Waacking

Course with Yeliz Pazar

Waacking emerged in the 70s disco era amongst Afro-Latinx communities in Los Angeles, USA. People who identified as queer were discriminated against and found themselves marginalized and oppressed by mainstream society. Many went underground to keep their identities secret. It was in the club scene that their identities could be fully expressed and waacking represented this freedom from normative constraint and mainstream oppression. Typical elements oft he style are rotational arm movements, posing and emphasis on expression. Waacking lessons emphasize relaxation and strengthening of arm muscles, arm coordination in relationship to the music, confident and secure posture, musicality and body control as well as posing. Yeliz teaches not only the basic elements, but also an effective method for at home practice. The teaching style is considerate of individual levels and beginners are as welcome to this class as more advanced dancers.

Portrait of Yeliz Pazar

Yeliz Pazar

Show courses (2)

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.