WHAT IS HOUSE DANCE ? Coflo's response to how to house dance videos

WHAT IS HOUSE DANCE ? Coflo's response to how to house dance videos.
There are many "how-to" videos on the internet that do everything from miss educate to actually appropriate culture. The subject of "house dance" and the culture that revolves around it is near and dear to my heart. With a lot of negativity on social media, I wanted to express my personal connection to how inspiration can come in unexpected ways and we should cut the "make money schemes" or "less pretty" videos a little slack.
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@coflothesoulshifter
www.CatchTheGhostRecords.com - Record Label
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www.MindBodyFlo.com - Personal Site
www.HouseDanceFestival.com - Bay Area House Dance Festival

[@user-qx8bd5tb4g]

respect! thanks for sharing the positivity and inclusivity. I think those are the greatest things in dance community

[@charlieheath4345]

Had me at "think of things a little bit more positively" 😍😻❤️💓💕💖💗💙💚💛💜🖤💝💞💟❣️

[@BigBoogie13]

Coflo, amazing dancer and producer and an inspiration! Glad to meet you in NYC years ago.

[@read85Soldierebook]

What's missing from house music and dance now is the spirit. It was like chuch in the summer in the south with no ac HOT AND WET.

[@thaiselizabethh]

Come to NYC🕺💃

[@ElliottNewVillage]

Thank you for this perspective. I feel like this point of view can apply to other dance styles and cultures in general. Glad I stumbled upon this in my feed. Much love

[@Coflo]

Absolutely agree. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Take care.

[@resurrectvamp]

Hey Coflo, I'm a huge fan of you and Jardy, I currently do house dance classes in the UK with a guy named Turbo (If you know him) your insight into the ideas and distinctions of House Music and House Dance culture are very important and relevant, above all I really respect your point. Turbo himself always says in class "don't dance like me, everybody houses differently" and I think that really comes to mind when you're referring to these so called wack videos. Thank you for making this video, I hope I become good enough to venture out of England and see the dancers that I find cool like you and Jardy. Peace from the UK my man 🇬🇧

[@Coflo]

Thanks for the support man, and thank you for taking the time to watch my video. Based on your statement I think Turbo is dead on. We have to remember that dance is a specific medium of movement and that type of movement is "art". While their are approaches and styles, it is individualized as it is intrinsically a reflection of our humanity. Keep up the practice, listen to music and having fun and it will not matter if you are good enough. When you enjoy what you are doing, people will enjoy your company, which is what house music culture is all about. Your willingness to dance with others is all that is needed. peace sir! Axé from Cali!

[@jnontanovan]

Dooooope message.Thank you for your insight!!

[@Coflo]

thank you sir.

[@megabuzza]

Thank you SO MUCH for bringing some wisdom to all the online judgement that happens around dance. This is so clean, so clear, and SO refreshing. Thank you thank you! (- Meg Buzza: Bay Native, NYC House trained)

[@Coflo]

:) thanks for checking it out.

[@megabuzza]

@@Coflo Thank you! And love your most recent album! Joseph Nontanovan shared it with my last time I was in his class in the Bay. Keep creating!

[@YourFreeBeats]

Meg, you like drama huh? Ha ha You know I'm just playin' with ya (but c'mon we know you been called a "drama Queen" more thsn once in your life. I won't tell h ha. Seriously, I'm just glad House music is still around, and you should check out Techno if you ever need to unleash your inner--self. ;-) Be good, Meg.

[@charlieheath4345]

I can't fucking like this video enough man. God damnit.

[@BogdanZamfirHTRS]

you are a very good understanding and way of putting things into perspective, thanks for the video

[@geoffmartin5545]

There is nothin wack about any house dancing.If you are having fun , that is all you need. Coflo , I love house I love your dancing brother. nothin but love. Rhythm worship forever.

[@Coflo]

absolutely.....dancing is something positive and having fun should be primary!!! Thanks for the love Sir!!! peace!

[@Brooklyn_Hit]

Just came across this Vid. I have to Say this 3:19 he Introduces a Dancer from the Bay Area Jardie If I Spelled the Name Correct. It Is Clear This Guy followed Our NY Style. NY style of House came from our History in Hip Hop Free Style, Break Dancing, And Electric Boogie and POP LOCKING along with major Latin Disco influences. The issue I always have is I'm 54 and I still get down and When I'm approach by a COPY/ Student who thinks they have mastered the Video or Teachers moves Shit Gets UGLY Fast. I consider myself as one of the Originators of many House moves I did to compete with Caleaf, and Ray RIP Voodoo Ray My brother Our battles Were Epic to See I won some and Lost some But What we did was and Is Timeless. But The Thing We knew IS TO JUST DO YOU AND YOUR STYLE WILL SHINE.

