IN THE WURKZ
IN THE WURKZ is an evening-length dance performance and mixtape by The Era Footwork Crew
Dance Performance
IN THE WURKZ by The Era features Artists Jamal "Litebulb" Oliver, Sterling "Steelo" Lofton, Brandon "Chief Manny" Calhoun, Jemal "P-Top" De La Cruz, and William "Wills" Glasspiegel, P.I.C (Partners in the Circle) Diamond "Queen Diamond" Hardimon, and Elisha "Eleelee" Chandler. The story of IN THE WURKZ builds on The Era's lyrical approach to footwork with previous music releases that have been in The FADER and other high-end press surrounding music.
With IN THE WURKZ, dancers have been able to narrate their life stories through memories associated with footwork dancing — from "juke parties" at roller rinks on the South Side to battles after the Bud Billiken Parade in Jackson Park. Chicago themes drive the story about the life-saving power of footwork and community across generations of dancers. IN THE WURKZ toured nationally and internationally in 2020-2021 with support from New England Foundation for the Art (NEFA).
Mixtape
In November of 2015, The Era began expanding into making music, rhyming on footwork tracks by some of Chicago's most important producers including DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, DJ Clent and others. IN THE WURKS is The Era's first FM (footwork mixtape), adding lyrical content to tracks all about Footwork and how they came from Chicago's allies to headlining across the world as The Era. They dive into their lives surrounding this and their views on the culture itself.
Listen as they give their perspective on Chicago footwork and the world surrounding it, calling it Footwork with words.
Credits:
Written and directed by The Era Footwork Crew
Choreography by The Era Footwork Crew
Music by The Era Footwork Crew and Teklife
Projections by The Era Footwork Crew
THE ERA FOOTWORK CREW
Jamal "Litebulb" Oliver
Brandon "Chief Manny" Calhoun
Jemal "P-Top" De la Cruz
Sterling "Steelo" Lofton
William "Wills" Glasspiegel
Featuring
Syd "Sydfalls" Falls
Morris "DJ Spinn" Harper
Additional music: Jana Rush, DJ Manny and DJ Earl
Musical director: DJ Spinn
Creative director: Wills Glasspiegel
Choreographic mentor: Raphael Xavier
Funding credits:
NEFA and others?