The first thing I’d like to address is a very personal question, which I urge you to ask yourself.
Why are you doin rocking ?
Whatever your intention is, whatever your desire is, whatever your intrinsic motivation is, by the end it’s (just) a dance and it will challange you both, physically and mentally.
Brief summary
Rocking, and especially Rocking (uprocking) with origins from Brooklyn, is a battle type dance between two individuals. These two individuals speak a different language and they speak simultaneously. They decode and encode messages while rocking. At its best, the dance actually becomes a form of sparring, in to respond to each other in real time. The dance includes jerks, burners, drops, spins, freestyle and more.
Rockers skillset
Some people will grasp for e.g. jerk/burn concepts quicker than others. Some people will grasp for e.g. the freestyle part quicker than others. Your background plays a part on how much time it will take to get in. In addition to passion, as mentioned in Part 1, i believe you can archieve anything with the right state of mind.
The following non-exhaustive list (in no particular order) of skillz, that will help you in rocking are the following:
Dance experience
People skills
Dedication
Non-dance related Education
Logical and creative thinking
A desire to understand what works best for you!
Some of the bulletpoints mentioned above are not really „learnt“, they just have to be part of who you are as a person.
Here comes the Rocking Jam you’ve been waiting for so long and now it’s time to mark October 16, 2021 in your calendar for Rockers Delight Vol.4. This time the jam will take place in Dortmund, Germany, presented by Masterplan & Def Style Rockers (D.S.R).
With the focus on Rocking (Rock Dance) Rockers Delight stands out as a dance event from all the others. and also offers dance floor for B-Girls, B-Boys, Funkstylteers and House dancers. Besides funk and soul music will be rock, disco, break beats dripping out of the speakers to get you into the rhythm and rotation.
Here comes with a little delay an update of Rockers Delight Vol.4. Despite difficult organizational conditions, due to pandemic restrictions the event was able to take place. A big thank you for everyone coming out to Rockers Delight, taking the Workshop and rocking afterwards the concrete. Of course a hugh thanks goes out to Sunz (MPC) and JKC for organizing. Simply, it would not be possible without you. Also, thanks for both DJs, Mark & Kid Step for spinning the wheels and putting everyone into the rhythm and rotation. There is that very known saying, „A picture is worth a thousand words„. This is what it looks like.
Rockers Delight Vol.4 - Rocking the RoCKToBER Dortmund Phoenixsee 2021/10/16
In the past and recently repeated, I was asked, mostly by Breaker but not exclusively, how and where you can start to learn rocking. Honestly, i think that passion is everything. Passion is what drives you to continue to learn and constantly take challanges because they are more interesting than watching your favorite Playlist of Uprockers on Youtube! Of course, the dance culture consists of inspiration, but it is important to mention that after all the inspiration -> motivation -> progress, you’re the one who’s expressing the dance. Therefore, if you already tasted rocking and you think or better know, that there is a passion for it, i suggest you the following :
Stay passionate and always curious
you can teach skills, but you can’t teach, much less force passion
Get involved in the community and put yourself around otherrockers
this will be challenging, because depending on where you living you might find rockers around you or not! Go on Rock Dance Forum & Rock Dance is Here (NYC) and ask if there are rockers around or close to you
Go to New York City (NYC) to meet the Originals
meet as many OGs as you can, listen and learn and ask questions
determine which style fits best for you and your body.
Go on Rocking Jams / Events
Get a basic understanding of the Rockdance History
to get started, there are many resources available such as Google, Facebook and Youtube.
Learn the Foundation
jerks, burns, freestyle, spins, etc.
Learn the Music
funk, soul, jazz, rock, classics
Practice the Moves
take time to learn the moves and dont limit yourself just on moves
control and speed is the key
Hope this little guideline helps you to get started with rocking.
Another year has passed in the rock dance scene in germany and through rocking classes and events, this battle dance of New York City has grown more and more. Read more on this in the following summary:
Berlin In 2019, for the fist time, i have performed a rocking class in the capital Berlin at KMA. Participants of different skill level and age groupes take in part to learn how to response to each other in real time while mimicking physical attacks. This is a complicated process than it seems. All participants mastered the challenge well, while they had to face another challenge, that of physical fitness. I would like to thank KMA and BBoy Crok!
Rocking Class@KMA/Berlin
Dortmund The rocking class within the program „A-Z of Dance – A dance project of Transnational Ensemble Labsa“ was awesome. The participants been rocking to complete songs and guess what; they could go through more songs. Unlike in breaking, rock songs do not only have break parts but also freestyle parts where rockers are expected to dance and challenge the other rocker until one becomes exhausted. By the way, the idea of the project „A-Z of Dance – A dance of project of Transnational Ensemble labsa“ is to find a dance style to each letter of the alphabet and regarding to the letter R, they end up on rocking 🙂 Thanks goes out to Sunz from Masterplan Crew for connecting and showing love to the rock dance.
Tübingen Some impressions of the rocking class that took place within the event „Smoke the Cypher“ in Tübingen will you find here: https://bloqspot4rockers.de/2019/10/03/rocking-workshop-in-tuebingen/ . To be mention is, that the most participants been from italy, romania and austria. Some had zero rocking skill, some had advanced rocking skill. They all took the challange to interact to each other while burning and getting burned. Well done! Thanks goes out Michelè for setting up the class!
Braunschweig Rockers Delight Vol 3 took place for the third time, and again we had international guests comin all the way from poland to rock with us. Shout outs to Kostek and the gang from Rock’n’Raw!
Rockers Delight Vol 3
One of the highlights in 2019 was the Anniversary of the Def Style Rockers (D.S.R) Crew from Braunschweig. In august 2019, they celebrate their 25th Anniversary where people from all over the world have been joined three days of pure Hip Hop Culture. Writing, breakin, rocking , moving, grooving! Within three days, we had a special edition of Rockers Delight Vol 3, the most valuable Bgirl/Bboy, a rocking class by the legendary Dj Samurai „Sam“ of the Incredible Breakers from NYC and last but not least writers/rockers/bboys rocking the walls. Check out the pictures to get an impression!
Rocking Class by legendary DJ Samurai „Sam“ – Incredible Breakers @DefStyleRockers25th Thats the Apache Line right there – Incredible Breakers in full effect @DefStyleRockers25th SwiftRock(BattleSquad) & PoeOne(Style Elements/DefStyle) rocking the wall @DefStyleRockers25th
As part of the „Smoke the Cypher“ event, there will be a rocking class in Tübingen on saturday, 19th of october. Tübingen is located on the Neckar about 30 kilometres south of Stuttgart. Beautiful place surrounded by nature. Can’t wait!
