What is twerk and why is it needed? Should those who twerk be ashamed? Twerking movements

Evgenia Smirnova

To send light into the depths of the human heart - this is the purpose of the artist

Content

Nowadays there are many dance styles, and new styles of choreography appear periodically. They are taught in schools and in group classes at the gym, and educational video lessons also exist. Almost all styles taught today correspond to the latest trends. For example, almost every school teaches twerking, since it is at the peak of its popularity, it has many rave reviews, and the number of people who want to learn it is only increasing.

What is twerk

To answer this question, it is worth turning to the translation of the word. WITH in English twerking or twerking is the dance of the buttocks. Indeed, when dancing, girls make very rhythmic and fast movements of their buttocks to danceable, fiery, catchy music. But the basic techniques apply not only to the buttocks, but also to the entire lower body region: thighs, butt, legs and lower abdomen.

The dance has some similarities with African dance movements. Therefore, it is logical that twerk originated at the end of the last century in West Africa, and subsequently began to spread and become popular in the United States. This word was heard in the texts of rap artists, elements of twerk were reproduced in videos. But the dance style began to gain true fame thanks to the group of girls Twerk team, their twerking was liked by the audience, the trend began to gain popularity.

What is the difference between twerk and booty dance?

Twerk dance is also called booty dance. Today, twerk and booty dance refer to the same style of dance. But a slight difference is still noticeable. Twerk, if you look at the literal translation, means “shake your butt,” and booty dance already translates as “dance your butt.” This means that twerking is one of the elements of booty dance - a dance that involves both butt movements and movements of the legs, hips and abdomen.

Description

Twerk - what is it? Many people have heard about this dance, but not everyone immediately understands what it is about. main feature, in addition to rapid movements of the pelvis. The first thing you should remember when wanting to learn how to twerk is physical training. Without it it will be difficult due to the frequent stress of dancing. In addition, for correct and clear movements you need developed muscles of the legs and buttocks, which can always be pumped up before starting twerking training.

Any workout, booty dancing will be no exception, you need to start with a warm-up. It is important to prepare your ligaments and joints for intense strength training. Then there is no risk of injuries or sprains. The muscles will prepare, and the movements will become effective. To warm up thoroughly, we warm up the muscles, ligaments of the legs, buttocks, and abs. You should finish your workout not with a warm-up, but with stretching.

After the warm-up comes practice of dance movements. This must include the following components: vibration of the buttocks, shaking them (“shake”), hip strikes, rotation of the hips and lower back (“hip roll”), drawing “eights” with the hips. Also, do not forget about the correct positioning of your legs - widely spaced and half-bent at the knees. These movements are the basis, some basics. Without their knowledge, it will be very difficult to continue honing your skills.

Benefits and harms

Physical activity has benefits for the body. Dance training and twerking have an impact positive influence on our body, our health. Here are the benefits of twerking:

No harm was found from booty dancing. On the contrary, with all the advantages, it also improves your mood. Such a dance will definitely not be able to make you feel melancholy due to its cheerfulness, energy and unusual movements. In addition, twerking helps to raise your own self-esteem, strengthens your love for own body, because this is an incredibly sexy, revealing style. This means that this process is simply enjoyable.

Professional twerk

Practicing this style of dance at a professional level, girls participate in performances at competitions and competitions. The skill there is higher than that of amateur booty dancing. In addition to basic twerking, a professional dancer must master other complex and interesting tricks and techniques. Dancers go one step higher in their dance development if they can alternately move their right and left buttocks or perform twerking in the splits.

Professional twerking in dancing differs from amateur twerking, in addition to increasing the complexity of the elements performed, by the important role of the external data of the bootie dance performer. Since the dance came from Africa, the main movements are associated with the pelvis and hips, it is important for a professional to have a good butt for this dance. If girls of absolutely any bodily constitution can engage in this area for their own pleasure, then for a professional level the above-mentioned feature of appearance is important.

