J-Setting Beyond Beyonce
From Doin’ Da Butt to the Bankhead Bounce, everyone loves to be up on the latest dance style. And usually, once the mainstream catches on, the true originators of the style
are on to the next thing. But some dances are more than just slick moves, they’re the expression of a culture.
In 1990, Madonna introduced vogueing to the masses, bringing a phenomenon that had been popular in gay clubs since the 1970s to national attention. Now, nearly 20 years later, J-Setting, a popular dance in Southern black gay clubs, has made its way into the mainstream—largely, thanks to superstar Beyoncé Knowles, who’s been a gay icon pretty much since she sang “snap for the kids” in 2006’s “Get Me Bodied.”
“It’s kind of a risk when you’re introducing something underground,” says JaQuel Knight, 19, the co-choreographer, with Frank Gatson, of Beyoncé’s sensational, sensual videos “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” and the follow-up “Diva”—which brought J-Sette culture from local dancefloors and into the international limelight. “There’s the fear that people will get upset if it’s not done right.”
J-Setting is a lead-and-follow style of dancing that requires the body to move to an eight-beat count: One, two— high knee kicks defy gravity. Three, four—hips gyrate from left to right. Five, six—arms and hands slice the air. Seven, eight—heads jerk up and down to the bassline.
According to JaQuel, it was Frank Gatson who introduced the J-Sette technique to Beyoncé. “Frank didn’t know the name of it, but I did,” says JaQuel, who grew up in Georgia and taught himself to dance by imitating routines from television. He started putting together choreography for local acts, eventually working his way up to dancing with Diddy, Janet Jackson, and Soulja Boy. After catching the eye of legendary choreographer Fatima, he graduated high school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams full time. “Beyoncé wanted to do something really different,” says JaQuel, “because she had done everything.” He and Frank sat Beyoncé in front of the computer and showed her YouTube clips of people J-Setting. “We were like, ‘Are you sure?’ and she was like, ‘Let’s do it.’”
The J-Sette Dance Style originated at Mississippi’s Jackson State University. The Prancing Jaycettes were the female dance line of the infamous JSU marching band, “The Sonic Boom of the South.” In 1970, Shirley Middleton, a former majorette, initiated the idea that the Jaycettes (later called the J-Settes) abandon their batons and begin dancing in formation. But their signature moves— thrusts, pumps, and high kicks—were still reserved for ladies only.
In 1997, a young man from Tunica, Miss., DeMorris Adams, broke the gender barrier.
Adams joined the JSU band as a baton twirler. “One day at practice, our sponsor Ms. Otis asked me to fill in because they were a girl short.” When it was time for a performance,
he was ready. Dressed in the male uniform of tuxedo pants, military boots with spats, and a shirt with sequined trim, Adams joined the line. “The crowd went crazy,” he says, beaming. “I was not effeminate. I was very masculine, so that is what made it so crazy.”
He was not alone in his adoration of the Prancing J-Settes. “The young men would be on the sideline during practice watching and learning,” recalls Anthony Hardaway, a gay activist and historian from Memphis who was a student at JSU from 1990 to ’94. “My friends would be on the side doing the dance alongside the girls.” However, their imi-tation was not seen by all as flattery. “Teachers and coaches would run the gay boys away,” Hardaway says with a laugh, “because when it was time for the games, the gay boys would be in the stands doing the routine and outperforming the girls on the field.”
During the early 1990s, some young men who attended black colleges in the South brought the J-Setting craze back to their hometowns. They introduced the intricate dance routines to gay nightclubs like Club City Lights in Jackson, Miss.; Incognito, Allusions, and 901 in Memphis, and Club 708 in Atlanta.
When the “Single Ladies” video debuted last fall, a frenzy ensued on message boards,
blogs, and YouTube as ecstatic fans expressed excitement. Some devotees were disap- pointed to discover that portions of the video emulated Gwen Verdon’s 1960s dance to Pat Williams’ “Mexican Breakfast,” as choreographed by Broadway legend Bob Fosse. But that didn’t stop the ever-evolving Beyoncé’s J-Sette jones. “This is all Beyoncé wants to do,” says JaQuel enthusiastically. “She said it has to be hot, something with fire. I said, ‘Okay, I can make that happen.’”
J-setting is a culture in every sense of the word: not only a dance but also a style
of dress. Built like Alvin Ailey dancers, young men with muscular athletic frames stuff themselves into sequined one- and two-piece leotards, with long flowing capes kissing their backs and sheer stockings with white marching boots.
“It’s the next wave,” says Hardaway. “These boys march and parade, and there will be 20 of them. They are on point with capes, boots, and hair. They come into the club and there is nothing you can do but gasp.”
At gay cultural events, squads of J-Setters in full regalia compete against one another for bragging rights. Some of the most popular teams include Memphis Elite, Atlanta’s
J-Five, Dallas Diamonds, Nashville’s Music City All-Starz, and Grambling, La.’s X-Men. “It reminds me of the movie, Breakin’, when hip hop came onto the scene,” says
Anaré Holmes, 34, board director of Atlanta Black Pride. The J-Setters have the same enthusiasm and unique style.”
In Atlanta, a city many feel is the new black gay mecca, J-Setting has reached straight clubs as well.“The dance and movement is not known to the average person,” says Hardaway. “He sees the movement and just imitates it, not knowing he is doing an eight count.”
