Dell Howlett is the choreographer for Wig Out! and a long-time collaborator with director Kent Gash. Howlett is a choreographer, director, performer, professor at NYU, and Artistic Director for Young Performers of America.
Before rehearsals even began, Dell sent the following overview of ballroom culture’s varying techniques and physical vocabularies—complete with a playlist of links that we’ve provided here for your enjoyment, study, and possible dance breaks…
The movement world of this play is one that I love and respect deeply. It's a world that is based in creativity, muscularity, musicality, and TECHNIQUE. I say "technique" boldly because there is a feeling in the larger culture that because this quality of movement came from an oppressed community, it must not have the structure and sound bones of technical dancing.
Well, I'm here to explode that notion. We will be looking at vogue, j- set, and all pertinent forms of dance as just that... a technique.
I would like us all to begin with some viewing of what I consider to be the contemporary masters of these techniques. For right now, we will split our work into four categories. In each form, I will offer a video of a master doing the work so that we all might begin to understand the art in its purest, elemental, form.
VOGUE DRAMATICS
Highly theatrical voguing that melds the original high fashion elements with other forms, ideas, and dance styles. Our master in VOGUE DRAMATIC is the my dear friend, The Legendary Pony Zion.
VOGUE FEMME OR "NEW WAY"
Vogue all about celebrating, highlighting, and massaging the female form. This form also pushes the boundaries and encourages a mix of different inspirations but always has its roots in femininity. Our master of NEW WAY/FEMME is none other than Ms Leiomy herself. Get in. The first clip is soft and femme and in the second one, she goes in and eats with some dramatic flavor too.
VOGUE OLD WAY
This is the celebration of the supermodel and what it means to know your angles, to always be picture perfect. It is a celebration of shapes, geometry, architecture, structure, stretch, and all things high fashion. Our OLD WAY master is none other than the icon, WILLI NINJA.
J-SETTING
Has its roots in black college team dance, majoretting, cheerleading, and what it means to be a TEAM OF DANCERS. It gets its name from the legendary Jackson State dance team, the Prancing J-Settes. Our Sherpas through the valley of J-sette will be THE PRANCING ELITES. Here they are killing some Big Freedia. :)