Lil Buck and crew evoke the powerful energy of the streets with ‘Memphis Jookin’’
On the heels of its recent premiere in Memphis, Tennessee, renowned dancer Lil Buck brings his newest creation to the Moss Arts Center stage on Thursday, March 17, at 7:30 p.m. Buck is joined by 11 dancers for “Memphis Jookin’: The Show,” taking the audience on a journey to the fabled city where Memphis Jookin’ was born to document how the art form emerged from local street dance to international phenomenon.
The performance will be held in the center’s Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall.
Charles “Lil Buck” Riley is a movement artist known for bringing a freestyle-based street dance involving intricate footwork, called Memphis Jookin’, to mainstream audiences. Raised in Memphis, Buck was introduced to the urban street dance style around the age of 13. He quickly made a niche for himself by adding his own style and imagination to create signature moves, which include gliding across space as if gravity doesn’t exist.
“Jookin’ was this diamond in the rough. It was raw, real, and gangster,” Buck explains. “I’d only ever seen people like Michael Jackson dancing on VHS tapes, living a superstar life that wasn’t attainable. So when I saw Jookin’ being done in my own backyard and being danced by people who looked like me, that blew my mind. I knew immediately: I want that so bad.”
Buck catapulted into mainstream pop culture after director Spike Jonze uploaded a video of the dancer’s improvisation with cellist Yo-Yo Ma as he performed Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan.” The video quickly went viral, getting over 3 million views and making Buck a YouTube sensation. Since then, Buck has worked with Cirque du Soleil for its production of “Michael Jackson: One,” New York City Ballet and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, singer and actress Janelle Monáe, and Madonna for her 2012 Super Bowl halftime show and two world tours.
Buck collaborated with dancer Jon Boogz and artist Alexa Meade to create “Color of Reality,” a short film addressing gun violence, and starred in the nature-inspired short film “Honor Thy Mother,” which addresses the need for humans to take better care of our planet. Buck is co-founder of Movement Art Is (MAI), an organization focused on using movement artistry to inspire change in the world.
Engagement events
Members of multiple Virginia Tech student dance crews will observe a private rehearsal of “Memphis Jookin’” and engage in a discussion with the performers. Area students in grades 7-12 will experience a special school-day performance of “Memphis Jookin’: The Show,” supplemented by a study guide with educational information, guiding questions, and resources for teachers’ instruction.
The Moss Arts Center is partnering with Virginia Tech’s Office for Inclusion and Diversity to develop "Culture and Context Through the Performing Arts,” a professional development course for Virginia Tech employees. Through the program, a cohort of university faculty and staff will attend “Memphis Jookin’: The Show” and participate in a private, post-performance discussion to deepen understanding of cultures featured in Moss performances and cohort members’ lives.
Ticket information
Tickets for the performances are $35 for general admission and $10 for Virginia Tech students and youth 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300 during box office hours.
The Moss Arts Center adheres to the guidelines of the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Tech in its operations, including protocols for face coverings and cleaning and sanitation. More information about these requirements is available on the Moss Arts Center website.
Paid parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Virginia Tech has also partnered with ParkMobile to provide a convenient, contactless electronic payment option for parking, which may be used at any parking meter, campus parking space, or lot with standard F/S, C/G, or R parking.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jamie Wiggert at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email wiggertj@vt.edu during regular business hours.