How to learn to dance

The main thing in this matter is the focus on fruitful twerking, the desire to learn how to dance it correctly and beautifully. What recommendations can you give here? Here are some of them:

  • It is important to initially create the right surroundings. Therefore, you need to pay due attention to the issue of choosing a comfortable, beautiful, sportswear. You also need rhythmic, upbeat, energetic music.
  • An indispensable learning attribute is a large full-length mirror. The key to success is to see all your movements in order to understand what is already working and what you definitely need to work on.
  • Start with acceptance correct posture: Your feet should be firmly planted on the ground, shoulder-width apart, and your knees should be bent. You need to put your butt back, rest your hands on your legs, and keep your back straight.
  • You can start by doing the basic elements. This is a shaking of the buttocks, in which the pelvis moves forward, then returns to its original position; rotation (movement) of the buttocks and hips from side to side; deflections in the lower back with lifting of the tailbone upward.
  • You should definitely watch out for twerking top part torso, that is, chest, arms, shoulders. In the correct version, the top and bottom do not follow the direction of movement. Therefore, from the very first lessons you need to pay attention to this moment and properly use the upper body.

In order to correctly perform all the elements of twerking, it is important to follow these simple recommendations:

  • The first basic condition is to place your feet shoulder-width apart. They should not be located narrower or wider, otherwise the execution of the elements will be incorrect.
  • Before performing twerk, we warm up the muscles and ligaments so that the body is prepared for physical activity and the work is fruitful.
  • Preference should be given to short shorts - they will help you see how the muscles of the legs and buttocks work and monitor the correct execution of movements. In a pinch, you can wear leggings.
  • Hair should be collected during training, because nothing should distract from the continuous performance of the dance.
  • Good decision There will be a purchase of knee pads to avoid injuries. This is especially true for beginners.
  • At home, training is carried out using video lessons with mandatory practice of elements.
  • When starting to practice some ligaments against the wall, it is worth paying attention to your hands, which provide our stability. They must stand firmly on the floor, preventing our possible fall.

Methods of execution

There are several ways to perform booty dancing. The twerk dance style consists of working the legs and buttocks; you can perform these movements various methods. There are three methods that are most popular. This is performing elements in a classic squat, twerking against a wall, and performing while fixing your hands on the ground. These methods combine well in a single dance, but it is possible to give preference to only one and use only it in the final version.

It is worth describing each method in more detail. So, twerk with your legs bent. The most important thing here is correct and stable foot placement. They should be shoulder-width apart, with toes turned out. The knees do not go beyond the toes, they are parallel to the hips, which guarantees the stability of the posture to a greater extent, including due to the ability to rest your hands on your hips. The movements themselves are performed: shaking the buttocks back and forth, left and right, rotating the hips. It is important, as already indicated, to monitor the discrepancy between the movements of the upper body and lower body.

The next type is twerking against a wall. Initially, we stand at a distance of about half a meter from the wall, turning our backs to it. Then we place our palms firmly on the floor, you need to rest completely on them, and first raise one, then the other leg up, touching only with your toes. Having already raised both of them up, we arrange them and bend them at the knees. This method of execution is not suitable for beginners due to the increased physical activity. Among other things, you should take into account the strength and preparedness of the arms, the general physical condition of the muscles of the upper body.

And finally, twerk, when the legs and arms are on the ground. The first position is to stand so that your legs are parallel to each other, shoulder-width apart. The next step is to place your hands on the floor. If you can’t fully place your palm, you can at least touch it with your fingertips. Performing twerk elements will differ from the standard position on the floor in that here the movements of the buttocks and hips occur due to bending and extension of the legs, and not bending the lower back.

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Discuss

Twerk - what is it, how to dance

Direction.

Etymology

There are several explanations for how this term was formed, but the most popular version is that the word “twerking” (in English Twerking) is something between several words: “twist” - twist, “twitch” - twitch, “jerk” - jerk. The word was coined by hip-hoppers from New Orleans, it's slang late 1990s, nose 2003 the term is recognized by most American dictionaries.

What is twerking

Twrking dance

Twerking movements are sexual swaying of the hips (in different directions and up and down), sitting on bent knees or squatting. Twerking began as a type of dance movement. But subsequently a direction of fitness training under the same name was born.

Story

Twerking officially exists since 1993. The first mention of twerking can be found in DJ Jubilee's 1993 song "Do the Jubilee All", which contains the following lyrics: "Twerk baby, twerk baby, twerk, twerk, twerk." The performer sang specifically about the twerking dance.

