Waacking: Styles and Characteristics

Waacking is a relatively young dance style that emerged in the 1970s as an underground club culture movement. Initially, it was a parody of another street style, locking, performed in a flamboyant manner by gay dancers. The dance soon caught on and won the hearts of American dancers.

This style spawned an entire cultural and fashion movement. Today, it is loved worldwide for its precision and dazzle!

You can dance waacking to all kinds of music. Originally, it was danced to disco tracks, later to house music. Thanks to its versatility, waacking fits any genre. Nowadays, it's a key part of house culture. Some even perform it to hip-hop beats.

This dance style includes sharp model poses and arm movements, runway walks, various "drops," and several interesting walks:

• Cat walk — a feline walk requiring fluid hip and leg work to captivate the audience;
• Duck walk — a squatting walk with knees together in front, where you kick your legs forward to move. This walk is usually accompanied by sharp arm patterns;

Historically, waacking split into two branches. It originated in New York and Los Angeles, and as dancers from both cities exchanged styles, it spread to the East Coast, giving birth to voguing.

Today, we have three sub-styles:

• Los Angeles: Known for complex arm techniques, which are the focal point.
• New York: Features many leg kicks, the famous duck walk, drops, and vogue poses. [/*]
• Voguing: Largely parodic, with dancers exaggerating model poses, runway walks, and the like.

Waacking is hugely popular worldwide but remains somewhat underground. It's used to create flashy, stunning shows and wow audiences. Another unique aspect: it's mostly danced by men, often in heels, which looks mesmerizing.

Originally, waacking is never perfectly choreographed; it's always a bit of improv to "show off," which is its special charm.