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South African Pantsula and Basement Jaxx “What a Difference Your Love Makes”

Posted on September 21, 2013 by

Check out the dope dancing to this new music video for the Basement Jaxx song "What a Difference Your Love Makes."  But what's the story behind the dancing?

 

A friend of mine called this "charleston hip-hop," which I can kind of see.  There's definitely some tap and vernacular jazz influences in that movement, but lots of African elements as well.

Turns out the performers are dancing "Pantsula," a South African dance born in the harsh townships of Johannesburg.

A dance form that goes back to 1980s, pantsula was a form of youthful expression and rebellion that has since gone more mainstream in South Africa.  According to Ehow, "pantsula" is a Zulu word meaning ""waddle like a duck or alternatively to walk with protruded buttocks," which is a characteristic of the dance." 

The principal dancers in the video are Donald Shongwe and Investment Shimane Mdluli.  You can see more of them and other pantsula dancers in this video, that my friend Rebecca shared with me.

 

Just when you think you've seen it all, there's a whole other dope style of dance coming from a part of the world you know almost nothing about!

I really like the message of this music video as well, which shows the positive influence of a mother's love on her children.  The warmth and care just glows off the screen.  It's a reminder to me that even in the humblest of circumstances, people can find joy of moments and transcendence.

And song's pretty good too.

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