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What is House Dance?
House Dance is an American Urban Dance form that originated in the cities of Chicago and New York in the 1980s but has since captured a worldwide audience.  House Dance is performed to House Music (generally 120-130bpm) and involves three major elements: Footwork, Jacking and Lofting.  Footwork is complex and intricate, and is said that have been influenced by Tap and Jazz steps, as well as Hip-Hop.  Jacking is the upper body movement performed to the "four-on-the-floor" rhythm, and is descendent of West African Dance.  Lofting is a floorwork and acrobatic style heavily influenced by Capoeira Angola.
 
How does Capoeira relate to House Dance?
Capoeira has influenced one of the major three elements of House Dance - Lofting.  The dance form of Lofting is a floorwork and acrobatic-based element that is noted for its fluidity and intense control and coordinate.  Many of the floreios and acrobacias de Capoeira have been incorporated into Lofting since the late 70's and 80s, when Capoeira started to gain recognition in NYC.  It is likely that Lofting is more influenced by Capoeira than Breakdancing, as there is more emphasis based on the smoothness and fluid transitions.  The body often emulates water, or a flowing movement that synopates with and through the Drum.  Many of the best "Lofters" have had some Capoeira training.

What is the House Dance Competition?
The HDI Contest has four "freestyle" 1x1 categories plus a choreography contest.  The categories are House Dance, Vogue, Waacking, and Experimental.  The Experimental section is largely undefined.  It is whatever the dancer makes of the movement.

Who can compete?
Anyone can compete.  It is a $40 entry fee to compete, with a $1000 prize.  Details can be found at www.HouseDanceNYC.com

Can a Capoeirista compete? What categories could they compete in?
Yes, a Capoeirista could definitely compete in the Experimental category, using their movement vocabulary to create something innovative.  A Capoeirista with a creative ability to improvise in the moment, and with musicality, could advance very well in the contest.

Are there any rodas in House Dance? Is there something similar?
There is not a roda, but what is called a "Cypher" - dancers take turns entering the cypher.  Sometimes two or more people enter, but usually it is one.  
 
Is this the first House Dance competition? What have competitions been like in the past?
HDI is held for the 4th year.  But other House Dance competitions have existed before in Chicago, New York, and in Japan and Paris (largest in the world called Juste Debout).

How are winners determined?
A panel of five judges will select winners.  First night, called pre-selections, is done in showcase format and dancers are given a score.  Second and final night is a "Battle" format, 1x1 and judges select which of the contestants is their favorite in each round.

What should first time attendees and competitors look out for?
Spectacular diversity in movement vocabulary, excellent music, diverse and international crowds, positive vibrations.

Anything else you'd like to let the Roda Magazine audience know about?
A capoerista lives their art through physical movement and spiritual expression and can therefore appreciate the lives of others who do the same in other different, but related, African-based genres of Movement and Expression.  HDI welcomes your support and attendance!

For more information about House Dance International NYC, please check out their website, www.HouseDanceNYC.com.