[@Coflo]

yup Jardy Santiago. He is very vocal and honest about him studying the NY approach and that being his contribution to dance with what he teaches. 100% agree, just do you!

[@LuisChavezRN]

This was a thought provoking video. Interestingly enough, we were in the same joint 7th/8th grade class and I remember you did a presentation on Capoeira and you finished the presentation with an L kick. It was dope, I still remember that from 1998.

[@Coflo]

damn.. i dont remember that presentation at all, but that sounds about the right timeframe!

[@LuisChavezRN]

@@Coflo Yeah man. forgot the class name. But it was at Horner Jr. High in those portable classrooms, haha. Good times. Glad to see you doing well.

[@robertuceda5121]

CoFlo - great dancing videos and your performance. it's fun watching you display your purposeful moves. do you have a video dance tutorial that I could gain mastery of? let me know thanks! i have a dance studio where I would like to utilize

[@Coflo]

Thank you for the kind words. I have done one tutorial, for a friend, that I can think of on my "time step". But in general I am not big into tutorials (doing them my self) when it comes to dance, as there are so many amazing ones already in rotation around the internet. I think any value that I can offer as a teacher or a more experienced student of dance is often better relayed in a more vernacular sense, present in person and with other studying dance artists. Wishing you all the best on your dane endeavours!

[@gilbertmarquez6434]

New to house dancing. Feels like I kept locked up trying to keep myself in check but since I started listening to house I can't stop moving. It wasn't until listening to your comments on the time step video to just get out there and experience that made me feel the culture you teachers are spreading. The ideas make it through Coflo, pure motivation!

[@Coflo]

Super dope to hear Gilbert!!!! keep it up man, like all things artistic, "art is subjective and personal". You will meet opposition on your path of dance...both from others as well as your self. Man..i can't tell you how critical I have been of my ownself for soooooooo many years. Needless to say..get out and enjoy the dance..experience it with others if you can find some in your local community. Do your thing man and dance!

[@DSCKansas]

I know this is two years later, but thank you! I just came across this video and I appreciate the knowledge. It is good to know about differences in videos. As someone who uses the interwebs to learn house (there's no one near me that does it) I appreciate the insight.

[@Coflo]

No prob M.L. you are welcome. I hope to do more videos like this. If there isn't any "house dance" in your area and you are of legal "night clubbing" age, I highly recommend seeing if you can seek out "house music" parties. The majority of these urban/social dance styles have been developed from "party culture". In particular with house, "night club / house music" culture. People dance differently to house in various areas of the world where the music exists in those different night clubs. Now-a-days with the style of "house dance", we are seeing something totally different than the original "big bang" of what people were doing. If you are unable to find any places in you area that play the music, shoot me a message and I would be happy to reach out to my network of music collectors, dj's and producers to see if we can find something for you to check out. If you are already in the scene and clubbing...well then, you are doing it right! Keep dancing!

[@JulienGetsLoose]

very insightful and interesting perspective. def taking notes

[@Coflo]

word....thanks for hearing me out!

[@TeNofQuad]

Letʻs dancing!

[@Coflo]

All day!

[@tony_Choreographer]

Wow it's great talent

[@josephmontague1953]

I'm one of Jardy's online students for the last couple years, and even being aware of some hate he can get for his videos, I still reacted negatively to these more recent videos, and now you definitely gave me some much needed perspective. I've taken up things that are very cultural from sources that aren't quite legit either...i.e. like you, Only the Strong was definitely an influence in me taking up Capoeira recently cuz that movie was so rad when I was a kid, haha. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, man. Also, you included your own VincaniTV video in there...did you not like how that lesson turned out or something? The Time Step is a cool step/concept!

