ABOUT US
About Queer the W*ack
Queer The W*ack is a dance battle, workshops, panel talks and jams taking place at Dansens hus during Oslo Pride. We're celebrating the art of punking/whacking and the queer community it stems from. The event happens over two days, and this year we're expanding our program with roller disco and three battle categories: Whacking 1 vs. 1, Club styles 2 vs. 2, and best dressed. With us are renowned international judges, MC and DJs. All are welcome, no matter your sexuality or age.
(Photo of 2025 Queer the W*ack finalists Yaya and Fabio with judges Viktor Manoel, Akuma Diva and Néné and MC Boubou. By Jane Bjørnstad)
About punking/w*acking
The dance style punking/whacking/waacking was created in clubs in Los Angeles by gay BIPOC men in1970s. This was a social dance style, and a way to express oneself freely on the dancefloor without any formal dance training. The club was a free space, where they could find connection and community without prejudice.
The style is inspired by Hollywood stunt movies, cartoon characters and martial arts, and the music typically danced to is 70s and 80s disco tunes. Specific for the style is rotating arm movements, posing and expressiveness. It's based in freestyle and expresses often feelings like passion, temper and humor. The style has different names: "punking", "whacking", and "waacking". These all have distinct and different histories, and dancers within the genre will often affiliate themselves with different names. The most common spelling today is "waacking" and "w*ack" is a way to include them all.
(Photo by Jane Bjørnstad)
About Ronald
Ronald was also ambassador for Dansens dager in 2024 along with Ida Louise Sundby to spread whacking around Norway. He also works as a competition judge, both nationally and globally. He's directly involved in the dance community through his work with OMW - Oslo Male Waackers, Oslo Waackers and Waackengers from Italy, an as a dance
Ronald was also ambassador for Dansens dager in 2024 along with Ida Louise Sundby to spread whacking around Norway. He also works as a competition judge, both nationally and globally. He's directly involved in the dance community through his work with OMW - Oslo Male Waackers, Oslo Waackers and Waackengers from Italy, an as a dance pedagogue at Subsdans and Bårdar.
(Photo by Jane Bjørnstad)