identity.

• Dancehall: A Jamaican dance style that emerged in the 1970s. It is a mix of various styles, including hip-hop, reggae, and funk.

• Krump: A dance style from South Los Angeles characterized by intense, expressive, and energetic movements.

Examples and Cases

• "Planet B-Boy": A 2007 documentary that explores the global breaking culture and its social and cultural ramifications.

• "Paris is Burning": A 1990 documentary that examines the voguing culture in New York in the 1980s, focusing on the LGBTQ+ community and their quest for acceptance and empowerment.

• "Rize": A 2005 documentary that addresses the krump culture in Los Angeles, a form of dance that emerged from social tensions and violence in the ghettos.

• "Dancehall Queen": A 1997 film that portrays the life of a Jamaican woman who, through dance, challenges poverty and violence.

Detailed Summary

Key Points:

• The origin of Urban Dances occurred in the context of New York's ghettos, stemming from the experiences of minorities facing social adversities.

• The importance of hip-hop as one of the main components of Urban Dances, and as a cultural and artistic movement that transformed music, dance, graffiti, and rap.

• The variety of styles of Urban Dances, each with its own characteristics, attitudes, and history, including Masculinity and Femininity.

• Understanding the elements involved in Urban Dance, going beyond body movement and incorporating music, fashion, and discourse.

• The relevance of cultural belonging in Urban Dance and how it represents the culture and identity of those who practice it.

Conclusions:

• Urban Dances are a form of art and cultural expression that emerged in contexts of social adversities, and today transcends borders and cultures.

• Urban Dance is not just about body movement, but also about identity, culture, and belonging.

• Each style of Urban Dance has its own history, attitude, and associated culture, thus representing the diversity of human experiences.

Exercises:

1. Identify and describe two styles of Urban Dances other than Breaking.

2. Explain the concept of cultural belonging and how it applies to Urban Dance.

3. Choose one of the mentioned films/documentaries and write a critical review, highlighting its relevance to the study of Urban Dances.