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SUMMER IMPRESSIONS and PHOTO ESSAY: Princess Lockerooo Hosts Waack To The Future's "Disco x Classical" at The House of YES
By Kristen Hedberg/ IG @kristen.hedberg
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Published on September 9, 2024
Weezy The Phoenix, 2024 Waacking Champion. Photo: Steven Pisano
Host: Princess Lockerooo
Co-Host: Cebo Terry Carr (Cebo)
Judges: Akuma Diva, Leah Ma’at Mcfly ‘Waackeisha’ and Shanin
Special Performer: Dwayne Beach (Electric Violin)
DJ: Jaze-Art-Remote
Date: July 28, 2024
*Special thanks to Steven Pisano for his photo essay
Michael ‘Bagsy’ Oladele, a London-based dancer, actor, model and performer, said beautifully in a 2022 Dance Specific TALKS interview, “You are giving somebody a gift when they are watching you [in a Waacking battle]. The audience doesn’t really care who wins or loses. They want to go home remembering how [each dancer] made them feel.”
Freestying joy at "Disco x Classical" Waack to the Future 2024. Photo: Steven Pisano
Electrified feelings carried me all the way home after witnessing Waack To The Future’s Disco x Classical Waacking Battle this July. The dynamic evening unfolded at the House of Yes in Bushwick, Brooklyn — not to be confused with “Baroque-lyn,” a jovial reference to the historical theme of the evening.
Hosted by the 'Queen of Waacking' Princess Lockerooo alongside Cebo Terry Carr, the battle showcased over 60 contestants representing an array of nations including Argentina, Bhutan, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, South Korea, Turkey, Venezuela and the United States. Each dancer showcased their individual personalities and embodiment of the music, which was a mix of 70’s Disco hits layered with Classical masterpieces.
The Disco x Classical theme sparkled through both music and elaborate costumes adorned by contestants, hosts and viewers alike. My personal favorite look entailed a full body plague doctor costume, beak-faced mask and all, worn by one contestant.
Princess Lockerooo tied each portion of the battle together through hilarious yet enlightening scenes in which she gabbed with Cebo’s character about Waacking's past and present. Before the battle, Cebo wandered on stage as if he were dropped here straight from the Baroque era. Shocked to learn that we are living in the year 2024, his character admits that he knows nothing about Waacking or Disco. He challenges that these dances lack elegance, a notion which Princess Lockerooo vehemently disproves.
The Princess enlightens the time traveler about Waacking’s roots. Originating in Los Angeles' gay clubs in the 1970’s and inspired by silent films and Hollywood, the style carries power and intimacy, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and revealing the inner-self beyond a strong physicality. With a special guest performance by Dwayne Beach, the evening sets viewers up for an exciting competition. During one break, the audience even had the opportunity to try their own Waacking movements alongside DJ Jaze-Art-Remote’s downbeat!
The three judges: Akuma Diva from Taiwan, Leah Ma’at Mcfly ‘Waackeisha’ from Canada, and Shanin from The Netherlands, continually offered their supportive, engaged energy to the contestants.
Princess Lockerooo gave each judge the space to offer a brief piece of advice to the contestants.
Akuma Diva encouraged each dancer to, “Work your asses off.”
Waackeisha shared how Waacking is truly “life changing, and can [impact] many people’s lives through storytelling.”
Shanin reminded all that, “When you freestyle, it’s not showing what you can do, but it's also showing who you are. What do you want to say to the audience in this moment? Take us in, bring us on that journey.”
Every contestant was granted a 45- second time frame to improvise in front of the judges. From there, the judges narrowed the contestants down to the top thirty-two. Once the top thirty-two were selected, duo battles commenced. Later the solo freestylers were whittled down into a group of sixteen, then eight, then four and so on
until a winner was named. Noticing the way dancers connected with one another during the battles and as they waited for their turn to freestyle was captivating. Nearly every couple smiled and embraced before and after their battle.
Weezy The Phoenix ultimately achieved the title of Waack To The Future 2024 Champion after a suspenseful countdown between himself and Cariño. Each dancer proudly displayed their individuality and authenticity.
Weezy The Phoenix (L) and Cariño (R) in The Ultimate Battle at "Disco x Classical" Waack to the Future 2024 ; Photo: Steven Pisano
As Michael ‘Bagsy’ Oldele asserted in his 2022 interview, “ You put your emotions out there and you are loving yourself so much until everyone in the room loves you… You are up in people’s faces, up on the wall, half-naked. It’s a beautiful thing to have and really enjoy. Without hurting or disrespecting, you allow yourself to be yourself without question.”
I’m already looking forward to Waack To The Future’s 2025 competition!
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