[@Coflo]

hey Joseph, thanks for taking the time to leave respond. I'm glad to hear my perspective has been acnkowledged. While a positive outlook isn't necessary the "only way I feel" about such videos, it is something that I feel a lot of people could benefit from if they just stand back and evaluate things from a greater view of the landscape. Kuya Jardy actually asked me the exact same question. I hope you don't mind that I copy and paste the response I wrote to him: Well it's a matter of humility. No one is EVER safe from being labeled as "wack" or "not authentic", "not true/pure" or even seen as "culturally appropriating". While I know what my intentions were and what my message was, someone easily could have seen my tutorial as something else. Also even if some people think the movement was "cool" or "at least good", others might see it as "corny or weak", which means the entirety of the message from the tutorial is automatically "wack". I know I'm not wack, but that is my own opinion of my self...it won't be the opinion of everyone. Just like I know your videos "Jardy Santiago" do a lot of good, and serve a great purpose, even though they may not necessarily be educating the entire essence of what I feel "house music culture" or "club dance culture is" (for a different video haha). There is always two sides to every coin, I just choose to be down with seeing what is good rather than trying to only focus on what is "missing". I feel like I will get farther in life if I "add" to what is already out there, rather than trying to conflict or contradict whats out there. Ya feel me?

[@josephmontague1953]

Coflo Ferreira "Kuya Jardy," haha, nice! Thanks for the detailed response. I've seen your posts on a couple of videos and they're always well fleshed out and reasoned, without fear of being lengthy. It's great. Anyway, I do feel you, and good point that it's not the only way you feel. I think being able to hold multiple viewpoints is best; but it takes a good deal of mindfulness to do so. Also a lot of humility to understand that you may be whack at any moment, haha. Respect, my friend. Side note: I also dig your distinction of House Music culture vs. House Dance culture. That's a good thing to point out, and it took me a bit to understand that dancers and the rest of the people in the club/event are usually separate, at least here in San Diego. I sometimes think cyphers hurt an atmosphere rather than add to it, for this and other reasons.

[@Coflo]

Joseph Montague thank you :) House Dance Culture is certainly a thing, but what I probably didnt explain well enough do to time constraint and flow; is that house music culture has traditionally encompassed dancers. Many clubs these days do not have dancers for many reasons that usually fall into the bucket of "club revenue". Dancers produce their own events now to put the dance on a platform rather than just for pure enjoyment. I wouldnt say they are different in the true landscape of things, but their is certainly a new culture that has emerged that used to ONLY really exists in a club. Cyphers can ruin the vibe, but dance inside of club culture didnt always have cyphers. The vibe of a cypher needs to be organic and often times, making a cypher and holding its borders is all new dancers/clubbers know. If a cypher cant be created and held with respect and matching vibe to the party, then the dancers should be house heads and just exists.

[@planetmotionlinda1454]

THANK YOU! I am also a house head with 20+ years in the underground, and I have never engaged in the codified movements of "house dance" culture. To me, house is a FEELING. I am presenting on house dancing soon, and I have been struggling to make a clear distinction between the two groups--house dance culture and house music culture--in a way that is inclusive and loving (in the spirit of house culture), while accurately telling the story of the two groups. Your video has given me some ideas to run with. Very well said--thank you!

[@Coflo]

You are very welcome!

[@jasey6884]

I love how you posted your own video and called it wack HAHA. You're the best Co-Flo

[@YourFreeBeats]

Jasey, serious question. If I can produce at least 50 videos of me (all time-stamped in the past by KZbin) where I called my own video "whack" (it's with an 'h' by the way--I hate to be one of those guys, but you know.....seeing as I'm gonna lace you down with facts here and all. I will take a wager and give 100-1 odds, and put that money in escrow. This, wagering that that by EOM I can produce a collage of doing the exact same thing. Me, my own litle old whack ass videos. . Ha ha. That doesn't make me more than anything other than doing what this cat did at least 50 times (as have many others). Try to get out more Jasey. Ha ha. I'm just pickin at ya. I bet you were a kid when you wrote the above. I sure hope so anyway. p.s. Just kidding! p.s.s. No I'm not.

[@sn4pi]

@@YourFreeBeats I'm confused af what are you talking about. The whole text makes no sense

[@maplover]

Positivity, bring it. We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

[@mfactor]

Well said.....

[@mustafa.ib.rah7]

That "New Jersey Sound" house music got me into dancing. 🙏🏾

[@Coflo]

eyyy lezgooo

[@sanjitsaha5000]

Damn straight it's all about the moment and you can only get that on the floor with people around you that get it just like UK jazz dance

[@alextesch2104]

Totally agree! Thank you for sharing insightful, inspiring and positive views!🙌🙏 Just wanna add that at 5:00 when you mention less skillful styles the person on the top right is Karim from Belgium, who is internationally of the top house dancers and house culture advocate!^^ just wanted to share, cause as opposed to the other example video he is actually deep in our beloved house culture! One love!