Since then, many songs using the word “twerking” have appeared in American and world culture:

  • 1995. New Orleans. Cheeky Blakk recorded the track “Twerk Something”.
  • 1997 . DJ Jubilee remembers twerking and records the song “Get Ready, Ready” with the words: “twerk it!”
  • 2000 . The debut single of the rap duo Ying Yang Twins - “Whistle While You Twurk” - described in detail the act of twerking, and most of the definitions were unprintable, describing the physiological functions of a person.
  • 2001 . Bubba Sparxxx's debut album contains the track "Twerk a Little".
  • 2003 . The Urban Dictionary gave the first definition of what twerking is: “ physical exercise for thighs and buttocks."
  • 2005 . Beyoncé's #1 hit "Check On It" has lyrics from twerking.
  • 2006 . Justin Timberlake's #1 hit "SexyBack" has the lyrics: "I wanna see me twerking with..."

Miley Cyrus shows off her twerking

  • 2009 . Twerk Team video gets more than 1 million views in 1 week on the Internet. Teams are three girls from Atlanta who show twerking moves.
  • 2010 . Miley Cyrus is filming a video in New Orleans in which she learns how to twerk properly.
  • 2012 . Twerking videos are uploaded by celebrities and ordinary users. American and European bands release songs dedicated to twerking.
  • 2013 . Videos of Miley Cyrus twerking are becoming one of the most popular on the global Internet. Several such videos are coming out at once. Miley demonstrates these movements not only at solo performances, but also at the concerts of her friends. Some of Miley's performances are called immoral, and passions are boiling on the Internet about twerking.

Guinness Record

Guinness World Record for Massive Twerking

In September 2013 A Guinness record was set for mass twerking. It was organized by the famous American musician Big Freedia. As a result of the action 358 dancers from 8 to 80 years old, they took turns on stage and danced twerking for 2 minutes each. Representatives of the Guinness Book of Records noted that 250 dancers were enough for the record, but everyone who came to New York Square was able to show off their twerking.

Twerking as fitness

In the US, twerking is being called a new fitness craze. Classes are opening to teach twerking. Twerking instructors say that in 60 minutes of training you can get a load that is more intense than a session in the gym. And this type of fitness can be classified as cardio exercise.

Twerking is done in groups

Twerking is a fitness activity for women only. It not only strengthens muscles, but also increases self-confidence, according to supporters of the new fitness. Classes are conducted to hip-hop music and stage lighting. Women are invited to play the role of relaxed and cheeky Miley Cyrus. For classes, make-up and beautiful, sporty, but sexy clothes are recommended. Shoes – sneakers to avoid injury.

The most difficult exercise is to sit in a squat for more than 5 minutes and continue to do dance movements with your hips and arms. Colossal figures are given about how many calories one twerking session burns. Beginners can burn up to 400-500 calories, and experienced women who can completely correctly repeat all the instructor’s movements can count on a result of 1000 calories!

Twerking movements

Squatting and shaking

  • Squats and shaking.
    • Sit down on half-bent knees. Feet wider than shoulder width. Beginners should not sit too low right away.
    • Pull your buttocks back - the movement should resemble as if there is a desire to sit on a chair. Return to starting position.
    • Keep your hands either up, at your sides, or at your waist.
    • Repeat the movements to rhythmic music.

the main thing is the butt

Twerk or twerking is a dance in which the main movement is performed by the hips, or rather the butt.

It’s simply amazing how masterfully professionals master this seemingly stationary and inactive part of the body. The twerking video gives an amazing picture of how “Korma” performed by the dancers walks left and right, and up and down, and shakes, and shimmers... It’s like a circus act.

It’s clear that twerk movements and dancers’ poses are so frivolous and frank that in comparison with it all kinds of twists, necks, even hip-hops are minuets of the 18th century. It got to the point that in some states of America twerking was banned. And perhaps this is why videos with twerk lessons are very popular on the Internet and many people want to learn how to twerk.

Twerking is illegal in some US states.

Although this is not easy to achieve. It is enough to look at the twerking video tutorial to be convinced of the complexity, and most importantly, energy consumption, of the dance. To dance twerk, you need significant physical training.

