You'll see the word “wacking” in many dance studio schedules. Let's figure out what this strange word means and what kind of dance it is.
The word “waacking” comes from the English language and means “to wave one's arms.” Today, it is used to describe a style of street dancing that is becoming increasingly popular.
This dance originated in the United States about 40 years ago, thanks to unruly, show-off-loving gay men. The pioneers themselves called it The Garbo, after Greta Garbo, the famous Swedish actress with a penchant for elaborate theatrical poses, which young dancers parodied.
The essence of the dance lies in very fast and precise hand movements, combined with catwalk-like walks and model-like poses and gestures. Artistry, the ability to express oneself, and stand out are also integral attributes of waacking. This dance is a game with the audience, a playful, flirtatious experience.
Modern waacking is a fusion of several styles, all of which originated as parodies. Some dancers emulated the vogueing style (from the fashion magazine Vogue) and reinterpreted the glamorous walk, gestures, and facial expressions of models. Others copied the movements of lockers (a form of hip-hop and upper-body breakdancing), mimicking their arm-waving. All of this was performed in a relaxed manner, typical of people with non-traditional sexual orientations.
In retaliation for the ridicule of their style, American lockers gave waacking another name: “Punkin,” from punk. Despite this, however, there was no war between locker-gay waacking dancers: while making fun of each other, they took the best from the dances, adopted moves, learned from each other, and shared experiences. Therefore, many even consider waacking a branch of locking culture.
Waacking has been accompanied by various musical styles throughout history. Initially, it was performed to funk, later it became danced to disco, and finally, waacking merged with house culture and is now an integral part of it. Nowadays, waacking is sometimes also performed to R&B music.
Today, waacking is no longer the preserve of sexual minorities; it is now danced by many young men and women of all orientations. Waacking is a dance style for creative, emotional, and confident people with a vibrant personality that is showcased in every way possible. It is a way for the dancer to express themselves, revealing themselves to the audience.
Anyone can learn waacking; most modern dance studios teach it. However, be prepared for the fact that, despite the apparent simplicity of the movements, due to the speed of their execution, this dance is quite challenging for beginners. It requires long and persistent work on coordination. It's quite challenging to combine fast and precise arm technique with a loose body and a relaxed gait.
But the results are worth it! Once you learn waacking, you'll be the star of any youth group; such a dancer will be impossible to miss.