Pogo (dance)
Encyclopedia
The pogo is a dance
in which the dancers jump up and down, while remaining in the same location; the dance takes its name from its resemblance to the use of a pogo stick
, especially in a common version of the dance, where an individual keeps their torso stiff, their arms rigid, and their legs close together. Similar to the religious dances of the Pentecostal faith and various African tribe
s, pogo dancing is most associated with punk rock
, and is a precursor to moshing
.
Occasionally, dancers collide, but this is not necessarily part of pogo dancing. An uninformed bystander might get the impression that the dancers are attacking one another. People sometimes get injured when pogoing, but, more often than not, pogoers who fall to the ground are helped up instead of getting trampled. There is a general understanding that the pogoing is fun, not a fight. As the more aggressive hardcore punk
emerged in the early 1980s, dancing became more violent and evolved into both moshing and slam dancing
, in which dancers run and jump around, deliberately shove and slam into each other. The risk of injury in moshing is significantly higher, although it is generally agreed that moshers are not attempting to cause each other serious injury.
, Sex Pistols
bassist Sid Vicious
claimed that he invented the pogo sometime around 1976 at punk shows in the early days of London
's punk scene. Vicious supposedly invented the dance as a way of attacking people who came to see Sex Pistol's performances, but who were not part of the punk movement. Whether Vicious actually invented the dance or not, the pogo quickly became closely associated with punk rock. Shane MacGowan
, himself an early follower of the punk scene, also attributes pogo dancing to Vicious, claiming that a leather poncho he wore to gigs prevented him from any other form of dancing except jumping up and down. Another person also attributes the invention to Vicious, but claims the reason was that he wanted to see a band onstage so he started jumping up and down. Jon King
of Gang of Four
helped popularize the pogo as a stage move for performers.
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
in which the dancers jump up and down, while remaining in the same location; the dance takes its name from its resemblance to the use of a pogo stick
Pogo stick
A pogo stick is a device for jumping off the ground in a standing position with the aid of a spring, used as a toy or exercise equipment. It consists of a pole with a handle at the top and footrests near the bottom, and a spring located somewhere along the pole...
, especially in a common version of the dance, where an individual keeps their torso stiff, their arms rigid, and their legs close together. Similar to the religious dances of the Pentecostal faith and various African tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
s, pogo dancing is most associated with punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
, and is a precursor to moshing
Moshing
Moshing is a dance in which participants push or slam into each other. They also flail their limbs to breakdowns of hardcore punk and its sub-genres. It is most associated with aggressive music genres, such as hardcore punk and heavy metal...
.
Style
The basic steps allow for a variety of interpretations, some of which might appear quite violent. Pogo dancers have their choice of:- keeping their torsos rigid or thrashing them about;
- holding their arms stiffly at their sides or flailing them;
- keeping their legs together or kicking about;
- jumping straight up and down, jumping in any direction, or spinning in the air.
Occasionally, dancers collide, but this is not necessarily part of pogo dancing. An uninformed bystander might get the impression that the dancers are attacking one another. People sometimes get injured when pogoing, but, more often than not, pogoers who fall to the ground are helped up instead of getting trampled. There is a general understanding that the pogoing is fun, not a fight. As the more aggressive hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
emerged in the early 1980s, dancing became more violent and evolved into both moshing and slam dancing
Moshing
Moshing is a dance in which participants push or slam into each other. They also flail their limbs to breakdowns of hardcore punk and its sub-genres. It is most associated with aggressive music genres, such as hardcore punk and heavy metal...
, in which dancers run and jump around, deliberately shove and slam into each other. The risk of injury in moshing is significantly higher, although it is generally agreed that moshers are not attempting to cause each other serious injury.
History
In The Filth and the FuryThe Filth and the Fury
The Filth and the Fury is a 2000 rockumentary film about the Sex Pistols directed by Julien Temple.-About the film:The Filth and the Fury is the second movie Julien Temple made about The Sex Pistols. His first effort was The Great Rock and Roll Swindle, which was released in British cinemas on 15...
, Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
bassist Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious was an English musician best known as the bassist of the influential punk rock group Sex Pistols...
claimed that he invented the pogo sometime around 1976 at punk shows in the early days of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's punk scene. Vicious supposedly invented the dance as a way of attacking people who came to see Sex Pistol's performances, but who were not part of the punk movement. Whether Vicious actually invented the dance or not, the pogo quickly became closely associated with punk rock. Shane MacGowan
Shane MacGowan
Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...
, himself an early follower of the punk scene, also attributes pogo dancing to Vicious, claiming that a leather poncho he wore to gigs prevented him from any other form of dancing except jumping up and down. Another person also attributes the invention to Vicious, but claims the reason was that he wanted to see a band onstage so he started jumping up and down. Jon King
Jon King (musician)
Jon King, born 8 June 1955, London, is a singer, musician and founding member of the Leeds based UK rock band Gang of Four. He attended Sevenoaks School, where he was a member of the 'Art Room' that produced musicians Tom Greenhalgh and Mark White of The Mekons, along with Andy Gill of Gang of...
of Gang of Four
Gang of Four (band)
Gang of Four are an English post-punk group from Leeds. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill...
helped popularize the pogo as a stage move for performers.