Buzz
From the Charleston to the Twist and the Hustle, dance crazes have always defined their time—often sparking disapproval from older generations. In fact, the backlash against these popular moves seems as American as the dances themselves. One of the most provocative of these fads, which many would label as the quintessential dance of the 2010s, is twerking.
Let’s clear things up: To twerk is simply to shake your butt. Naturally, it's probably not a dance to perform at a family gathering with your grandparents. Urban Dictionary once humorously defined twerking as “a series of movements made by females of the humanoid variety as an expression of contempt for their fathers.” While this dance is not exactly suitable for family-friendly settings, claims about its roots in American strip clubs are highly questionable. Instead, the dance's deepest connections are found in Africa.
The twerking movements bear a strong resemblance to various traditional West African dances, particularly mapouka, which originates from the Cote d'Ivoire. Often referred to as “la dance du fessier,” or “dance of the behind,” mapouka exists in two forms: a more reserved, traditional version performed in ceremonies and a newer, edgier style popular among the youth of Ivory Coast.
The more contemporary version of mapouka, which is most closely associated with twerking, is considered by some to be vulgar and provocative. Despite its deep cultural roots, it hasn’t escaped controversy. For example, in the 1980s, the public performance of modern mapouka by groups like Les Tueuses (The Killers) was banned by the Ivorian government, which cited its indecency. However, after a military coup in 2000, the ban was lifted, and mapouka performances were legalized again. Even during its prohibition, the dance had already spread across coastal West Africa and reached the U.S. By 1993, it was making its way to New Orleans to truly be born.
In the early '90s, New Orleans was the birthplace of 'bounce' music, a hip hop genre that heavily featured call-and-response chants. One of the key figures of this movement, DJ Jubilee, recorded a track called 'Do the Jubilee All.' The video for this song featured young people shaking their fessiers energetically while chanting the words 'twerk baby, twerk baby, twerk, twerk, twerk.' It was at this moment that the term 'twerk,' a fusion of 'twist' and 'jerk,' was introduced alongside the viral dance craze.
After that defining moment, twerking began to gain momentum in the U.S., rapidly growing in popularity. The term was further popularized by Atlanta rapper Lil Jon and The East Side Boys, who frequently used it in their songs. Twerking hit even greater heights with the 2012 release of Diplo’s track 'Express Yourself.'
Diplo’s music video for 'Express Yourself' introduced a daring new take on twerking: the 'wall twerk.' In this variation, the dancer performs an inverted handstand against a wall, assumes the twerking stance, and gets to work. Just be careful not to get dizzy and be sure to have a wet rag ready to clean up the inevitable footprints on the wall when you’re done.
Over its 30-year history, twerking has been no stranger to controversy. The term—and the dance—truly broke into the mainstream when Miley Cyrus, a former child star, used her twerking abilities to shed her innocent Disney persona. While interest in twerking began to grow around 2011, it wasn’t until Cyrus took it to new heights that it became a viral sensation. Thanks in large part to Cyrus, the word 'twerk' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013. However, in 2015, the definition was revised to acknowledge that its origins went back more than 150 years.
In early 2013, 33 students from a San Diego high school were suspended after allegedly using school equipment to film a video in which they twerked for the camera. The dance moves resulted in a minimum suspension of five days, as the students were found to be in violation of the school’s strict sexual harassment policy. It may seem like something out of *Footloose*, but it’s clear that this sexually-charged move is far more inappropriate for school than a bit of classic rock ‘n’ roll.
However, this idea of scandal is less shocking when we look back at the controversy sparked by Elvis Presley’s hip-shaking or Chubby Checker’s iconic Twist—both once criticized for their lewdness. For those eager to try twerking themselves, there’s a simple, step-by-step guide available here. For those less adventurous, you can always have fun swapping the word *work* with *twerk* in well-known phrases (e.g., 'twerking hard, or hardly twerking?').
