House Dance is a vibrant and dynamic dance style born from the pulsating heart of late 1970s and early 1980s underground club culture in Chicago and New York. Emerging from a melting pot of influences including Tap, African dance, Latin rhythms, and martial arts, house dance is fundamentally about personal freedom, spontaneous improvisation, and a profound connection to the rhythm and soul of house music.
House dance style infographic showing history, key elements, and influences
The Genesis of House Music and Dance
The origins of house music and, consequently, house dance are steeped in various narratives and personal experiences. It’s crucial to remember that dance history is often woven from individual stories and shared memories, not always a singular, definitive account. As Cody “Coflo” Ferreira, a respected figure in house dance, explains:
The first House record came from Jessie Saunders in 1984 titled “On & On”, co-written by Vince Lawrence. Similar sounds existed elsewhere before, but intentional branding of it, like “THIS is House music” with a DJ as the artist/producer, first happened in the Chicago community. I’m sure there are many other stories of “firsts” that have yet to be as widely circulated.
In the late 1970s, a shift in musical taste began in the underground scene. Dancers and club-goers started to seek alternatives to the increasingly predictable and commercial sound of disco. In New York City, DJs like Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles became pivotal figures. They began to experiment with disco, blending it with diverse musical elements such as breakbeats, Afrobeat rhythms, and the burgeoning sounds of electronic music.
This innovative musical fusion quickly gained traction. Record shops in New York started stocking these unique tracks. The owner of “The Warehouse,” a prominent club in Chicago, discovered this new sound and began to feature it, further propelling its popularity.
Alternative Perspectives on House Origins
Beyond the widely recognized narrative, other stories contribute to the rich tapestry of house music’s beginnings. Coflo further elaborates on these alternative perspectives:
I’ve also heard that around the time The Warehouse was more mainstream, record shops got really popular. Record diggers came in asking for the type of music played at The Warehouse, so owners of record shops would categorize those songs in a “House” section to market them.
Another compelling origin story points to Leonard “Remix” Rroy, a Chicago DJ, as the accidental originator of the term “House.” During the Warehouse era, Chicago also boasted a vibrant juice bar scene, alcohol-free venues that offered spaces for dancing, alongside community parties at local high schools. Leonard DJed at a juice bar, playing his unique mixes. When the owner inquired about the music’s genre, Leonard, drawing from his DIY production in his mother’s basement, jokingly labeled it “House music.” The venue embraced the term, advertising “House music” on billboards and posters, inadvertently giving a name to the burgeoning genre.
Louis “Loose” Key offers another valuable insight:
House music came from community parties, not just at clubs. Larry Levan was playing at The Garage in New York when he got an offer to play at Chicago’s clubs. He said no, but referred Frankie Knuckles. They had no name for it, which gave them more freedom to experiment with the sounds. They just made and played the music and didn’t think it was a big deal – until other DJs were claiming they invented it. It’s hard to label something after it’s been commercialized by other people…
While pinpointing the exact moment and individual behind the invention of house music or the term “House” remains elusive, the common thread is the crucial role of social and party culture, particularly within The Warehouse, in nurturing the genre’s development and solidifying its identity.
Jojo Diggs, a prominent figure in house dance, emphasizes the profound impact of this new music:
People quickly fell in love with this new music they heard at The Warehouse. Like, really in love. Going dancing at the club went from activity to obsession; they based their whole lives around going to the clubs. It was a powerful experience for people.
The Club as Sanctuary: House Dance Culture
The powerful connection to house music and dance stemmed from more than just celebration; it was also a form of escape and release. For many, the underground clubs became sanctuaries, offering respite from daily struggles and societal pressures. People sought not just a party, but an emotional and physical catharsis.
The uplifting, gospel-infused melodies, deep basslines, and hypnotic lyrics of house music created the perfect atmosphere for this release. The underground clubs in Chicago and New York transformed into havens of freedom and self-expression, fostering a unique dance culture.