Homeland - New Orleans?

According to Wikipedia, the origin of the term "Twerk" is unclear. It is only known that it originated in the southern United States, perhaps specifically in New Orleans, and is based on the traditional dance traditions of Africa, which have penetrated North America with black slaves, who were brought there in the millions during the era of primitive accumulation of capital.

African dances are infinitely diverse, but their female part, and twerk is just a female dance, is based on the actions of the lower body. The twerk dance originated in the 90s of the last century and became popular thanks to the singer Miley Cyrus, who claims that twerk "a portrait of the senseless and beautiful fermentation of the human spirit". It’s hardly worth arguing with Miley about “meaninglessness,” but “beautiful” is a matter of course.

Only one thing is clear, the lesson of twerking is that humanity has taken another small step towards absolute freedom, when unwritten rules of behavior and moral laws are rejected, and the principle of permissiveness is put at the forefront. Now it's the men's turn. They also have something to shake, especially when you see the twerk dance.

Miley Cyrus

Famous modern American actress and singer. Born in 1992 in the American city of Nashville into an artistic family. At the age of 12, thanks to perseverance and, of course, talent, she received the main role in one of the television series. The series brought her fame and money. Miley Cyrus began performing solo as a singer in 2007. IN Lately the actress continues to successfully combine work in Hollywood with performances on stage. In total, Miley starred in 16 films, released 5 albums of songs, took part in the production of seven video clips, and wrote a book.

Twerk video

Twerk (booty dance, twerking, booty shake) – modern direction dance, based on active rhythmic movements of the buttocks and hips, while the rest of the body remains practically motionless. This is perhaps the most exotic, interesting, unusual, free and spontaneous style.

Usually the dance is performed by girls to rhythmic fast music: R&B, reggae, rap.
The dance originally originated in West Africa, then began to gain popularity in America, even among pop culture stars. Today it is a popular destination known throughout the world.

Ksenia Frolova, St. Petersburg

Twerking was considered as one of the directions of Danceholle - Jamaican street dance, which includes different kinds social dances. However, now twerking has become so popular and original that it is considered as an independent trend.

The essence and elements of dance

Here the main emphasis is on sexual rhythmic movements of the hips and buttocks, which are performed standing, on the floor or near a wall. Booty dance is overtly exotic and liberated.

The main elements from which dance sequences are built:

1) shaking the buttocks (booty shaking) - the main movement of twerk; can be performed in a squat, sitting on the floor, near a wall and in many other positions, it will depend on your imagination
2) rhythmic rotation of the hips and lower back - these movements emphasize femininity
3) isolated movement of the buttocks - the gluteal muscle on the right and left is tensed in turn, which makes it possible to add complexity and rhythm to the dance
4) figure eights with hips - the most graceful movement
5) hitting the hips in different planes emphasizes the rhythm and develops the abdominal muscles

All these movements require careful study of technique and long practice before you learn to control your body and dance booty dance.


Benefits and Benefits

Booty dance has many advantages and is very useful not only for maintaining muscle tone, but also for health.

Firstly, in order to learn this dance, no prior preparation is needed. In a good school, experienced instructors will be able to competently teach you from scratch, and very soon you will be able to amaze everyone with your ability to move.

Secondly, in twerking the muscles of the buttocks, thighs, abs and arms are most used, so these parts of the body will always be in good shape and will attract admiring glances. Dancing will help get rid of cellulite, give a beautiful shape to your figure, increase skin elasticity, and also prevent many diseases of the pelvic organs.

Thirdly, this dance will become the best way develop self-confidence, open up, get rid of complexes and become even more attractive to men.


Does booty dancing make girls more attractive?

Certainly! Within a few months, we will notice how your body is changing: extra pounds disappear, and your buttocks and thighs acquire seductive shapes.

Girls literally begin to catch admiring glances, and confidence in their own beauty and attractiveness appears.

Who is suitable for twerking?

Booty dance classes are suitable for active, confident and relaxed girls who are not afraid to attract everyone's attention, as well as those who want to develop these qualities in themselves.
Although everyone can dance twerk, it is still quite erotic and sexy, so girls and women over 18 years of age are accepted for classes.


