Spontaneous Lux: Freestyling in Hip Hop Dance and Music

Authors

  • Mary Fogarty Department of Dance, School of Arts , Media, Performance and Design, York University

Abstract

This essay and the accompanying video documentary explore "freestyling" (improvising) in hip hop culture, focusing in particular on a Canadian b-boy (breaking) crew called the Albino Zebrahs, which distinguishes itself through improvisational tendencies and choices. An ethnographic analysis of their approach to b-boying reveals that the values and processes behind freestyling involve more work and intention than most outsiders imagine. The film was shot in March 2012 in Toronto, Canada and features members of the Albino Zebrah crew including Lance "Leftelep" Johnson, Jesse "Jazzy Jester" Catibog, and Damian Matthew, as well as Riddlore, a rapper who now resides in Austin, Texas.

Keywords

Improvisation; b-boy; breaking; hip hop culture; freestyle; dance

Author Biography

Mary Fogarty, Department of Dance, School of Arts , Media, Performance and Design, York University

Mary Fogarty is an Assistant Professor of Dance at York University. She provides programming to empower females in hip hop culture through the Toronto B-Girl Movement - www.keeprockinyou.com

 

 

 

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Published

2016-03-15

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2016): Special issue: Flirting with Uncertainty, Improvisation in Performance

Section

Articles

License

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