IN BLACK MAGAZINE

Fashion X Dance X Culture forms a movement within In Black Magazine, celebrating the diverse talent and artistry of dance and its intersection with contemporary fashion. As a witness to the integral role of dance within Hip-Hop culture – one of the four fundamental elements alongside graffiti, DJing, and MCing – from the streets of the Bronx to the iconic stages of Soul Train, street dance has sustained its own vibrant movement. In parallel, contemporary dance has evolved through the fusion of various cultural influences, encompassing Brazilian capoeira, African dance, Alvin Ailey, tap, jazz, bebop, ballet, and various classical styles. Multiple dance forms have emerged and evolved through the amalgamation of diverse cultures, giving rise to genres such as house and disco, which paralleled the development of Hip-Hop and street dance. In the wake of the Hip-Hop movement, House heads took on a street style fashion of their own concurrently echoing the rebellion of skateboarders.

In the movie “Kids,” which centered around a group of skateboarder youths from the lower east side of New York, the narrative portrayed the typical lifestyle of New York kids in the early ’80s and ’90s. It showcased specific scenes of skaters and artistic individuals congregating in Greenwich Village, where they occasionally intersected with House Dancers. Similarly, fashion played a significant role, with both groups sharing a similar approach to aesthetic sensibilities. The notable distinction lay in the footwear: house dancers favored Doc Martens, while skaters preferred Vans. The burgeoning skater movement eventually evolved into a sport and made inroads into the fashion industry, whereas dance, as an art form, did not initially garner the same level of recognition as actors or musicians. However, with the ascent of platforms like Reels and TikTok, dance has assumed a new role, fostering the development of global communities and giving rise to events and competitions known as battles. This has led to the flourishing of various genres of street dance, including popping, B-boying, flexing, crumping, turfing, Memphis Jooking, Afro Beats, lite feet, jersey step, Chicago footwork, dancehall, voguing, and wacking,

thereby reshaping the landscape of contemporary dance culture. 

We cannot overlook Michael Jackson’s unforgettable contributions to street dance, particularly his recognition of popping, including the West Coast “boogaloo” style. He prominently featured legends like “Breakin’ Movie’s” own Popin Pete in his “Beat It” music video. Additionally, he delved into New York’s underground house club and street dance scene, showcasing Big Lez, Link, Buddah Stretch, Loose Joints, Josie, Fatimah, and others in his classic “Remember The Time” video, which also featured Eddie Murphy, Iman, Magic Johnson, and Chris Tucker.

The access to a range of digital media platforms, such as YouTube and social media, has provided dancers with unprecedented access to techniques and aesthetics from around the world, inspiring them to push their physical abilities beyond conventional limits. This has led to the evolution of sponsorships, with notable collaborations including Brand Jordan for Les Twins, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Balmain x H&M, and several other partnerships between street dance and prominent brands.

As the various genres of street dance continue to expand, so do the opportunities for street dancers to build their popularity and establish their own brand identities within their communities. It may not be long before figures like Les Twins come to mirror the renown of icons of Skaters such as Tony Hawk and Stevie Williams.

Via “Fashion x Dance x Culture” In Black Magazine shares its editorials to periodically document this iconic movement from its inception onwards.

We have featured a myriad of dancers, all (styled my our own celebrity stylist Marcus Gregory Blassingame) including Rocka James (Rounds of Flamez), Kanon (Fusion Concepts – France), Bones The Machine, Hallow Dreamz, Twice, producer HitmakerChinx, Afro Beats Dancer Papi Ojo (known for Beyoncé’s Black Is King), BBOY Tata, BBoy Gravity, Kash Gaines (Yak Films) and Pierce Cady. In our most recent issue, Vol. 9, we showcase Mad Lines, AGT dancer Marina Mazepa from Resident Evil, and the John Wick series “The Continental,” as well as the unforgettable Les Twins.