KARACHI: No matter how one defines hip-hop music (for example, as a beat-heavy genre of performing art that took root against violence) the fact remains that at the end of the day it is a veritable, established form of expression. Its dance variation signifies what its music denotes: a rhythm-based movement that aims to transport the listener/viewer to a world of creative joy.

A hip-hop dance evening organised at the Alliance Francaise on Tuesday evening did exactly that. The two French artists — Bouzid Ait Atmane and Yanka Pedron — gave a lovely performance that the audience, which was a little less than what one was expecting, thoroughly enjoyed.

The gig, however, opened with a Pakistani group called Anarchy led by Taishi. It set the tone for the show in a nice way, beginning with a beat-box act by Khizer. Naqi Nix did a bit of rap and danced with Taishi to the delight of the audience, during which they also paid tribute to artists such as Sajjad Ali and dance forms such as bhangra. In their last bit, they were joined by some other boys and girls who did a nice job by displaying their individual talents with a bit of break-dance and body spins.

Bouzid and Yanka started off with a small act that enabled the audience to know how well they work together. After that, instead of going into the next bit straight away, they engaged in a verbal exchange that had a confrontational tone. But it was all play-acting setting up their next and longish dance number.

Local group Anarchy pays tribute to Sajjad Ali, others

It was through that piece that they expressed themselves with abandon; a well-choreographed movement which was basically a kind of storytelling. Their footwork and gestures complemented the music, proving they two genres are mutually reinforcing.

Information provided by the organisers, Bouzid came into his own as a performer under the banner of ‘locking’, a dance style closely related to funk and spontaneity, while Yanka started his career alongside Eric M’Pa­s­si, the pioneer of hip hop dance in France. Yanka is a ‘poppin’ specialist. Indeed, the locking part was more than noticeable in the performances. And it was funky, spontaneous and cool!

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2023