Los Angeles, 1970s
WAACKING
The disco whip of California's gay scene
Waacking was born in the Black and Latino gay clubs of Los Angeles in the early 1970s, to the fast tempos of Disco and Funk. Faced with homophobia and racism, this scene invented its own language, with figures such as Tyrone Proctor, Andrew Frank, Blinky Rodriguez, and Arthur Goff. The word "waack" comes from the sound "wack!" — that of arms whipping through the air.
Long forgotten, Waacking was revived in the 2000s by Tyrone Proctor and Aus Ninja, who passed the style on to a new generation. Today it is a competitive dance in its own right, with international battles and glamorous, dramatic, highly expressive figures.
How it's danced
Technique & figures
Waacking is danced to Disco music at 120-130 BPM. The vocabulary is concentrated in the arms: fast rotations around the head, sharp stops, theatrical extensions. The body stays vertical, the hips free, the face expressive and haughty.
Styles and fundamentals
Two roots come together: Waacking (arm movements) and Punking (theatrical masculine poses). The style is characterized by intense musicality (every accent is marked), its glamour (poses inspired by Hollywood), and its drama.
Main figures
- 01
Arm rolls
Fast rotations of the arms around the head or torso, with an active wrist like a whip.
- 02
Poses
A sharp stop on a glamorous pose, often inspired by Hollywood icons (Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth).
- 03
Whacks
Sharp, snapping arm strikes that give the dance its name. Each strike lines up with a musical accent.
- 04
Struts
An exaggerated model-style walk, with a swaying hip and a proud gaze.
- 05
Freestyle disco steps
Disco steps (hustle, cha-cha, spins) integrated between two sequences of arm work.
Reading the music
1970s Disco music: Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Sylvester, MFSB, Loleatta Holloway. The high tempo and orchestral strings feed the style's drama.
Did you know?
Explore the rhythms
Same family
Ballroom