Check this out – four talented dancers at the corner of 90th Ave and MacArthur in East Oakland are caught on video. Truly the best dance video we at OaklandSeen have watched in a long time.
We wonder what the police officer said to the young man before they began dancing, we wonder about their stories and most of all, we wonder where we can see them perform again.
You all make Oakland proud. This was shot by the amazing Yak Films – talented local video producers. Check ‘em out next Friday, August 6th. YAKFILMS and thePeople present All-Styles Dance Battle bringing together the Bay Area’s best dancers in breaking, popping, locking, house and turf styles to compete for the Best of the… part of The Best of the East Bay Party in Jack London Square Broadway and 1st St | Oakland 7pm – 9pm. Free.
How about give them jobs somewhere..perhaps as traffic controllers. Or, maybe dance instructors at Alice Arts? I bet we agree that they should not be forced to dance in the rain on a street corner…
Who says they don’t have jobs? Who says they were forced?
Just an educated guess based on the following facts:
The unemployment rate for young Americans has exploded to 52.2 percent — a post-World War II high, according to the U.S. Labor Dept.
http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Oakland-California.html
And maybe I should have said that they should be given an alternative to dancing in the rain and on a street corner (in one on the most dangerous parts of Oakland)…Do you like dancing on the corner in East Oakland and in the rain?
You see unemployment, I see creativity (even in the face of it). You see danger, they see community. You see traffic controllers, I see leaders. Your stats don’t lie, it’s just that our eyes differ.
I’m not saying you’re *wrong*, I’m saying it’s always good to take our assumptions for a walk in the rain.
Me, I’m a bad dancer on any block.
I love it!!!!!
You’re correct…we see things from differing points of view. And I must admit that my perspective has shifted significantly after having had two young children and purchasing my first house less that 10 blocks from the spot where the young brothers were kickin’ it. Having lived in that community (yes, community) for 5 years, I opted to move my family as a result of the crime, regular gun shots, blight and general mayhem. That being said, if I didn’t have any kids, I’d most likey see things differently and still live of 82nd and Mac!
@immanuel – Fair enough! As a dad, I understand. The city is struggling – I agree. Lived here all my life, and not enough has changed.
These young men need WAAAAAYYYY more opportunity than they are likely to have. It’s their own resilience and vibrance that will ultimately save Oakland from itself, if we can all learn to see it right before our (often jaded) eyes!
Solidarity. Respect.
Just last month few people got shot right next to my door. I saw how it got there..Young people – well let me say all people need to find ways to express themselves other wise you will go crazy. I am strong believer that Arts itself can save the community. It give people a chance to express themselve differently as there is no limit too. Gang member would be standing there selling but they are dancing, instead battling with guns they can battle with dance, instead breaking someone cars but instead they can be painting the street, instead of breaking in someone house, they knock on your door ask you to come to their arts show, the community would improve if we all pay attention what going on in our community and do something about it- than just relay on the mayor and the cops… What about you.. If I could I would call these young men and ask them to teach class and do a show… I am a dancers born and grew up in Oakland, (510) – I am deaf and i travel around the world- never had a lot of money but I did my thing, I been to london, africa , cuba mexico- these men – young men can make a different too. As African American Deaf man in Oakland- there no limit but the support of love against hate bring all dreams alive.
Jobs as traffic controller?
“Forced” to dance in the rain?
Are you serious, or just completely delusional?
P.s.
if you like Poems, Well just like poetry find the real deeper meaning behind their artistic words. Find me meaning behind their artistic dance. Remind me of Usher TRIBUTE to Gene Kelly Singing in the rain- Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and nicholas brother- If you do not know them check them out because all of them did something like this.
SO in short I agree with
“Best dancing in the rain video – East Oakland”
I hope for the sake of these extremely talented young dancers that they will have the opportunity to do their art in places other than rainy street corners. That said, I have to admit watching them do their thing in their ‘hood’ in the rain made the performance all the more impressive and even emotional for me. It left me teary eyed.
@Antoine I so agree with your statement about how important the arts are for everyone, but especially those who are in the unfortunate position of being at the bottom of society’s economic and social standings. Every child should be given the opportunity to find his or her own unique way of expression – and every child has one. It’s how most of us begin to grasp and hold on to that ellusive ‘self esteem’ which can then propel us on to greater accomplishments. There have been so many studies which point to early arts education, painting, music, dance, theater, writing, as the water that helps blossoming young minds grow and flourish.