Coflo describes the evolution of house dance within these spaces:
There were stages to House’s evolution. The first was very grassroots, when avid club goers would dance to funk, soul, disco, rock, boogaloo music, “Black Music,” or “Soul Music.” You had the people who just went, then you had the people who called themselves “dancers.” They didn’t have circles or platforms, or even the room to dance in a big expressive way. Later, in the 80’s and 90’s, the dancers created a shift in attention to themselves by forming cyphers. It went from individuals dancing wherever they could, to a person dancing and a group noticing, appreciating what that dancer was doing, in a new communal way.
“Check Your Body At The Door”: Embracing Freedom
The documentary “Check Your Body At The Door,” which delves into the NYC underground house dance scene, encapsulates the ethos of this culture perfectly. Archie Burnett, featured in the documentary, articulates the liberating philosophy:
“Check your body at the door” means you take your attitude, your baggage, all of that, you check it at the door, and then you go into the club, and you’re a totally different person. You enjoy aggravation free, stress free, life problem free. A club head is someone who literally lives for the club, who makes time religiously to throw down and dance. I am a Club Head.
House dancers weren’t confined by pre-set rules or choreographed steps. Instead, they organically developed a dance style that mirrored the music’s liberating and cathartic nature. House dance prioritized passion, an urgent need for movement, and an unmediated connection to the music over rigid structures and counts.
Barbara Tucker, also featured in “Check Your Body At The Door,” succinctly captures this essence:
Come as you are. Dance as you. Feel as you are. There’s no rules.
Diverse Influences Shaping House Dance
This open and inclusive environment welcomed dancers from all backgrounds and styles, leading to a rich cross-pollination of movement vocabularies. House dance absorbed influences from a wide spectrum of dance forms.
African dance contributed intricate footwork and expressive torso movements. Tap and Jazz infused grace and rhythmic complexity. Capoeira lent an element of acrobatics and fluidity. Latin dances added vibrant steps and partner work concepts. Martial arts contributed athleticism and dynamic energy. These diverse ingredients, combined with spontaneity, individual creativity, and a shared passion for the music, coalesced to form the house dance we recognize today.
Don Welsh, a promoter for Underground Network, emphasizes the unifying power of the music:
You don’t have to be black, white, gay, or straight. We have one common thing – and that’s the music.
Codifying House Dance Movement
Decades after its emergence, in the early 2000s, efforts to codify house dance movements began in New York. Key figures like Brian Green, Mop Top, Elite Force, and organizations such as Dance Fusion and World Soul played crucial roles in developing a “syllabus” for house dance steps and techniques.
Jojo Diggs offers perspective on this codification within freestyle culture:
To understand any freestyle culture simply ask the questions, “Who, what, when, where, why?” When people dance, and they bring their ancestry, they bring their emotional revolutions. We have to understand that much later certain movements were given labels, but it all starts with people being people.
The Soul of House Dance: “House Is A Feeling”
Ultimately, house dance transcends mere steps and techniques; it’s about embodying the feeling of the music. Loose emphasizes this intrinsic connection:
Most of the people who created House Dance came from rhythm-based backgrounds, cultures that played a lot of drums. That rhythm, that beat – they were born into it. You can learn the footsteps; you cannot learn the feeling.
Ejoe Wilson, from “Check Your Body At The Door,” echoes this sentiment:
House is some freedom dancing, that’s what it really is, because you go inside and feel the music, and the movements just come out.
Jojo Diggs further elaborates on the relationship between foundation and feeling:
House is a feeling. You can learn foundation, and you should understand where it comes from, but at the end of the day, you learn that foundation to understand how to express how the music makes you feel.
The “Jack,” a signature groove characterized by a subtle body undulation and rhythmic pulse, is considered the embodiment of this feeling in house dance.
