The Era Footwork Crew

Description

The Era Footwork Crew are pioneers of the battle dance known as Chicago footwork. Since 2014, they have expanded upon what it means to be a dance crew, addressing inequality and racism through their lyrics and panel discussions and supporting women and girls in the history of footwork through collaboration and documentation. The Era is known not only for their incredible mastery and elevation of Chicago footwork but also for their social justice initiatives. "Footwork saves lives” is the saying that drives an extraordinary partnership between The Era Footwork Crew and their non-profit, Open the Circle (OTC). OTC takes its name from crowded Chicago dance floors. When the floor gets overly packed, two people will lock hands and spin through the crowd–“opening the circle”–to make space for dancing. In this spirit, OTC is committed to opening tightly-knit circles of power and resources in society, re-centering them to benefit artists and youth in divested communities. The Era and OTC work hand-in-hand to promote dance education, document the development of footwork, recover and highlight women’s contributions to the artform, and elevate the visibility of footwork through performance. 

Work Sample

https://www.theerafootworkcrew.com/featured-work1

In the Wurkz is a touring dance project based on the lives and dreams of dancers on the west and south sides of Chicago. This evening-length show unveils a history of footwork dancing, tracing its development from “the holy ghost” – the first footwork dance move inspired by the motion of ghosts and spirit possession in church – to a citywide, black teenage dance culture that keeps kids safe in dangerous neighborhoods across Chicago. In the Wurkz expounds on this dance history through the movements, films, and poetry of The Era Footwork Crew with original music from Chicago's Teklife DJs.

In November of 2015, The Era began expanding into making music, rhyming on footwork tracks by some of Chicago's most important producers including DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, DJ Clent and others. IN THE WURKS is The Era's first FM (footwork mixtape), adding lyrical content to tracks all about Footwork and how they came from Chicago's allies to headlining across the world as The Era. They dive into their lives surrounding this and their views on the culture itself.

https://otcprojects.org/

The Era's non-profit partner, Open the Circle (OTC), focuses on community organizing and racial justice through the arts. Our current projects are driven by Chicago footwork dancing and electronic music. OTC is working with footwork dancers and DJs in three areas: dance education, documentary film and performance.

The story of IN THE WURKZ will also build on The Era's lyrical approach to footwork with previous music releases that have been in The FADER and other high-end press surrounding music. With IN THE WURKZ, dancers have been able to narrate their life stories through memories associated with footwork dancing -- from "juke parties" at roller rinks on the South Side to battles after the Bud Billiken Parade in Jackson Park. Chicago themes will drive this story about the life-saving power of footwork and community across generations of dancers.

History

The Era Footwork Crew are pioneers of the battle dance known as Chicago footwork. Since 2014, they have expanded upon what it means to be a dance crew, addressing inequality and racism through their lyrics and panel discussions and supporting women and girls in the history of footwork through collaboration and documentation. They have performed from Japan to Peru, performing and choreographing alongside leading artists such as Chance the Rapper, DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, and Theaster Gates. Institutions like the Field Foundation, the University of Chicago, the Joyce Foundation and NEFA (New England Foundation For The Arts) have recognized The Era with grants in support of the group's boundary-breaking artistic and social leadership. The Eras work has been in short documentaries by VICE, CBC (Canadian Broadcast Company), and the Chicago Tribune.

Artistic Vision

Footwork is an improvisational, competition-style form that encompasses music, dance, and a distinct Chicago culture. It is an inter-generational, community-based artform that is taught and passed down through dance battles, clubs, house parties, dance downs, and recently formalized through youth summer camps on the south side of Chicago. The Era is known not only for their incredible mastery and elevation of Chicago footwork but also for their social justice initiatives. The Era proclaims to anyone who will listen that “footwork saves lives.” They mean this in the most literal and non-hyperbolic sense possible. This saying is what drives an extraordinary partnership between The Era Footwork Crew and their non-profit, Open the Circle (OTC). OTC takes its name from crowded Chicago dance floors. When the floor gets overly packed, two people will lock hands and spin through the crowd–“opening the circle”–to make space for dancing. In this spirit, OTC is committed to opening tightly-knit circles of power and resources in society, re-centering them to benefit artists and youth in divested communities. The Era and OTC work hand-in-hand to promote dance education, document the development of footwork, recover and highlight women’s contributions to the artform, and elevate the visibility of footwork through performance.