Twerking

What is Twerking?

Twerking is a dance form where participants shake their buttocks or thrust their hips backward. Dancers typically adopt a low squatting stance to perform these rapid movements. The style is performed chiefly by women, though it has gained broad popularity across various demographics. It serves as a social expression of energy and rhythm, often seen at parties, block gatherings, and on digital platforms.

Where does Twerking come from?

The roots of twerking lie in West and Central Africa, where traditional dances emphasized expressive hip isolations. These movements traveled through the Atlantic slave trade, appearing in forms like Haiti's Kole mabouya and Colombia's mapalé. In the United States, the dance evolved within the New Orleans bounce music scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It draws from earlier American styles such as the Tootsie Roll and P-Popping, creating a distinct local tradition that later spread globally.

How is Twerking danced?

The core action involves throwing or thrusting the hips back while maintaining a low, squatting posture. Dancers focus on isolating the pelvis and buttocks for rhythmic shaking. This movement requires significant flexibility and strength in the lower body. The dance can be performed as an independent routine or as an embellishment within other steps, emphasizing forceful and free movement of the Black body.

The music of Twerking

Twerking is closely tied to the New Orleans bounce music genre. The rhythm is driven by heavy beats and drum patterns that encourage rapid hip movements. Rappers and DJs in the bounce scene popularized the term, using lyrics to describe the dance. Songs like DJ Jubilee's "Do the Jubilee All" featured explicit references to the move, establishing a sonic backdrop that defines the dance's pace and energy.

Costume and what is carried

There are no specific traditional costumes required for twerking. Participants wear everyday clothing suitable for vigorous physical activity. The dance gained mainstream visibility through pop culture performances, including Miley Cyrus's unicorn suit during a viral video. Attire is generally functional, allowing for full range of motion in the hips and legs.

When and where Twerking is danced

The dance is primarily performed in social settings, including block parties, local aid clubs, and second-line parades in New Orleans. It became a staple of black party culture in the Dirty South region during the 1990s. Later, it appeared in music videos, television shows, and online platforms, transforming from a local community dance into a global internet trend.

Styles of Twerking

Regional variations exist within the broader bounce style, including moves like the shoulder hustle and booty clapping. The dance has influenced and been influenced by other street styles such as P-Popping and the Georgia crawl. Modern interpretations have adapted the move for pop music stages and social media challenges, altering its context while retaining the fundamental hip-thrusting mechanics.

What Twerking means

Twerking holds significance as a counter-narrative to historical suppression of Black dance forms. It represents a liberatory insistence on bodily value and ancestral knowledge. Despite facing stigma due to its sexual connotations, it remains a vital part of African Diasporic identity. The dance achieved massive commercial success and cultural recognition after going viral in the 2010s.

Questions people ask about Twerking

Good reading and sources

• Jimmy Kimmel reveals truth behind 'twerking girl on fire' videoLos Angeles Times, Article
• Twerking dances its way into 2013 Google search rankingsThe Guardian, Article
• Twerk dates back to 1820, says Oxford English DictionaryBBC, Article

• Twerking on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos and video on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data
• Videos of Twerking on YouTubeSearch results, not chosen by Ghungroo