African Drummers and Dancers on 6th Street @SXSW 2013

African-style drummers motivate dancers at an intersection on 6th Street in Austin during SXSW, 3/15/13

Jazz and African Drumming on 6th Street @SXSW 2013

Street musicians attracted crowds of onlookers and dancers on 6th Street in Austin Friday night during SXSW.

6th Street Drummer and Dancer @SXSW 2013 @Omen

The second drummer for Chicago rap artist Omen (who is also a bass player) followed the first drummer’s solo with one of his own that inspired an improvised dance from an old man in the crowd on 6th Street in Austin during SXSW. Really amazing was how the older man tailored his movements to exactly what the drummer was doing in his solo.

Afro-Colombian Musicians on Sixth Street in Austin @SXSW 2013

A group of Afro-Colombian musicians drew a large crowd on Sixth Street on Tuesday night 3/12/13 in Austin during SXSW. The existence of African-derived music styles in Colombia is not well-known in the United States, but there are actually five or six different styles of Colombian music that show the influence of African music and dance, and unfortunately, I could not determine the name for the particular style these musicians were playing. However, the drum rhythms and the way the hand drums were made are unmistakably African.

Memphis Black Expo 2013 at the Cook Convention Center

The Memphis Black Expo is held each year in February at the Cook Convention Center downtown. It features fun activities for kids, exhibits from local businesses, a car show, a dance and majorette competition, and live performances from gospel groups, rappers and singers.

M-Town Live Dance Crew @ Purple Hearts Majorette Jamboree

The M-Town Live dance crew jooks at the Purple Hearts Majorette jamboree at New Life Missionary Baptist Church in South Memphis, 2/16/13

The Irresistibility of Second-Lining: Dancing Is Contagious

#328 Men of Class 2012 (by John Shaw)

At the Men of Class second-line in Uptown New Orleans, 10/21/12

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

Across the Bridge into the Uptown

The Men of Class second-line proceeds across the bridge into Uptown New Orleans, where a second-liner climbs up on the scaffolding of a pumping-station that’s being remodeled. I have noticed that part of the phenomena at second-lines is dancers climbing up on ledges, roofs or other high places so as to be noticed by the crowd, or perhaps to be able to see the whole parade stretched out beneath them, or maybe both. 10/21/12

Doing the Stanky Leg at the An What Entertainment Tailgate @ GSU

#173 Doing the Stanky Leg at the An What Entertainment Tailgate @ GSU (by John Shaw)

Young people get their dance on at the An What Entertainment tailgate at Grambling Homecoming 10/20/12

(Source: http://www.youtube.com/)

An What Tailgate (@anwhatentlive) with @GoDJStar, Grambling Homecoming 2012

Outside of Eddie Robinson Stadium, Headline Starlight Entertainment (@GoDJStar) and  An What Entertainment (@anwhatentlive) put on the crunkest tailgate in Grambling, 10/20/12