For other meanings, see
vogue.
Vogue or "voguing" is a highly stylized modern dance characterized by photo model-like poses integrated with angular, linear and rigid arm, leg, and body movements. Originally popularized by Madonna's song and video of the same name, but recently this unique inner-city style of dance has been brought to domestic and international mainstream attention by the dance group Vogue Evolution of America's Best Dance Crew.
History
Vogue is a form of modern dance characterized by photo model like poses taken from Vogue (magazine) integrated with angular, linear and rigid arm, leg and body movements. The style of dance arose from the Harlem ballrooms back in the early 1930s, which was then called "performance" and evolved into the more intricate and illusory form that is now called "vogue".
Voguing has evolved since its beginning and continues to be developed further as an established dance form that is practiced in the gay ballroom scene and gay clubs in big cities throughout the United States--mainly New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Miami and Chicago.
Though voguing usually takes place in gay events frequented by African Americans and Latin American males, it is also practiced by a small number of non-gay individuals and outside of the club scene. Formal competitions occur in the form of balls held by houses or collectives of dancers and performers. Some influential houses include the House of Mizrahi, House of Xtravaganza, the House of Balenciaga, the House of Evisu, the House of Allure, the House of Ebony, the House of Revlon, the House of Garcon, the House of Ninja, the House of Zion, the House of Aviance and the House of Milan.
Styles
There are currently three distinct styles of vogue: Old Way (pre-1980), New Way (post 1990), and Vogue Fem (began around 1995).
Old Way is characterized by formation of lines, symmetry, and precision in the execution of such formations and graceful, fluid-like action.
New Way is characterized by a more rigid, geometric pattern movement coupled with "clicks" (limb contortions at the joints) and "arms control" (sleight of hand and wrist illusions, which usually include "tuts" or "tutting" and locking). New Way can also be described as a modified form of mime, where imaginary geometric shapes such as a box are introduced during motion and moved progressively around the dancer's body to display the dancer's dexterity and memory.
Vogue Fem is fluidity at its' most extreme, with exaggerated feminine movements, influenced by ballet, modern dance, and breakdancing in the case of "dramatic" Vogue Fem, which includes eye-catching jumps, tricks, acrobats, and flips. There are 5 elements of Vogue Fem: Hands, Spins, Catwalk, Duckwalk, and Dips. Sometimes, 'Spin into the Dip' is also named as a 6th element. The "dip" has been popularized by mainstream and is occasionally called the "5000", however the move originated with Vogue Fem. When competing in a vogue battle, a contestant must use each element in their routine. Vogue Evolution from America's Best Dance Crew is an example of Vogue Fem type dances. There are 2 types of Vogue Fem: Soft & Cunt and Dramatics.
It should be noted that the terms "Old Way" and "New Way" are generational. Earlier generations called the style of voguing that was practiced by the generation before them "Old Way". Voguers, therefore, reuse these terms to refer to the evolutionary changes of the dance that are observable almost every ten years. Ten years from now, today's "New Way" will more than likely be referred to as "Old Way".
Vogue also encompasses other forms of dance and movement, namely modern jazz, ballet, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, martial arts, breakdancing, yoga, and others.[original research?] Some dance historians[who?] even point out that breakdance and vogue evolved together in a state of mutual borrowing, with artists from both sides interacting with each other in New York City's Central Park, Christopher Street Pier, Harlem, and Washington Square Park during the 70s and early 80s.[citation needed]
New Styles
It continues to be developed further as an established dance form that is practiced in gay dance clubs and at gay balls in New York and other big cities throughout the United States--mainly New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Orlando, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. The ballroom scene has evolved into a nationwide underground sport with major balls being held in different regions (East, Midwest, South, West). The major cities to walk are, New York for the East, Chicago in the Midwest, Atlanta in the South, L.A. in the West.
London has seen a dramatic rise in ballroom balls starting in the late 1990s. This has been inspired directly from and by New York City's ballroom participants. However, in London, the main aspect of the ballroom scene is not voguing, but the runway categories dealing with fashion and design. Additionally, ballroom participants in London trend toward older members of the LGBT community, usually over the age of 30.
Mainstream Attention
Many performers, particularly females, have used vogue-style dance as apart of their routines. Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Beyonce have all been known to use infuences from voguing in their music videos. Transgender member of Vogue Evolution, Leiomy, is responsible for making her signature voguing move, "the Leiomy Lolly" popular and is featured in Britney Spear's video for "If You Seek Amy". The "dip" is also a move that was originated from voguing and made popular by B-boys and renamed "the 5000".
See also
External links
