Indian show renews interest in 1970s dance style from America’s gay clubs

A woman dances visibly, the glittering sequins on her dress quivering and swaying with her movements.

But it is his arms that hold the light; They shake, spin and whip through the air at high speeds, almost like the blades of a fan.

These are the opening scenes of the recently released web series on Amazon Prime Video called Waack Girls, a drama about six women who learn a new dance to become the first all-female group in their city.

Not many people know about dance so women have to fight hard – against society and their families – to be taken seriously. But waacking can be the gift that keeps on giving.

Directed by Sooni Taraporevala, the series has been released at a time when many Indian cities – big and small – are witnessing a renewed interest in waacking.

“I was fascinated by dance and the importance it gives to self-expression,” says Taraporevala about why she created the series.

Workshops and underground waacking jams – events where dancers struggle with their moves – are popping up in several cities and international legends are coming to teach the dance.

Recently, Archie Burnett, who was a New York club dancer in the 1970s and 80s and is a respected figure in the waacking community, traveled to India to jam.

The dancers hope that the online series will raise the profile of the country and show people that there is more to dance than traditional forms, hip-hop and Bollywood.

Waacking has a deep history in the LGBTQ+ movement and freedom inspired by disco music.

This dance emerged in gay clubs in Los Angeles in the 1970s, when there was a lot of stigma surrounding homosexuality. Gay men used to express themselves on the dance floor and push back against the hatred and discrimination they faced.

As a result, this dance became faster, sharper and stronger – like the way comic book heroes beat bad guys, accompanied by sounds like “ka-pow” and “bam”.

“Waacking comes from the onomatopoeic word ‘whack’ and is reminiscent of [the effects] comic book characters,” says Tejasvi Patil, a Mumbai-based dancer who has been dancing for over a decade.

This dance has attracted attention from Hollywood drama and its leading ladies. Spectacular poses, fast movements and amazing hand movements are a waacking style but the dancers will continue to add new moves to the steps, as the celebration of self-love and self-expression is at the heart of the style.

And because of its mainstream culture, waacking continues to be a tool of support and self-expression for LGBTQ+ Indians.

“In fact, many people explore their sexuality through dance because it allows them to express themselves and express their feelings,” says Ayushi Amrute, who has been dancing since 2012 and often jams to Red Bull’s Your House Is Waack. for waacking. for dancers across the country.

“Another important thing is that the waacking community always tries to be a safe place, so that people feel free to express their feelings,” he adds.

When Amrute was introduced by her dance teacher, her style was not known in India. Her teachers encouraged her to watch videos and reach out to foreign dancers to learn more about the style.

“We [the handful of Indian dancers who began waacking over a decade ago] he learned to suffer; doing our research, learning the history of the dance and connecting with dancers in countries where the dance was popular,” says Amrute.

Patil recalls learning the same. But these days things have changed a lot. In the last five years, this dance has become very popular, and many young people are flocking to the classes to learn it.

Patil, who teaches dance, says she encourages her students to follow the culture of style – to express themselves without shame.

As for music, India is still finding its own style, he adds. Songs by disco queen Donna Summer and American pop legend Diana Ross are still popular, as is the soundtrack to the 1983 film Staying Alive.

Bollywood also had its disco era, with songs like Koi Yahan Nache Nache and Aap Jaisa Koi being popular in the 1980s, but they don’t find a place in most modern times.

For Waack Girls, Taraporevala brought in indie artists to create an album of original songs, which Patil says created a new and exciting look for waackers in India.

“I think it’s time for people to accept what they have,” says Patil, “and singing is the best platform to show off what you’ve got.”