Electro dance

Not to be confused with Electronic dance music.

Logo Tecktonik

Electro dance, also called Milky Way and Tecktonik, is a frenetic and quirky form of street dance which is typically performed to electro house music. It is based on, although is not limited to, a blend of different dance styles, such as Industrial, Disco, Vogue, Waacking, Hip-Hop and Freehand Glowsticking. It started in the 2000s and originated from the southern suburbs of Paris, France, mainly from the Metropolis nightclubs^[1][2] and has grown around the world. Fast-paced techno and electro house music imported from Northern Europe is the usual choice for Tecktonik dancing.^[3]

Electro dance is predominantly about arm movement, taking basic elements from glowsticking such as the concept of Freehand, the Figure 8 and the idea of the Leading Hand (one hand geometrically following the other), while staying very much in a disco tastes, by amplifying points and poses as a main aspect to this style. Down below Electro dancers tend to use their hips, knees and feet to gently shuffle across the floor in beat to the music, quite often in a random and jerky fashion. They also tend to include elements of toprock, B-boy-like footwork, lending to the hip hop-like influences in a lot of the electro house music.

The term "Tecktonik" is a registered trademark that began in Paris, and this has created issues for dance events or other uses of the name.^[4] The creators of the Tecktonik brand (most notably, Cyril Blanc, the artistic director of Metropolis^[5]) sell official products, such as clothes, Matts CDs, and energy drinks.

History

In 2002, Cyril Blanc and Alexandre Barouzdin organize "Tecktonik Killer" parties under their project called "Tecktonik Events" whose purpose was to promote in France two styles of music who originated in Belgium and The Netherlands: hardstyle and jumpstyle. This project foresaw, in the Metropolis nightclub, the creation of three types of parties where DJs from the hardstyle genre would meet : Blackout evenings, Electro Rocker evenings and Tecktonik Killer evenings ^[6]. Cyril explained that the name Tecktonik is a pun on the theory of tectonic plates.

Along with tecktonik killer parties, Cyril and Alexandre created, with the help of designers and sales staff, symbols that would surround the phenomenon : neon colors, mittens, tight clothing, etc. ^[4]. Given the success of these evenings, Cyril Blanc files the patents of "Tecktonik" and "TCK" marks at the National Industrial Property Institute (INPI), and internationally in 2007^[7] to prevent other clubs to promote their parties using those words ^[8]. Many products derived from these evenings are then created including compilations, a clothing brand, energy drinks, etc. Two other clubs in Paris then took over the Metropolis club: the Mix Club and the Red Light. ^[9]

Tecktonik has enjoyed increasing success and has spread to France through gatherings in the street and videos available on the Internet. During 2007, the media became more and more interested in the phenomenon, further contributing to its spreading. The dance is known to the general public by appearing in videos, including Alive by Mondotek ^[8], A cause des Garçons of Yelle, Sucker of Dim Chris or artists such as Lorie. In September 2007, the Techno Parade has helped to establish the increasing visibility of tecktonik ^[10].

In November 2007, TF1 became the official international agency for Tecktonik, with the aim of promote the brand outside of France. ^[11].

Clubs must obtain permission from Cyril Blanc and Alexandre Barouzdin to use the term "Tecktonik" or "TCK" ^[4].

"Electro Dance" has seen radical change recently; the moves that once defined "tecktonik" are almost gone, changed due to innovators such as Vertifight [ref. needed] (a brand that promotes Electro Dance events all around the world) and also YouTube.

External links

• Video Tecktonik
• http://www.dancElectro.com - Electro and Tecktonik dance portal
• http://www.electrodance.pl/ - Electro dance Poland community
• Techtonik Mini Documentary
• Vertifight

References

1. ^ "Electro dance craze takes Paris by storm", news.sawf.org, 20 September 2007.
2. ^ Metropolis (French)
3. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7923658.stm
4. ^ ^{a b c} tecktonik, new fashion trademark Newzy
5. ^ Agence France Presse. Electro dance craze takes Paris by storm. September 19, 2007.
6. ^ http://www.lemonsound.com/dossiers/840/La-deferlante-Tecktonik.html
7. ^ Tecktonik uses Web to market lifestyle born in dance movement, International Herald Tribune
8. ^ ^{a b} Furious electro-dance style sweeps France Reuters, 29 March 2008
9. ^ http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/discotheques_paris/le-redlight_83869/Profil-Lieu
10. ^ Techno Parade enjoyed tremendous success in Paris, Le Matin
11. ^ http://www.tf1entreprises.fr/tfe/licences/licencesproduits/0,,4237363,00-tecktonik-.html