I am a visual artist. I am at my best when I am creating. I have taught children, adults, disabled adults, incarcerated men and women, young men in Uganda, E. Africa what I know and love about the visual arts. I have seen so many of my students ‘turn on’ to their own abilities to create something that is their very own made from their own hands and imagination.
These young dancers could benefit from sharing their knowledge of dance with younger kids. I’m imagining that they already do this. At least I hope they do.
I am overwhelmed by the poignancy, the talent, and the joy. No need for a downside, for one moment please. Agree with j_sight. Appreciate the context, acknowledge the lack of opportunity. But first recognize the simple beauty here.
This was so beautiful and moving. It made me miss my city (every part of it) all the more. Thank you for sharing.
Me and my boyz will dance no matter wat the weather is!! we aint got fancy studios and nobody’s forcin us. We jus got skills like dat!!
love, love, LOVE this video! Cheers to everyone involved – it was so wonderful to watch – hope to see more!
I just LOVED that video. To me, the fact that it was on a street corner and in the rain and in a neighborhood that many don’t know about only emphasized the qualities that I loved about their performance. They embrace the street and the sidewalk, touching and feeling it with their hands, feet, heads and chests. It’s a powerful affirmation of where they stand — literally and spiritually — and how they see where they live. Beautiful. I can’t say enough.
Beautiful. You are such talented young men.
I hope these beautiful young men get everything they have ever hoped for.
I wish they’d come dance on my street corner. I would never stop clapping.
Its wonderful to see people of any race, age or gender revelling in their passion. The smiles and salutations at the end were beautiful. Be the change you seek.
this is an awesome dancing!
I also want to add that i hope these young, incredibly talented men find success and happiness. They deserve it.
Keep loving life
It’s a God Damned dance film people. What’s with the unemployment comments. This is what whites get paid to do…”dance on camera” and these fools are doing it innocently!!!! Ingenious. This can win awards and money. Press and accolades. Some of Ya’ll need to open your minds a bit and maybe get out of the TV’s and magazines. God Dogggit!
And they do have choices…they chose to shoot in the rain. Look at the clothes and shoes they have on. They aint hurtin’. These cats are killin’ it. They did this to have something creative to do. Watch how viral this becomes. INGENIOUS I TELL YOU. SAY NO MORE!
As an older white-guy-dancer I find this video a complete inspiration. YES! to the skill, talent, creativity, beauty, poetry of this. More! More! More! On the street, in the rain. YES! What better place to dance.
Amazing moves and beautifully shot. Thanks for sharing this!
If I saw a political message in this beyond showcasing the skills of these incredibly talented dancers, it was that although there are class divisions, those who have nothing can still create something that’s beautiful and entirely their own.
But that was my take-away from watching this video, and I assume NOTHING about the performers. It’s embarrassing that anyone would watch this and assume that these guys are out hustling street corners day after day, because they are shown doing that in this video. Charlie Chaplin wasn’t a tramp in real life, you know.
I’m trying not to use the R word here, but I think some of you need to check your assumptions.
heres another awesome dancing in the rain video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzyjwoRWaLs
These kids were not “caught on video.” They were purposefully filmed.
Nonetheless, it was enjoyable to watch! I used to teach in that neighborhood and have former students who still live in that neighborhood. The kids there are full of creativity and passion, and they are very aware of how short their lives potentially are. In fact, the last time I was there, which was just a few months, ago, I drove past a teen funeral. The funeral was for a teenager who was shot at the funeral of another teenager just two weeks before.
I say, we should all stop and dance in the rain because the rain is going to stop all too soon.
hip hop ballet–i love it! so creative and fun to watch. they are clearly talented and seemingly trained dancers.
forking AWESOME
I have a BA in dance. These guys dance a zillion times better than I do. THANK YOU for the soul conversation, first languaging! Potent! I am putting this up on my blog, “Friday Virtual InterPlay” this week. See InterPlay.org. Cynthia/Oakland.
Jeez, folks, it’s just some guys dancing on a street corner.
Consider that the editing, the song choice, the location and even the choice of dancers manipulated your experience to make the video more than just a dance video. If these guys had been dancing on a stage, how much social justice blah blah blah would it provoke? Why does urban dance have to MEAN something? Can’t it just be aesthetically pleasing? Can’t it just be fun for the dancers? These guys looked like they were having fun, showing off their skills.