How are classes conducted?

Each workout includes several mandatory parts, without which competent mastery of twerking is not possible:
1) warm-up – allows you to gradually get involved in the load
2) warming up and anaerobic exercise - help burn a large number of calories and lose weight
3) strength exercises on the muscles of the buttocks, inner and outer thighs, abs - will strengthen the muscles for subsequent dancing
4) studying and practicing the basic elements of booty dance
5) dance sequences based on basic elements
6) stretching – will help relieve tension and develop flexibility

Who dances buti better: black girls or white girls?

Initially, the booty shake was “invented” by African girls, and only they danced it very skillfully and beautifully. But this dance turned out to be so infectious that it soon swept the whole world, and today many white girls do it as skillfully, or often even better and more attractive than the inventors of twerk.

Twerk clothes

Comfortable clothes that will make you feel confident and beautiful are suitable for training.
It is better to choose tight leggings or shorts so that you can see if you are performing the movements correctly.
Sports sneakers or just socks are suitable as shoes.

“What kind of fashion has started to shake your ass and call it dance? I'm talking about twerking. If my girlfriend was doing this, I would be ashamed of her, and it’s unlikely that I would continue dating her,” a 20-year-old guy recently left a message in the popular public page “Overheard in PTZ.” And then a heated discussion erupted around the newfangled twerk on the topic: can this dance be considered a manifestation of art or creativity or are these just vulgar movements. Here's what its participants wrote:

After such a furious discussion, we suddenly became interested in what kind of twerk this is, what its essence is, and how long this dance has been performed in Petrozavodsk. It turned out that American singer Miley Cyrus showed what twerking is to the general public during the 2013 MTV Awards.

"What is this? Twerk is, if I may say so, a dance that symbolizes the imitation of sexual intercourse. To put it mildly, we can draw an analogy with the more famous bootie dance in Russia, noting only that twerking is already a transition to the next level,” says the dance encyclopedia. Here are just a few videos we found for the search term “twerk”:

“Twerk or twerking (in the Russian language the verb “twerk” has quickly matured) is a style of female dance in a half-squat, with sexually provocative movements of the butt,” writes the publication Afisha Novosibirsk. He is believed to have been born somewhere on the streets of New Orleans in the 1990s. In the 2000s, prominent figures in hip-hop and R’n’B even let out the call “twerk, baby, twerk,” and female performers sat down at the microphone to do a twerk or two; in the 2010s, the word became entrenched in English dictionaries. Well, in 2013, the aforementioned Miley Cyrus performed twerk and made it mega-popular.

By the way, another popular dance is very similar in execution style to twerking - booty dance. Or, as it is called in Russian, booty dance. As the portal dancedb.ru writes, looking at the manner of performing twerk and booty-dancing under a microscope, it is difficult to find any obvious differences, but still they exist. Adding to the difficulties is the fact that dances are spreading outside America under different names. In Europe, dancers can pass off booty dancing as twerking, since the technique for performing solo dance is almost identical.

For a real twerk show you need a partner, at worst, a partner. In booty dance the butt is the soloist; she is the main character whose abilities are demonstrated through dance. In twerking, everything is much more serious; in fact, in Russian we’ll call it “terki.” The whole point of the dance is to show what a couple might look like while having sex or if a girl tried to persuade her partner to have sex by shaking her buttocks invitingly, no joke. The question arises, why is YouTube full of “twerk team” videos, where girls alone tremble against a wall or against the backdrop of a random landscape? That's right, this is also twerking, but their partner is imaginary, you know... it happens. This is considered something of a workout. It was because of these rehearsals that the confusion between the concepts of “twerk” and “booty dance” began.

In general, the controversy surrounding twerking in the Petrozavodsk public flared up for good reason: the dance is really very ambiguous and evokes a variety of emotions - from admiration to disdain and even disgust from those who are especially correct. And now about the sad thing: in order to add “local flavor,” we tried to find dance schools or studios in Petrozavodsk where twerk would be taught. And, to our surprise, there were no such people in the city. Buti-dance in Petrozavodsk, judging by the official public pages found throughout the contact area, is taught only at the Star Dancelif dance school-academy. But our girls rock no worse than YouTube stars: