Waacking

Course with Yeliz Pazar

Waacking originated in the disco era of the early 1970s in the Afro-Latinx American LGBTQIA+ community in Los Angeles. Queer people experienced exclusion and discrimination in society and had to hide their identity. In the clubs, they could be themselves. Thus, waacking became an expressive dance against oppression. Typical elements include rotating arm movements, poses and an emphasis on expressiveness. In waacking classes, loosening and strengthening the arm muscles, arm coordination to music, confident and self-assured posture, musicality, body control and poses play an important role. Yeliz not only teaches the basics, but also effective learning methods for independent practice. Her lessons are always tailored to each person's individual level, and everyone from beginners to advanced dancers is welcome. 

Yeliz Pazar

Show courses (4)

Yeliz Pazar is a dancer and choreographer. She is founder of nutrospektif dance collective (2012) who were tanzhaus nrw Factory Artists in 2020. The work is focussed on making hip hop culture, breaking, house dance, popping, locking and waacking more visible on stage to explore new creative approaches in dialogue with the contemporary dance landscape. Choreographic works include „Kinder der Nacht“ Schauspiel Köln, „Get Together“ Opera Cologne and „NUTRO 10 – a neutroperspective“ at tanzhaus nrw. In collaboration with Bahar Gökten as part of the collective and tanzhaus nrw they curated the festival „Moving Concrete,“ „ocean notion“ and „the weirdness is consistent“ were choreographed as a coproduction with „Step by Step“ Ballett am Rhein and tanzhaus nrw. Yeliz is a first generation waacking dancer in Germany and organized „THE WAACK OFF“ at tanzhaus nrw, the first festival of its kind with several internationally renowned guests.