During his November 15 appearance on Saturday Night Live (NBC), Justin Timberlake donned a black leotard and pumps to do some shaking and thrusting. He might have thought he was spoofing Beyoncé’s video, but insiders knew he was J-Setting. And the movement marches on, in patent-leather boots, right through mainstream America.
“They have to be ready for J-Setting,” JaQuel says, laughing, “because Beyoncé is.”
Source: Vibe.Com
vote diva and halo onto the 106&park countown http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/106andpark/106_Vote_Poll.htm
Majority of this article is so true. The Prancing J-Settes of JSU have been setting the trend for years in the south. It is a dance style that has been slept on for many years nation wide. A dance style that takes precision and practice to perfect. However, DeMorris Adams never filled in for a girl at practice or on the field. He was the twirler and that is all he did. The J-Sette dance line is comprised of almost 20 girls each season. The young ladies have to in addition try out before each performance and all do not make the weekly cuts. If this was there was a circumstance of a girl having to be filled in there are many more LADIES to choose from that did not make the weekly cut. And with the precision and practice the girls go through it would have been easy to fill her spot in within the formation changes without having to add any once to the weekly routine. DeMorris knows he has never danced with them on the field other when they were putting on a production number. Now when they do productions many guys dance with them on the field but at the same time they are still not doing the exact same routine as the girls. It is more of partner dancing where the guys are mainly used to lift the girls in the air. Sources need to be credited before they are published.
Hey Beyonce Daily..I’m a huge fan of your site and obviously Bee..just was interested in become affiliated with your site..This is my site..www.blazingswarm.com.. You can hit me up over there or email me anstanvi@hotmail.com if you’re interested. Thanks. -AJ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM9ffbUcGxg
can we have a new post ????????
While your bored and waiting for new Beyonce posts check out this BEYONCE CROSSWORD PUZZLE I created….
http://tameekatime.blogspot.com/2009/03/fun-time-with-tameeka.html
noooo we want a new article here
I actually have the Ebony (April 2009) magazine with Beyonce. But I’d have to scan it and send it to the administrator. I thought the other new scans I sent it a few days ago would be up already, but I guess the admin is busy. Oh well!
sent in a few days ago…my bad!
thanks amy
No problem, b123! I sent in the scans to the admin today so hopefully he or she will post them SOON!!!!
cross my fingers so !!!
i ‘m happy to see that i’m not alone is this comment section
Hey b123, if you really want to see the scans, go to http://www.beyoncenow.net/english/
I sent them there too (just to see which admin would post first). Enjoy!
Hello,, i’m here just to say that Beyonce is on the cover of “Gente Jovem” a portuguese magazine for teens…
you can see the magazine in this website – http://www.imprensateen.com
just click on the cover and see the full scans below.
This is honest. I wanted pictures to add in my school project and the images you have posted are handy. Thanks for them buddy! I guess teacher will love my project due to these images and of course the information I provided.
Can I just say what a reduction to seek out somebody who really is aware of what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know the way to deliver a problem to light and make it important. Extra people have to read this and understand this aspect of the story. I cant consider youre no more popular since you undoubtedly have the gift.
I appreciate seeing sites that comprehend the worth of broadcasting a prime useful resource,his help to make this website worth coming back to for even more info,
Thanks, I’ve recently been hunting for details about this subject matter for ages and yours is the best I’ve discovered right now. And I just added this webpage to my rss reader, great information. I Can’t get enough!
Hello my family member! I want to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to look more posts like this.
UCxPfZl Cheapest Cialis
Hello, this is a great blog!
Hey! Someone in my Facebook group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Superb blog and terrific design and style.
Awesome website you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get advice from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks a lot!
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
With every thing that appears to be developing throughout this particular area, a significant percentage of perspectives happen to be very stimulating. However, I am sorry, but I do not give credence to your whole suggestion, all be it exhilarating none the less. It appears to us that your opinions are generally not completely validated and in simple fact you are generally yourself not really entirely certain of your assertion. In any event I did take pleasure in examining it.
Awesome blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Cheers
I just added this blog site to my google reader, excellent stuff. Can not get enough!
The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it’ll do even better in those areas, but for now it’s a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod’s strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.
Sorry for the huge review, but I’m really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
I am always searching online for posts that can benefit me. Thanks!
Good article. However, the more I read, the angrier I get. Geithner is a real piece of work.wow gold
Hi there! Someone in my Myspace group shared this site with us so I came to give it a look. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Great blog and great style and design.
interesting read. I can tell you put a lot of effort into it. Keep up the good work!
We are writing to allow you to have knowledge of such a really good encounter our daughter experienced viewing your blog. She reached find numerous pieces, including what its like to have an awesome teaching mood to acquire a lot of people really easily fully understand a variety of problematic intended theme. You truly exceeded readers expectations. I appreciate you for distributing these good, trusted, explanatory and as well as unique ideas on your topic to Janet.
Hello.This post was actually motivating, particularly since I wanted ideas on this challenge last Thursday.
Very good blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers? I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely confused .. Any tips? Appreciate it!
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none the less. I’ve been using Movable-type on numerous websites for about a year and am worried about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress posts into it? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
This design is steller! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
I do love the way you have framed this specific matter plus it does offer me some fodder for consideration. However, because of everything that I have witnessed, I really trust when the comments stack on that people stay on point and in no way start upon a soap box involving the news du jour. Still, thank you for this excellent point and though I can not agree with this in totality, I regard the viewpoint.