Damita Jo Freeman... Are You That Girl On Soul Train?!

Today, Jackie "Miss Funk" Lopez sits down with the one and only DAMITA JO FREEMAN as she shares her story meeting Don Campbell (the creator of Campbellocking/Locking), dancing on Soul Train with James Brown and Joe Tex, meeting Michael Jackson, and so much more!

Damita and Don Campbellock on Soul Train:
   • Don Campbellock Campbell &  Damita Jo Free...  

Damita and James Brown on Soul Train:
   • James Brown - Soul Train 1973 - Super Bad ...  

Damita and Joe Tex on Soul Train:
   • Joe Tex- I Gotcha (Soul Train 1972)  

Link to Damita’s Book “Are You That Girl On Soul Train?!”: https://a.co/d/3jKFg2F

Step into the world of Street Dance with “Legends and Legacy”, where we honor the legends and pioneers who shaped the world and culture of street dance. Each episode, we sit down with iconic dancers, choreographers, pioneers, and innovators to hear their untold stories—the struggles, the breakthroughs, and the moments that made history. From the streets to the stage, we explore the roots of street dance, its evolution, and the legacy these artists leave behind. Tune in and be inspired by the voices that moved the world.

What we discuss:
0:00 - Intro
5:56 - Meeting Don Campbell
13:16 - Soul Train Origins
17:11 - Dancing with Joe Tex
20:08 - DJ’s Signature Move
22:38 - Dancing with James Brown
27:52 - Don and Damita’s Friendship
29:02 - The Locking Handshake
31:28 - Contributions to Locking Vocabulary
37:28 - The Alpha
38:29 - The DJ ‘Which-a-Way’
39:10 - Parting with The Lockers
41:10 - Evolution of the Robot
42:37 - Shabba-Doo, “The Copycat Kid”
43:03 - Fluky Luke’s Struggles
44:17 - Incorporating Lived Experiences into Dance
44:52 - 1972 to 1974
46:42 - Michael Jackson and the Moonwalk
50:05 - Damita’s Memoir: Are You That Girl on Soul Train?
51:36 - DJ’s Influence on Cher
52:48 - Piecing Together History
54:08 - Time on American Bandstand
56:28 - Networking the Way to Your Dreams
59:07 - Diana Ross and Finding Success in Choreography
1:00:40 - The Motown Family
1:03:36 - Damita’s Los Angeles Roots
1:04:39 - James Cameron, Goldie Hawn, and Dick Clark
1:07:36 - Uplifting Black and Brown Voices
1:08:32 - Representing LA and Street Dance
1:09:17 - Guardians of Street Dance
1:09:54 - Advice for the Next Generation
1:13:43 - Moving Beyond Labels
1:15:22 - Outro

Filmed and Edited by: Ernesto "Precise" Galarza
  / precise__  

Learn more about Versa-Style Street Dance Company:
Website:
https://www.versastyledance.org

Instagram: @versastylela
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Facebook: @versastylela
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