Conclusion

As you can now see, many many dances are considered controversial when they first emerge. But with some time and distance we can now see how innocent and fun these dances can be (like the waltz, or the twist).

However, fairly recent dance styles, such as pole dancing and twerking, are yet to be socially accepted. If you paid attention, you might've noticed that on those 2 particular blog entries I put a warning before you start reading the actual blog post. This is because they're still controversial topics and I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

But I'm sure in a few years we'll look back on twerking and just say to ourselves: "hmm, it's actually not as racy/provocative as it seemed back in the day". Probably because in the future new dances will emerge and we'll think they're 'worse' than any other dance invented before, as has happened to all the dances previously mentioned in this blog.

Hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoyed making it!

Twerking

Warning: content and language may be inappropriate for underage people.

Twerking is a type of dancing in which an individual, usually a female, dances to music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low squatting. Though the term seems to be of uncertain origin with common assumptions suggesting it represents a contraction of "footwork" or a portmanteau of the words "twist" and "jerk".

A user on UrbanDictionary.com defined twerking as "basically a sl*tty dance. derived from strip clubs". Another user described it as "when a girls' as* moves like a bowl of Jell-O".

The dance move originates from West Africa (for instance the Mapouka dance) and has been around for several generations. It was then adopted by African American culture in the 1990s. The dance originally was not done with sexual intent until it hit the hip hop scene in America in the early 1990s, where it became sexualized as part of the hip hop industry performed by video models in rap videos. Twerking can carry both gendered and racialized connotations, given its origins and the dance itself it is often associated with Black women as the Samba dance is with Latino women.[9] In the United States, twerking was introduced into hip-hop culture by way of the New Orleans bounce music scene. In 1993, DJ Jubilee recorded the dance tune "Do The Jubilee All" in which he chanted, "Twerk baby, twerk baby, twerk, twerk, twerk."

Because twerking is fairly recent, there's much controversy surrounding it. For example, in the next video we can see how 33 high school students were suspended and banned from prom thanks to a twerking video they made.

I believe the twerking controversy started when Miley Cyrus decided to twerk on Robin Thicke at the VMA's (award show viewed by thousands of minors). I think it was major because of the fact that twerking was mainly known among African Americans, and Miley is a Caucasian.

Little by little, people are understanding of twerking. I'm not saying they like it or support people dancing it, but they understand is a dance style and there's always going to be people dancing it.

The Dougie

The Dougie is a hip-hop dance generally performed by moving one's body in a shimmy style and passing a hand through or near the hair on one's own head.

Here a video explaning the Dougie step by step:

The dance first originated in Dallas, Texas, where it took its name from similar moves performed by 1980s rapper Doug E. Fresh. In 2007, Dallas rapper Lil' Wil triggered the huge movement with his hit "My Dougie". Then, a person called C-Smoove who attended Texas Southern University returned home to Southern California and taught the future members of Cali Swag District the dance. Cali Swag District recorded the song "Teach Me How to Dougie" and filmed the music video in Inglewood, California during the summer of 2009. Subsequently, the video along with the dance went viral on YouTube.

If you want my personal opinion: I hate this dance. I think it's repetitive, and tasteless.

But oh well...

This dance is no longer controversial, but this is probably do because it's no longer as popular as it was when it first came out.

Pole Dancing

Pole dancing is a really good exercise. It is also called Pole Fitness.

Pole fitness today is a hybrid of athletic, and theatrical, male sports and female erotic dance and circus performing. The history of pole dancing can be traced back over two thousand years to dances that were performed by women for women and to an Indian sport called Mallakhamb, Chinese Pole, and also side shows in traveling circus’ and more recently “Gentleman’s Clubs”.

I started following Anastasia, after she went on Ukraine's got talent. She's an amazing pole dancer!

When you hear the words “pole dancing,” what comes to mind? For most, it’s probably an image of a strip club or topless strippers spinning around a pole in one such environment. But it's more than that, it's a sport, an art.

Pole dance requires significant strength, flexibility and endurance. Pole dance proper involves athletic moves such as climbs, spins, and body inversions using the limbs to grip. Upper body and core strength are required to attain proficiency, and rigorous training is necessary.

With all of the controversy surrounding conversations and events about pole dancing, the history of pole dancing gives us a good understanding of what different cultures and groups used the pole for.

Freak Dancing (Grinding)

WARNING: LANGUAGE AND CONTENT MAY BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR UNDERAGE PEOPLE.

Freak dancing is a style of urban dancing, usually performed to R&B, pop, rap, hip-hop, or Latin music. It involves two or more people making extremely close physical contact, and facial expressions and physical movements that are sexually provocative and/or that imitate sexual intercourse and foreplay. The "freak" designation is a synonym for "f*ck", due to the dance's highly sexual nature. 

While the dancers are usually clothed, freak dancing partners commonly slide or unbutton one another's clothing to reveal more skin. The hips are almost always tight against each other, and partners' hands massage and hold most parts of the other's body, including the neck, back, waist, butt, crotch, breasts, arms, and thighs.

Some common freak dancing positions include: standing upright face-to-face, one partner bent over forward with his/her butt against the other's crotch, a female partner with her arms around the other's neck and her legs wrapped completely around the other's hips, either partner slowly dancing downward with their lips against the other's neck, chest, and stomach until they are on their knees, and one partner (usually female) lying on the floor with the other partner on their knees straddling her. 

Many junior and senior high schools have outlawed freak dancing from school dances. Disobedient students are usually physically pushed apart or are removed from the dances by administrators or parent chaperones, which many believe is a violation of student rights.

As explained above, this dance is extremely controversial. Even today, maybe not as much.

It's a popular clubbing dance. People in their 20s and 30s have at least grinned once in a club.

Video mocking Freak Dancing:

Information from: Wikipedia.org,

Picture and gifs from: Google Images,

Video from: Youtube (user: Howcast)

The Lambada

Lambada is a dance from Pará, Brazil. The dance became internationally popular in the 1980s, especially in Latin America and Caribbean countries. It has adopted aspects of dances such as forró, salsa, merengue, maxixe and the carimbó.

Above is the "Llorando Se Fue" music video, the most popular lambada song.

This style is generally a partner dance. The dancers generally dance with arched legs, with the steps being from side to side, turning or even swaying, with a pronounced movement of the hips. At the time when the dance became popular, short skirts for women were in fashion and men wore long trousers, and the dance has become associated with such clothing, especially for women wearing short skirts that swirl up when the woman spins around, typically revealing 90s-style thong underwear.

The major thing about lambada was the clothing: super provocative and revealing.

It was also called 'The Forbidden Dance'.

This dance got even popular in 1990, when Miss USA Laura Harring starred in the drama film "The Forbidden Dance", film which focused primarily on the lambada.

My favorite part of the movie -->

This dance was viewed as extremely provocative, and mainly danced by 'cheap' women with 'no self-worth'.

Nowadays it's a classic Latin and Caribbean style dance you can hear at every dance club.

Personal favorite!!

Information from: Wikipedia.org, IMDB.com.

Pictures from: Google Images.

Videos from: Youtube (users: mrclabel, stevenhonse)