Tecktonik is a new dance style originating from Paris France by two French promoters. It involves a mixture of rave-style arm movements mixed with hip hop (almost popping and locking style) and is blowing up around the world via word of mouth and youtube video clips. Here is one of the top ranked Youtube video clips (with close to 7 million views at this time) on Tecktonik dating from November 2, 2006:

In fact, my research indicates that the dance style of Tecktonik took off at the 2007 Paris Techno Parade and at Gay Pride events throughout Europe in 2007. However, it was initially reported to have started at the Metropolis nightclub in Paris back in 2000! The word Tecktonik originated from the name of theTecktonik Killer events at Metropolis. Who knew?

You’ll notice that the interesting thing about Tecktonik dance is that it kind of takes elements of glowsticking, and popping and locking hip-hop dance and mashes them together. What are your thoughts on this style? I like it, but then again I love the art of dance and taking things to another level. Being creative with it and making it your own. I don’t know about you, but nothing makes me smile more at a club then watching a great dancer go off. And, of course, if I saw someone dancing Tecktonik style I would be glued to watching them interpret this style their way. Truthfully, I’d probably walk up to the person afterwards and ask them where they learned how to do it, and when they were first exposed to this style of dance. I’m sure I’d get some very interesting conversation flowing on that part since I’ve experienced both styles of popping and locking and seen many glowstickers do their thing (and yes many of them were tragic!).

Here’s another interesting fact about Tecktonik. Did you know it is a registered trademark? It is registered to a French man - Cyril Blank, and is the first time dance is protected in this way. The creators sell official products such as clothes, CD’s, energy drinks etc. labelled as Tecktonik! I don’t know if I like that! Does that mean that other music videos can’t display their style of dance without their permission? If so then they have shot themselves in the foot as it won’t be something that will last. But if it’s just so that they get recognition for their style (which isn’t necessarily original in the first place as it takes two older forms of dance anyway) then they should clearly announce it as that.

Nevertheless, many French producers such as David Guetta, David Vendetta, and Daft Punk are definitely incorporating the techno, electro style of music into their releases and they are doing very well at that too. Let’s face it, the French are probably the most innovative and ground breaking when it comes to electronic music the past 5 years. It’s great to see street style dance evolve this way and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the mainstream culture.

But if you want to stand out at a nightclub, practice this one at home in front a mirror and then let it loose at a club! I’m sure you’d get tons of responses, good or bad and who knows what it can lead to?

Some other video clips worthy of recognition for Tecktonik:

Yelle’s ACDG:

John Dahlback’s Blink:

Here are some other great resources to keep an eye on if you want to master the art of Tecktonik:

http://tecktonik-metropolis.skyrock.com/

http://www.stage6.com/tecktonik/video/1563560/MetroPolis-TecktoNik-Killer

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tecktonik&search=Search