What is waacking?
Waacking is a disco-era style of fast, rotating arm movements, dramatic poses and strong musicality. Dancers strike glamorous lines inspired by Hollywood stars and react to every accent in the music.
History
Waacking (or punking) was created by dancers in Los Angeles' gay clubs in the 1970s and spread through Soul Train. Tyrone Proctor and others kept it alive; it re-emerged worldwide in the 2000s.
Basic technique
- Arm whips and rolls
- Poses and lines
- Walking and drama on the beat
Music & tempo
Disco and funk, around 110–130 BPM.
Songs for waacking
| Song | Artist | BPM | Key | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myenemy | Parcels | 110 | D minor | 2016 |
| I Can’t Quit Your Love | Four Tops | 110 | F minor | 1986 |
| Eleanor Rigby | Four Tops | 110 | E minor | 1969 |
| Letter Full of Tears | Gladys Knight & the Pips | 110 | E major | 1995 |
| I Wish You Were Here | Billy Eckstine | 110 | D# minor | 1966 |
| Starving for Your Love | Four Tops | 110 | E minor | 2005 |
| Come See About Me | Gladys Knight & the Pips | 111 | G minor | 1973 |
| Dangerous Blondes | Dollar | 111 | D# major | 1982 |
| It Burns Me Up | Change | 111 | F major | 1984 |
| Love or Leave | The Spinners | 111 | E major | 1991 |
BPM as measured by audio analysis; some tracks read at half or double the danced tempo.
All 446 waacking songs by BPM →
What to wear
Expressive clothing; anything that moves.
How to get started
Waacking workshops are common at street dance events.
Recent research
- Strength and conditioning in dance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. — European journal of sport science, 2024
- Neurocognitive control in dance perception and performance. — Acta psychologica, 2012
- Dance for neuroplasticity: A descriptive systematic review. — Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews, 2019
- Dance and sexuality: many moves. — Journal of sex research, 2010
- Rehabilitation of the Dancer. — Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America, 2021
Books about waacking
- Dancer from the Dance by Andrew Holleran (1978)
- Burn baby burn by Meg Medina (2016)
- Tribal rites by David Diebold (1987)
- Disco by Lani Van Ryzin (1979)
- The art of disco dancing by Dennis J. Fallon (1980)
- The complete guide to disco dancing by Karen Lustgarten (1978)
Encyclopedia summary
Waacking (also whacking) is a street dance style with origins stemming from punking, a dance created in the gay clubs of Los Angeles during the 1970s disco era. The style is typically done to 1970s disco and 1980s post-disco music and is mainly distinguishable by its rotational arm movements, posing and emphasis on expressiveness.
Frequently asked questions
Is waacking the same as voguing?
No — both come from queer club culture, but waacking centers on arm rotations to disco, while voguing comes from Harlem ballroom and is based on poses, hands, catwalk and dips.
What BPM is Waacking?
Waacking is usually danced to music between 110 and 130 beats per minute. Browse 446 songs that fit on our Waacking music page.
How many calories does waacking burn?
About 316 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, based on a MET value of 4.3 from the Compendium of Physical Activities. See calories burned waacking for every body weight.
Related styles
Voguing
Harlem ballroom scene
Street & Club DanceLocking
Los Angeles
Street & Club DanceHouse Dance
Chicago and New York City clubs
Street & Club DanceHip-Hop Dance
The Bronx, New York, and California funk styles
Street & Club DanceBreaking (Breakdance)
The Bronx, New York
Street & Club DancePopping
Fresno and the San Francisco Bay Area, California
Street & Club DanceKrump
South Central Los Angeles
Street & Club DanceK-Pop Dance
South Korea
Last reviewed October 2026 · Editorial policy