[@Coflo]

You are very welcome, thanks for taking the time to watch/listen! I do know Karim, and your message somewhat proves my point. I actually included my self in with the videos that Karim was lumped into. There is a level of humility being applied there to help prove my own point by including my self. Someone watching my tutorial video may say "this isn't house dance...this isn't house culture". The intention of the person in those types of videos isn't always to reenforce what you know or think you know. Sometimes their goal is something really surface level and that is OKAY. The point is, you do not need to be a pioneer, or someone who is know because of competitions to provide good in a tutorial about "house dance". What even qualifies me to be talking about the subject in this video if there are generations of dancers who have no clue who I am? Qualifications do not always quantify the level of intention or action. Not everyone was introduced to "house dance" through a club night experience or a brilliant longstanding pioneer. Some people get into cultures through appropriated ways, or incorrect adaptations. People who really fall in love and really embody the humanity in the dance will find truths within their longevity of their involvement in it. It doesn't actually matter how they discovered or started in it, in my opinion :)

[@alextesch2104]

@@Coflo I see! As a matter of fact I couldn't agree more! Keep sharing and much respect to you!

[@Coflo]

@@alextesch2104 Thank you, wishing you good tunes and dance!

[@ZacharyHcaze]

In addition, I hope these amazing DJs and producers should deeply consider the talented people who dance to it - Co-Flo and others! I would love to dance to a session mixed by atjazz or Souldynamic to name a few. There are some who do but I do distinguish parties that are cramped with people vs a an open space for the dancers!

[@ZacharyHcaze]

Co Flo thanks for sharing your opinion and thoughts on "House Music Culture" and "House Dance Culture". We had a conversation about this before. But I wanted to also agree with you in many ways. Also comment on HALFAMAZINGTV who commented below. For example: As a DJ you cannot get away with playing any and everything and expect people to dance or let alone have a great night at a party. You have to be selective and choose music that "you think people will enjoy". How in the world does that happen? you study most music "you" like and want to spin, you drive "your" car to the record store, pay for the music, pay for your dj equipment to practice on, and spend hours practicing. In this regard you cannot please everyone! So you have to be selective when it comes to what "you" like and then share it with others.(i.e you have to distinguish good from bad, and bad from good) those two words exist because for a reason- there is "good" music, and there is "bad" as Kerri Chandler quoted in one of his tracks. The same goes for Dance and every other artform. There's good and there's bad.

[@YourFreeBeats]

Check this out. I'm not in to House culture (as defined today) and certainy not this 'Wikipedia learned House dance". But guess what? I was there when it all kicked off. In the clubs. Rocking the clubs...my man...the dances are tongue in cheek. It's like if people started to focus on the "theory" behind doing the "Irkle" or the "Icky Shuffle" or some dance that if you were around and actually lived it. then you already know. But check this. I give House Music nothing but the UPMOST respect. As domeone who plays 35+ genres (see my SC for all that) House is the foundation for a good 30+% of my beats. Remember we Techno guys and House guys were all in the same circles (and the best of friends). The only difference was the music. Techno had a rougher crowd--I guess we wanted to release some aggression or something. I dunno. But I been around House since 1980. Another good analogy would be "slam-dancing". Now 99% of your true Techno artists know just what I mean. Not pogo, not "mosh pit" but if you were playing Techno then you know just what I mean. So it's like watching all these technical breakdowns and "theory" behind slam-dancing and the whole idea behind it is the fact it's mindless, animalistic body movement. Ha ha But I get it. But anyone reading this who want to do it the real way? Just move your sh*t to the beat. Simple as. I'm just shocked both genres are still around. I thought House would be long dead, and I KNEW Tehno would be, but WOW. It's still around so that's cool. Just be careful you guys listen to. Remember, when it comes to Internet music...the number of followers or likes, all hat goofy shit doesn't mean you can get down. Almost all the "top chart" people are phonies. They pay money for attention..So if you want the real, you go to the true foot soldier laying down new, progressive music...just because. .we can. But I loves me some House...I play thayt real old skool House, Deep, Tech, Prog, Afro, Ghetto, (it's the most scaleable genre in history IMO. Trust me, If it's something I know it's genres of music, and House is like raw clay you can do anything with it. But there are of course parameters involved to qualify it as house, else you can play anything and call it House (we can't let that happen)....respect the integrity of House !

[@jlubbz]

your beautiful face is blurry. You inspire me to inspire others!

[@Coflo]

hah yea... im not pro by any means. Ive been getting better thought :) Thanks for checkin it out bro!

[@Itsdlu]

With my opinion and your opinion of House Dance combined, I am CAPTAIN HOUSE DANCE !

