Monday, June 18, 6:30 p.m. Castro • WEST COAST PREMIERE
Thursday, June 21, 9:00 p.m. Piedmont Theatre (Oakland)
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| When the Beat Drops: welcome to the world of bucking |
Like far too many people, I had never heard of the dance style called “bucking” or “J-Setting.” It originated in the African American gay community in the Deep South, an homage in part to the style of the cheerleading squads at historically black colleges and universities, especially Jackson State (whence the term “J-Setting”), but it is beginning to emerge from the underground scene into the recognition it richly deserves.
When the Beat Drops follows several teams of dancers, from the venerable Phi Phi squad, led by Anthony “Big Tony” Davis, to the new troupe down from Detroit, Sundari. We get a good grounding in the history of bucking, but we also get to know the dancers, many of whom have professional day jobs — in sharp contrast to the street kids we met in Paris is Burning, a film with obvious parallels in introducing an underground phenomenon to a broader audience. Of course, the interplay of issues of race and sexual orientation is part of the story, but so is Faith.
The subjects of this documentary are worth getting to know, even apart from their connection to bucking, but the skill, musicality and theatricality of their art is awe-inspiring. I greatly hope this film finds a wide audience and a prominent place in the history of our time. Definitely a MUST SEE.
Coming next month to Outfest in Los Angeles, with a live performance of bucking July 19 at the Ford Theatre.
• IMDb • trailer • WOW Report (World of Wonder) • Twitter: @Jamizzi (Jamal Sims) •
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