'Memphis Jookin'' Featuring Lil Buck Coming To Phoenix Next Week

PHOENIX, AZ —The dance style known as jookin' —originally called gangsta walking —began in the late 1980s and 1990s on the Memphis hip-hop scene and was an early version of some of the popular dances today, according to LocalMemphis.com

Now done in countries all over the world, jookin' involves complicated moves like: toe stalls, ankle breaks, glides and push toes. In fact, some observers have described dancers doing those moves as looking like ballet dancers in sneakers.

"You can call it the urban ballet," Terrance 'G-Nerd' Smith, a self-described jookin' pioneer told LocalMemphis.com last year. "We're doing the same thing (ballet dancers are) doing, except we're doing it in Air Force 1s and Jordans, and it still looks smooth."

One of the most famous performers of the jookin' dance style is Charles 'Lil Buck' Riley, and next Thursday, audiences in Phoenix can see him perform in "Memphis Jookin': The Show," which is on its inaugural nationwide tour. Lil Buck also choreographed the show.

At 7 p.m. on Thursday "Memphis Jookin'" will play at the Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 North 16th Street. Tickets cost between $35 and $55 and are available through Ticketmaster.

The 33-year-old Lil Buck was voted "25 to Watch" by Dance Magazine, and he has performed on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," alongside Y0-Y0 Ma, and with Madonna during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. He also was part of the Cirque du Soleil show "Michael Jackson: One."

In "Memphis Jookin'" Lil Buck will be joined by 10 highly-skilled Memphis' Jookin' dancers and a DJ playing a soundtrack that "evokes the energy of the streets, the hallways and the clubs where Memphis Jookin' was born," according to the show's promoters.

"The show takes us on a journey to the fabled city (of Memphis) to chronicle how the art form emerged from local street dance to international phenomenon," the show's organizers said.

Lil Buck said this week that he is looking forward to bringing the show to the Valley.

"I am so excited to be sharing this show with you all and for you to be able to experience what Memphis Jookin' is live and in person, because it is a truly special experience compared to what you may see on the Internet or Instagram," Lil Buck said. "People all of ages, even kids, can see who we truly are, what Memphis Jookin' really is, and how fun it can be. The music performed by the DJ will help you feel the true sounds of Memphis and see what we got clicking at home."

More information is available on the Madison Center for the Performing Arts website.