Oakland was home to a variety of dance moves that exists in one form or another to this very day.
Oaklands history in Boogaloo started in the late sixties. Most of the moves/styles have been lost in antiquity, but a good number of them exist as an echo of once was. We have listed some of the moves, but this list is incomplete. Many the individual moves or styles never had a name, but would be practiced by solo dancers you would find in the parks of East Oakland, or in the downtown area. Many of the Solo artists did not enter talent shows or perform as some of the well known groups did. Their drive to dance came from a self interest that only they could envision.
The list will grow as more dancers come forward to share there stories.
Back Slide
Baseball
Bird
Boxes
Blowing up the Chest
Break Down
Chicken
Cowboy – Walking in like it’s a shoot out – Aces of Soul
Creeping: A person with a deliberate walk that stops momentarily to the beat of the music.
Cutting Up
Dimestopping
Dinosaur
Dragon (Dynorama Creep)
Dynorama (animating)
Fat Man
Finger Popping
Hangman
Head in the Oven
Headless Man
Hitting
Lean
Little Ricky’s Car
Looney Cartooney
Mack Pose – Posin on a hoe
Miming: Rope pulls, window, skateboard, levers, leash pull (dog walk), steering wheel.
Noony Cartooney
Oakland boogaloo
Posing
Puppet:
Reserve Move
Robot: The miming of a Robot or a mechanical device.
Scarecrow
Six Million Dollar Man
Slot
Snatching the Head
Spinning
Swoop
Three D (3D) – tickin moves one after another
Tidal Wave
Toilet Stool Move (with hat)
Typewriter
Vibrating
Vibrating pose
Walk Outs
Waving
Worming
Bless Yall Brother and Sister’s. I Rep BRS styles from the eastcoast and Europe
Knowledge right here!
OAK-TOWN IN THE HOUSE…
Man, I would love to see some demos of these moves!!
The moonwalk aka back slide originated in Oakland California!
Hello I really enjoy this story for my life is part of this story about the bungleloos I was a mascot of Fremont high school 1973 the tiger my name is Melvin Add I just had to say something because this is part of my life one thing I notice the list of the different dances I don’t see the chicken the chicken was 1 of this dances that started off your cut in what ever you were looking to do ? We played baseball. that was a smooth move? Do you remember Duck from Oakland one of the best dancer I have ever seen. 1972 Fremont Mascot.
Never met Duck. Heard of him though. Will add your suggestions. God bless.
Hi, I am a student studying the history of poppin in Korea. I have a question.
Auckland’s Boogaloo history started in the late ’60s, did it start with Jerry Rente? I want to know who is the first dancer to start Boogaloo.
Duck, Little Willy, and a few others are some of the first boogaloos out of Oakland that probably started dancing in 1965. Jerry and his group were the second wave of dancers, not the first.
Thanks for the reply. Let me ask you a few more questions.
1.Excuse me, are you also a boogaloo dancer? If not, what is your relationship with the boogaloo dancers?
2.Are there any videos or material that Duck and Little Willy are the first Auckland’s Boogaloo dancers?
I’m confused because I saw a scene where Jerry said “Boogaloo is came for me” in an interview.
3. As stated in ‘the groups’, was the first team ‘One Plus One Pre’?
Yes am also a dancer. If you want more information I suggest you ask the creator of this website. His name is Charles Powell of the Black Messengers. You can reach him directly on Instagram. His user name is @charlespowell6377