[@Coflo]

David L lol

[@HALFAMAZINGTV]

Just like ken swift of rock steady said of breaking- we can evolve as b-boys but you need specific vocabulary per the law of breaking to be considered a b-boy/B-girl. You can't take 1 element of breaking and fuse it with other elements- that's freestyle, not b-boying.

[@JasonVaughnMamba80]

Respect my man, respect:::

[@Coflo]

you already know my brutha! Hope to see you sooner than later!

[@JasonVaughnMamba80]

You will indeed! I'm moving to L.A. in November. I'll be making trips to the Bay 🤗

[@Coflo]

nice be sure to let me know when your planning trips so I can make sure there is good parties to hit up :)

[@ramthongchanh3828]

Each one teach one

[@HALFAMAZINGTV]

Maybe it's me but there is something in the air, by which we are getting into this "respect culture but let all things be everything but/that stems from tradition". So, it's essentially saying to do as you please, even if it's far removed from the original culture, but just keep the original culture in name. As a dj, I don't play that game- it's either in or out. No "in the name of". Everyone keeps saying that all music is mixing together to form one family and that everything can be house music. No buddy, house never evolved, those people simply changed genres... There is no redefining salsa, merengue, or samba because the old heads will cut necks.

[@icfisoo]

Hmm😅😅

[@kellyfulmen6046]

_Glad to see you're clearing up some misconceptions, but I came to this video under the impression you'd be explaining what House Dance is. I want to understand the culture behind it, but no light was shed on that mystery at any point. Your heart's in the right place, but I feel the title is a bit misleading._

[@Coflo]

sorry to have misled you Kelly, that certainly wasn't my intention with the title. The full title "What Is House Dance? Coflo's response to how to house dance videos", was the intended title and subject. My goal wasn't to try and explain a dance based subculture of the house music culture, but rather to draw a positive relation to the dance videos within a house music culture subtext that attempt at teaching a new form of dance culture. In order for me to understand and be "okay" with things changing within culture I have to pose the question(s) for my self. Then analyze...what effect may take place. My video was a stream of consciousness in order to hopefully show that doing/learning almost any dance can be a positive thing for this world. It may not necessarily be "house music culture" but it is something beautiful. Again I think the "full title" of my video is a better title, rather than just the question being proposed.

[@clarencetang872]

[@Coflo]

[@derricklanders7260]

I'm lost...maybe i'm too old and I'm losing site of what the video is about.

[@HALFAMAZINGTV]

Lastly, you are a bit wishy washy in your articulation. At first you want to respect linage but then you reference those videos at the end, even though not necessarily approving of them, as being part of the culture to further introduce new people to the game. You can't turn salt water into wine. If you are drinking salt water, it's salt water- no matter how much grape juice you add to it. (I am from NY so it's engrained a bit differently)

[@Coflo]

I am being wishy washy for sure. That was actually the whole premise of the "rant". You can't continue to grow culture by exclusion. In order for things to continue you need new generations of those who obtain and live their human lives within the context of that culture (and it's various communities). The issue I was illustrating within the context of playing the devil's advocate is that you cannot "own a culture", you have to for these other manifestations of the culture to exist. Some of these manifestations are not necessarily the greatest interpretation of the original form of the culture, but that doesn't mean they are "all bad". I found dance culture, house music culture, club culture, Capoeira culture and really my entire life purpose in a unbelievable cheesy B-movie when I was 12 years old. If i would have not continued to walk my own path finding what I did and just left my understanding with that movie I would have walked away from the culture a long time ago. I think the final point I am trying to make is, the roots of a culture don't always help it to continue to exist through generations. After all, the fact that people teach others how to dance to club music in a club environment while doing so in an air-conditioned, well lit dance studio with 8 foot tall mirrors isn't exactly the origins of the culture. You know i had to end on a wishy washy note haha. I appreciate you adding your opinion sir, and you are obviously right. I think that if we are all putting in the work we wil continue to cultivate these beautiful artistic cultures in different ways...and most likely won't go wrong. After all it's dance, can't really go wrong with dance.

[@HALFAMAZINGTV]

Coflo Ferreira now it all makes sense. btw, in this youtube game, I totally get where you are coming from. thanks for at least making all three points so that it is inclusive for all. and you do make sense. I also think dance is in a different world than djing but come together through music. I definitely want a rant from you some day lol

[@Coflo]

haha for sure, your very welcome....Sir the DJ craft/art/culture is a rant that makes for such complicated dichotomy. I have TREMENDOUS respect for all arts...especially those that exist within the music cultures and you are right they are very different...but hey like you said...we can all come together in music.