Category Archives: Battling into the New Year

Flexing was born in the Brooklyn basements in the 1990’s and exploded across the city to become an internationally recognized dance style. The presentational nature of the dance battle share elements with West African dance. The competitive and athletic performance/battle is usually performed in the round, with a raucous audience cheering the participants/combatants. The heavy use of improvisation and physical call and response also mirrors another American art form with African roots- Jazz.  Continue reading