“The gestural language of a hip hop dance battle is one of the most important elements of the form. This study’s primary focus is the gestural language of “burns” used in battles by women hip hop dancers. Burns, the specific gestural language in battling used to insult the opponent, will be analyzed through several theoretical points of view such as feminism, queer theory, and historiography to name a few. These theories will be used to trace the evolution of women burns from the 1970s in New York City to today’s contemporary bgirls. The masculinized/sexualized forms of battle behaviors have shaped the physical expression of the women. However, this gestural language  has evolved from the transformative to the repressive affecting the bgirl psyche in many ways, becoming both empowering and disempowering. I will question why there exist few potent female-centered gestures in the women’s burns, and how empowerment might be gained through bgirls using their own sexual/reproductive gestures in battling.”

Thesis submission: Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2011; the Florida State University School of Dance

Written by Ansley Joye Jones