How Turf Dancing Became Synonymous with Oakland | If Cities Could Dance

If you’ve spent any time in Oakland, you’ve probably witnessed some turfing. The homegrown dance happens everywhere: on BART, at the First Friday art walk, at the Warriors’ Oracle Arena and even in music videos for Bay Area rap stars like E-40 and G-Eazy.

Turfing (taking up room on the floor) emerged on Oakland streets in the early 2000s, and has become synonymous with town culture. Local crew Turf Feinz came along in the mid-2000s, and their work has been critical in taking turfing to the international stage. In this episode, directed by Yak Film’s @YAKfilms Yoram Savion, we meet Oakland dance stars Zeus, Yung Phil and Icecold3000. Watch as they dance in front of the Creators Gone Create turfing mural in West Oakland, MacArthur BART station and Youth UpRising teen center in East Oakland to the music of Drew Banga and Jwalt, also featuring Mistah Fab. 

📖 Read the full story here: https://www.kqed.org/arts/13856335/if...

#IfCitiesCouldDance #Turfing #Oakland

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KQED Arts’ award-winning video series #IfCitiesCouldDance​ features dancers from across the country representing their city’s signature moves.

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📖​ Chapters:
00:00 Oakland Pride
00:43 Phillip Mays a.k.a. Yung Phil Explains Turf Dancing
01:03 Jesus El a.k.a. Zeus Explains On Animaniakz Crew
01:23 Garion Morgan a.k.a. Icecold 3000 On Turf Feinz Crew
01:58 How Turfing Brings People Together