House
Born on club floors — fast feet, a jacking torso, and pure feeling.
Born
Late 1970s – 1980s
Where
Chicago & New York club scene, USA
Founded by
No single founder — built by Black and Latino dancers in queer club communities
The History
House dance was born in the underground clubs of Chicago and New York in the late 1970s and 1980s, danced to house music. In Chicago, the Warehouse club — where DJ Frankie Knuckles played — gave the music its name. In New York, clubs like The Loft and Paradise Garage shaped the dance.
It was created by Black and Latino dancers, largely from queer club communities, who turned the club floor into a space of freedom. That is why house dancers say "house is a feeling" — it was made for the person dancing, not for an audience.
Its three pillars are jacking (the rippling pulse of the torso on the beat), footwork (fast, detailed stepping borrowed from tap, salsa and African dance) and lofting (smooth floor work that came out of New York loft parties).
The MOBS Way
Focuses on the "Lofting" and "Jacking" motions. It is all about the flow between the feet and the torso.
Its Elements
What You'll Learn
- → Footwork Basics
- → The House Groove
- → Fluidity & Flow
- → Improvisation
Essentials
Lightweight clothing and flat-soled sneakers.
Increases agility, balance, and musicality.