Last month, footwork fans got a chance to experience a unique interactive performance by local footwork collective, The Era, at a dance held at Links Hall on the South Side. Music boomed as it filled the room with beats known only to the art of footwork. Sneakers squeaked with every quick step while background videos told the unheard stories of the black sub-culture known as footwork in Chicago.
Originating in the city in the mid-90s, footwork is a descendant of house music. Since its birth it has gained worldwide attention, though the founders of the art say they have not always received their due credit publicly.
”Unfortunately, there are people who are ignorant [about footwork] and people that are doing it and not speaking up about its origins,” said The Era co-manager Brandon Calhoun. “That’s a real thing that we stand up for.”
Former members of footwork battle crews Terra Squad Footwork Crew and Goon Squad Battle Clique partnered to form The Era in 2014. Jamal “Litebulb” Oliver and Sterling “Steelo” Oliver co-founded the troupe. Other members include Goon Squad Battle Clique member Calhoun, also known as “Chief Manny,” creative director/filmmaker Wills Glasspiegel, Elisha “Eleelee” Chandler and Jemal “P-Top” De la Cruz.
The Era lives by the motto “Footwork saves lives.” Their passion for the dance artistry pushed them to pass along their history through Circle Up, the annual summer camp they conduct. It’s in collaboration with their primary partner, Open the Circle (OTC), local after-school dance companiesEmpire and Bringing Out Talent, and the Chicago non-profit Social Works’ Kids of the Kingdom.
The collective of all-around creatives can be seen at some of the biggest music events all over the world, including Lollapalooza, but they continue to spread the culture’s origins within the city through community activism — a tactic they say keeps the culture alive and thriving.
“We took two years off of putting out our own product just to work with the community aspect of our culture because we saw footwork spreading to a national and international level,” said Litebulb. “It doesn’t matter if you’re doing international tours if the kids back home don’t know your name.”
OTC was co-founded by Litebulb and Glasspiegel in 2017, hence its close association with The Era. In the past two summers the camp has reached almost 300 youths in the community. According to the OTC website, the five-week camp explores three avenues: dance education, documentary film and performance.
Members of The Era bragged about some of their favorite students including one young man who continued in their footsteps, creating his own footwork troop.
“I feel like he’s showing leadership for the younger generation … He’s looking to grow and I like that,” said Manny.
As they continue spreading the love of footwork, they count on seeing their history continue to grow and thrive.
For more information on The Era, visit theerafootworkcrew.com.
