House

The Origins of House Dance

House dance was born in the underground clubs of Chicago and New York during the late 1970s and 1980s, alongside the rise of house music. These spaces were created by Black, Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities who used dance and music as a form of joy, resistance, and freedom. In clubs like the Warehouse in Chicago and the Paradise Garage in New York, house music and house dance became a safe haven where people could express themselves fully, regardless of gender or identity.

The style itself grew out of a fusion of jazz, African dance, salsa, tap, hip-hop, and more. It revolves around three core principles: jacking (the pulsating groove that embodies house music), footwork (fast, intricate steps), and lofting (fluid, expressive movements). Together, these elements capture the freedom, improvisation, and connection that define house culture.

More than just a dance style, house represents a community spirit, born from marginalized voices that turned struggle into creativity and celebration.