By Kyra Kyles
Sometimes the calls come in the early hours of the morning. Word of a dance battle brewing in a local parking lot. In a park. Even at a gas station.
No matter the time, King Charles--a.k.a. Charles Parks--answers the call, he says. So it goes in the world of Chicago footworkin', where dancers from across the city meet in public spaces to pit their skills in a style of performance--often dubbed an urban riverdance--against one another in informal bouts as a crowd looks on. At stake: reputation and recognition.
For the uninitiated, footworkin' is a rapid series of steps, leaps and twirls performed at a rate between 150 and 170 beats per minute, and it's moving quickly up the pop culture register right now.
Members of Chicago supergroup FootworKINGz, with which King Charles is affiliated, made it to the final 10 of "America's Got Talent" before being eliminated Sept. 9. The show wrapped Wednesday. King Charles, 22, who wasn't on the TV show, just wrapped a tour with fellow FootworKINGz member Prince Jron, 23--a.k.a. Jaron Boyd. Both men also were a part of Madonna's "Sticky and Sweet" tour after debuting on the "Hard Candy" leg last year.
As a result of these separate efforts at home and abroad, there is increased visibility for footworkin', following a minor flirtation with the mainstream including a choreography cameo in Missy Elliott's "Lose Control" video (2005) and a FootworKINGz appearance in a Verizon Wireless spot for a "juke" phone (2007).
The dance style has been developing on the South and West Sides of Chicago for more than 20 years. The FootworKINGz have been around as a supergroup since 2007.
"What they're doing is really bubbling to the surface," said Nick Pupillo, a professional ballet dancer and founder of the Visceral Dance Center who became acquainted with the street dance style after renting space to FootworKINGz.
Pupillo was so impressed that two months ago, he donated practice space to them at his facility, located at 2820 N. Elston Ave. And he isn't the only one enthralled with the fast-moving phenom.
Despite their "America's Got Talent" loss, FootworKINGz were selected as a "judge's choice" and dazzled audiences with glow-in-the dark costumes. Later this month, FootworKINGz members will teach their first master class for about 80 members of the public at Visceral. On Oct. 3, the crew lifts off with "Take Flight," a mini-documentary that explores footwork origins and their own success through dance, said group manager Leida "Lady Sol" Villegas.
Villegas, with the help of King Charles, began putting the supergroup together after watching his Creation dance crew perform at a Museum of Contemporary Art event in 2006.Villegas, herself a dancer with bi-coastal connections, was blown away by the rapid-fire moves back then, she said. Starting with, and working with King Charles, Villegas built the crew up to 10 official members, and two alternates, some of whom have traveled the world.
Still, footworkin' itself still has further to travel before truly breaking into the mainstream.
"We've got to get out in the world and get people battling all over the world like the krumpers, poppers, the lockers and the house [dancers] do," Villegas said, referring to other popular styles of street dance.
During their travels overseas, King Charles and Jron served as de facto diplomats.
Both recently participated in the famed Juste Debout dance competition in Paris, while touring with Madonna, where they placed in the semifinals to their surprise, Prince Jron said.
"It was a touching experience for me to go to this tournament thinking we weren't going to get no respect and instead it was the opposite," Prince Jron said. "Afterward, when we traveled, people would come up to us and ask 'Are you FootworKINGz,' and want us to sign stuff for them."
King Charles savored an opportunity to enter a house dancing competition in London, during which he was forced to slow his moves down significantly to match the music of the competition. He entered solo and lasted until the finals, when he said he was narrowly defeated in a tie-breaker with a Londoner.
"They were probably thinking they'd never see me again, and this guy is like a favorite," Charles said, adding that his competitor was "really dope." "But really, it meant a lot I got so far."
And the FootworKINGz--as well as their dance of choice--could go even further, Villegas predicts.
"It's an evolution, but we are seeing progress and opportunity," Villegas said. "Right now, I've got more gigs than I've got dancers who can actually take them."
Taking a step back
Footworkin' is white-hot right now, but Chicago also is known for another form of dance.
Steppin', as immortalized by the R. Kelly hit "Step in the Name of Love," is going strong and has spread to other cities. The dance--with its roots in the jitterbug and bopping--is a fluid, partnered dance done in 6-count or 8-count steps.
Each year, steppin' attracts thousands to the city for an annual World's Largest Steppers Contest, this year taking place on Sept. 19 at the Hyatt Hotel on 151 E. Wacker Drive.
Steppers, from their late teens and up, compete for $20,000, according to renowned dancer James Frazier, who founded steppin' group the Majestic Gents in the South Loop 12 years ago.
In that time, buoyed by mainstream stepper classics from Kelly's tune to the recent radio smash "On the Ocean" from Detroit's K'Jon, steppers have expanded their style and even the music they dance to, going from Luther Vandross and Smokey Robinson to dancing to gospel music or hip-hop steppin' to 50 Cent.
"I see the young ones out there doing it with the older, more classic-style steppers," Frazier, who is headquartered out of the South Loop, said. Frazier senses the dance form will only continue to grow--but in different directions. "Nowadays there is a lot more flair. More turns and twists. The music makes a real difference."
The dance--which flourished in black communities on the South and West Sides--is diversifying too, according to Frazier, who said "any and everybody" of all ages and skin colors came out to step earlier this summer when Majestic Gents participated in the city's SummerDance celebrations.
Even if you missed a chance to step out this summer, the Gents and others offer classes citywide.
Wordplay
If you want to get up to speed on footworkin', no need to comb Wikipedia. RedEye presents a glossary of terms, people and places you need to know about this pop phenom:
Markham Skating Rink
A mecca for footworkers who go to this location at 16630 S. Dixie Highway to battle.
1.8.7.
The name of one of the prominent footworkin' crews in the city. 1.8.7. is the creative nemesis of the FootworKINGz, according to Leida "Lady Sol" Villegas.
'Watch My Feet'
Runaway single from West Siders Dude 'N Nem that helped introduce the world to the lightning-fast music for footwork in 2007.
Juking
Reaching a state of greatness and "hypeness" during any dance, which can include, but is not limited to footworkin', according to Jerry "Wala Cam" Williams, a 37-year-old West Sider who showcases footwork dancing on his Chicago Access Network TV program, self-titled YouTube channel and a series of footworkin' competitions including Queen of the Circle (ladies), King of the Shorties (children) and Battle of the Bosses (plus-size men).
YouTube footworkers
Aspiring footworkers who learn their moves online. FootworKINGz members King Charles and Prince Jron said such tutelage, without one-on-one training, can dilute the dance and place undue focus on "fancier" moves.
Chicago's got talent
Looking to fill your dance card? Check out some upcoming events where you can get your groove on or lend support from the sidelines:
» Saturday: FootworKINGz master class from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Visceral Dance Center at 2820 N. Elston Ave. Class fee is $20 and more details available at visceraldance.com.
» Find steppin' lessons at steppersusa.com.
» Saturday: World's Largest Steppers Contest begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Drive. General admission tickets are $30 (two for $50, $3 surcharge for electronic purchase). More details at wlscontest.com.
» Oct. 3: FootworKINGz DVD release at 2 p.m. Harold Washington Cultural Center Theater at 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Tickets range between $15 and $25, depending on DVD purchase. Full ticket and DVD purchase information available at footworkingz.com.
