#IfCitiesCouldDance: Washington, D.C. – “Beat Ya Feet”

In the latest episode of KQED Arts & Culture’s If Cities Could Dance, they took a trip to the nation’s capital and found themselves embracing D.C. culture. Every city across the world has its rhythm, dance, and slang. Others might see as an upgraded version of the “heel-toe” dance, but here in D.C., we call it “Beat Ya Feet.”

“Beat Ya Feet” is a local dance that started in the backyards, streets, and clubs of Washington, D.C. then it quickly spread across the surrounding areas in Maryland and Virginia. I remember being in Middle School when I had first introduced myself to the dance. During that time, everybody attended the GoGo functions, knew the words to every song, and even had the lastest singles and albums on their iPod.

Over time, it slowly started to die down once the violence began to increase, and gentrification started to take over the Metropolitan area. Although the love and culture were still there, new residents in the District seem to dislike what they have created. Washinton, D.C. is much more than the political heart of the nation, it is home of Go-Go and #DontMuteDC, the people-powered movement against gentrification.

John “Crazy Legz” Pearson, founder of Who Got Moves Battle League, and his dance crew helped build momentum to ensure that Black culture in D.C. does not get erased. #DontMuteDC is an anti-gentrification movement that started last year after neighbors filed noise complaints about Go-Go music being played at MetroPCS store on U Street. This activism led to new legislation, making G0-Go the official music of the city.

Check out the latest episode of If Cities Could Dance: Washington, D.C. Edition