I think the dancing stands on its own, without anyone’s assumptions about the circumstances. Maybe the comments should be turned “off” so it doesn’t distract from appreciating the dancing.
LOVE IT! Wow! Power to those who choose to express themselves, POSITIVELY!!! Thank you!
Just like Washington Square NY 1980!
Awesome. 2:46… Damn.
Outstanding! Creativity will manifest and push to the surface of our beings in all kinds of weather!
simply beautiful! “The goal of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible” Here is to these brothas and others out their who are stirring the revolution to free us from oppression!
These guys picked this spot to dance as an urban street setting / backdrop. Do you really think they have nowhere else to dance but a random street corner in the rain?
Holy shi*t. Brilliant!
As a 60 year old white woman, I take my hat off to y’all! Your dancing made my heart sing. But why tempt fate by stopping traffic on a rainy day ? Please be careful, ok?
Donny Boy and his boyz and Yak films. Way to roll. Keep killin it! Bring IT to SF and beyond. Thanks. More please.
beautiful! support the arts and support oakland!
talent that needs an outlet!
This is brilliant dancing ~ if any one of these dancers had auditioned for SYTYCD they would have gone to vegas I’m sure! I’m posting this on my website – Whateverdance.com
This is exactly what dance is all about. Expressing yourself, being creative and doing something to bring enjoyment and happiness to others. That is one of the components of being an artist that most of us love the best. Thank you ‘Boys of Oakland’ for sharing your talent with us.
Man, Immanuel Kant you just missed the point of the video. Why couldn’t you just enjoy it? The setting enhanced the amazing performance they made. The splashes and sliding effects in the water were badass.
It must be hard to live with the constant reminder of the problems in Oakland. I worked around the corner from the site of the video for three years. I witnessed and enjoyed a lot of exuberance and talent and I saw lost opportunities too. It is interesting to read folks comments. I just got in touch with a number of my former students…what a joy to find them on facebook.
What struck me most about the video, beside the dancing of course, was the intimacy of the young men. As a man myself, I often felt for my male students, who often weren’t able to let their guard down with other young men.
SINGIN IN THE RAIN, JUST SINGIN IN THE RAIN, WHAT A GLORIOUS FEELING I’M HAPPY AGAIN! i do not get people who watch this video and the most discerning feedback they have is “let’s get them some jobs!” when white people do it it’s avant garde art, when black people do it…take pity on them? NO. i have worked with some of the dancers in this video, i know them as people and i’m pretty sure they wana b out there AS much as they wana b on hollywood stages stackn cash…this is Oakland Foot Graffiti, growing flowers from concrete, i praise YOU for being our past present street tellers remixing our stories of pain and joy through commitment of muscle, bone and sweat bringing Life and Purpose to the same streets where everyday folks still move in shadows lose their purpose still being tortured and killed ….you ARE our traffic controllers cuz you show us a sense of direction. thank YOU for still, despite all this, having the childlike innocence to play in the rain
I gotta be honest, when the heading spoke of Oakland, and I viewed the patrol car, and the young people at first just standing at the corner, I thought about danger.
I’m hoping the editing of the film has not chosen for us to be geared towards these thoughts.
I did think about their opportunities, but I as well thought how beautiful they are.
Watch it without the music and imagine if you were driving or walking by and just caught part if it. How would you react to two spastic youth spilling into traffic, one with face hidden by bandana.
@fahay thank you for your honesty and its real, cop cars plus young people are markers that equal danger….i think the video editing is gearing us toward those thoughts but in order to question our assumptions and realize how easily we relate concepts in our heads to images we see everyday @lola you left out a couple of other markers…black…dreadlocks….hip-hop clothes….are you sure you didn’t purposely sidestep those words? spastic-youth-bandana are all historically well-documented markers for aggressive-black-threat…i’m quite sure if the skin color and other defining features were changed it would also change your reaction…what does it mean to take people as they are? cuz i have dedicated myself to live, work, and socialize with many communities outside of my comfort zone and that has taught me alot of valuable lessons about making assumptions based on what i see as well as what my culture has trained me to see and think, REACT less and ACT more…it’s easy to jump to conclusions based on the ignorance we’re fed