Weekend Musings. Friday Rewind.

JodyWatley_Shalamar_Original_Belgium_83

Jody Watley. Original. Shalamar 1983 on tour in Belgium. Photo Courtesy of: Etienne Go.

Seeing this photo shared by a Etienne Go on Facebook from a club in Belgium in 1983 while on tour with Shalamar is another reminder of how long I’ve been getting to do some of the things I love and working really hard at it, and always fighting to be myself – through the many ups and challenges, obstacles overcome ..singing, performing, dancing, designing, writing and bringing joy to the people.

Here’s to the now, to the weekend.  It’s OK to take a glimpse back, evaluate, reflect, see how far you’ve come, use the lessons learned and so on – just don’t get stuck there.

Much Love!

 

 

 

Jody Watley. Waacking Freestyle Dance

I’m not a trained dancer, singer nor writer – I do them all from my soul with my own distinct feel and style much like an improvisational jazz musician. There is a joy in dancing no matter the style. I’ve always loved it and always will – watching and doing.

It’s so incredible to see ‘Waacking’ continue to grow with a younger generation around the world. You just search Youtube, ‘Waacking’  and you will find battles and performances going on globally; fused with other elements including Hip-Hop, Propeller (created by Princess ‘Lockeroo’ Samara Cohen), Voguing, Punking and so on.  The origins of ‘Waacking’ date back to the 70’s, my teen era. I was amongst a few girls who were doing it on the show; and was a member of dance troupe ‘The Outrageous Waack Dancers’, along with other Soul Train alums Tyrone Procter, Cleveland Moses Jr., and my former Shalamar colleague Jeffrey Daniel.

Jody Watley and “The Outrageous Waack Dancers”

Viva la dance!