TYRONE PROCTOR (Waacking): A pioneer of the urban dance form Waacking, Tyrone Proctor has been dancing since the late 1950’s in his hometown of Philadelphia. By the early 1970’s Tyrone was one of the featured dancers on Soul Train and toured the country and the world as a teen idol. In the 1980s, he choreographed for Jody Watley and other stars. He currently teaches Waacking in NYC and internationally.

CHINO 3 (House): One of the pioneers of the semninal style known as “Lofting”, Chino 3 is a veteran of the late 70s and early 80s NYC clubs and set the foundation for much of the house dance floorwork now seen today. He made appearances in the movies Maestro, as well as the first nationally televised hip-hop show, Grafitti Rock. Chino 3 is a co-founder of Dat Party and In2Deep and also flexes his skills as a DJ.

DRAY EBONY (Vogue): Grandfather of the Legendary House of Ebony, Dray has been a force in New York’s vogue community since 1982. Originally from Harlem, he has mentored three generations of dancers and is a winner of the prestigious Icon Awards. Dray currently works as a community organizer in the Bronx.

EVELYN SANTOS (Experimental): A staple on New York’s underground club scene since the 1960s, Evelyn Santos is one of the foremost promoters in NYC, hosting seminal events such as Ain’t Nothing But a House Party, Body and Soul, Club Shelter, Temple and Paradise Garage. Evelyn has been recognized by the New York Times for her work as a choreographer and has been featured in films such as Maestro.

Organizers

DAVID PADILLA (Hustle): Raised in Spanish Harlem, David Padilla is one of the true masters of the “Latin Hustle”, which was later popularized in movies such as Saturday Night Fever. A champion performer from Dance Fever and a master instructor, David was handpicked by Spike Lee to choreograph the hustle dance scenes in the film Summer of Sam. David continues to host weekly hustle socials in New York City called Universal Hustle and Salsa.

System of Judging:

• All Five Judges score all contestants in the freestyle dance competitions. During the preliminary rounds, judges assign a numerical score to each contestant based on four criteria: musicality, creativity, technique and charisma. Contestants with the highest scores advance to the face-to-face battles.

• During the final rounds, each judge casts a vote in favor of one contestant over his/her opponent, yielding a 5-0, 4-1 or 3-2 vote in each battle.

Web Design, Concept and Track selections by Santiago Freeman | Photos by Morgan Cady-Lee and Jaecyne Howell

House Dance International is the world’s premier street dance festival dedicated to the culture of house dancers. Based in New York City, the event is a one-of-a-kind exploration into the most sophisticated of all urban dance forms: house dance, vogue, waacking, experimental, and hustle. Hosted by Ejoe Wilson. Produced by Santiago Freeman, RED and Lee Soulja.

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