Foundational House Dance Moves
While house dance emphasizes feeling over strict choreography, certain foundational moves provide a vocabulary for dancers to express themselves. Some basic house dance moves include:
- Jack In The Box
- The Swivel
- Farmer
- Shuffle Step
- Heel-Toe
- Stomp
- PBR
- Box
- Train
- Skate
- Loose Leg
Jojo Diggs: A Modern House Dance Advocate
Jojo Diggs stands as a prominent figure in contemporary house dance. As an international instructor, choreographer, member of Mop Top, and founder/CEO of Diggs Deeper, she passionately shares her love for house and other dance styles.
Despite an early affinity for hip hop and gangster rap, Jojo initially felt constrained by her conservative upbringing.
I felt embarrassed about how much I liked it.
However, her discovery of ballroom dancing in her early 20s opened doors to the underground dance scene. Her first experience at a house club, “Red,” introduced by Chaz “Asiatic” Cabonce, was transformative.
House music and dance just made sense to me in a really, really deep place. I wish I had found it earlier in my life.
She immersed herself in the club environment, learning to freestyle alongside fellow dancers who encouraged individual expression and musicality over formal instruction.
Learning and Exploring House Dance
Jojo’s organic, club-based learning experience initially made the concept of structured house dance classes seem foreign.
I felt like there was no way to teach what we did.
However, upon taking a class, she was surprised to discover the foundational techniques underpinning her intuitive movements, opening up a new dimension of house dance knowledge.
My foundation will always be something that happened from the music.
This realization propelled her to become a highly sought-after and respected house dance instructor, dedicated to teaching and preserving the history and essence of the style. With 17 years of teaching experience, Jojo continues to inspire and educate students worldwide. Her Beginner House Program on STEEZY Studio offers a structured approach to learning foundational house dance steps, drills, and freestyle techniques.
Notable Figures in House Dance
The legacy of house dance is carried forward by a multitude of talented dancers. Some notable names include:
- Brahms Bravo La Fortune
- Caleaf Sellers
- Ejoe Wilson
- Marjory Smarth
- Shannon “Which Way” Mabra
- Shannon Selby
- Tony McGregor
- Voodoo Ray
- Tony “Sekou” Williams
- Brooklyn Terry Wright
- Kim D Holmes
- Ronald Ricochet Thomas
- William “Quick” Reynolds
- Basil Thomas (Brutha Basil)
- Oscar Baeza
- Patrick Wilson
- Archie Burnett
- Conrad SP Rochester
- Omar Kashim Henry
- Asia Moon
- Adrian Alicea
- Carlos Sanchez
- Willy Pinedo
- Barbara Tucker
- Iriena Herrera
- “Peace” Moore
- Pebbles Zimmerman
- Ruth Monroe
- Louis “Loose” Kee
Further Resources for House Dance Exploration
For those seeking deeper immersion into house dance, resources like “Check Your Body At The Door” are invaluable. The documentary can be purchased on DVD or streamed via Amazon Video. Tim Lawrence’s book, “Life and Death on the New York Dance Floor, 1980-1983,” provides further historical context and insights into the club culture that birthed house dance.
Reflections from the Dancers
Coflo Cody Ferreira and Louis “Loose” Kee, both integral figures in house dance history, offer final reflections on the essence of the dance and its evolution.
Coflo Cody Ferreira
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Coflo was exposed to early house dance influences and trained under GraVidy, learning Hip Hop and House. He further honed his skills through disciplined study with Brian Footwork Green and later deepened his understanding of house by producing his own music.
The school of thought for dance I was trained under was that your movement is what the you make of it. Dance style represents the time and place and a person. I dance the way I do because of the teachers I had, where I came from, and who I danced with.
Louis “Loose” Kee
Loose’s dance journey predates the emergence of house music. He was immersed in funk, jazz, and soul music in the 1970s, participating in community parties and experiencing the early DJ culture that laid the groundwork for house.
That’s where all the new music was. Radios had to keep their ear to the streets, the clubs, to know what they should play.
House dance is more than just a style; it’s a cultural phenomenon rooted in community, freedom, and the transformative power of music. It continues to evolve while staying true to its foundational principles of feeling, improvisation, and individual expression.
