Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Tecktonik Teaser













I've just finished a new article for Gridskipper called Dancing French Electro-Mimes Battle in the Streets. It's not edited yet, but I had so much fun with the research that I wanted to share some videos with you. The full post with my analysis should be up on the site in a few days.

In the meantime, I offer a Tecktonik Teaser - a look at three rising stars from this French dance phenomenon. My favorite of these videos is the last for Lili Azian. Director Ristourne has made scores of these self-promos, and his moves seem to come straight out of the Tiffany video playbook. I've already watched it fourteen times...

IDOLS
This is the stuff that cult films are made of: A suburban teen named Jey-Jey films himself dancing in the garage. His DIY vid sweeps the internet and is ultimately seen by more than 4 million viewers. Jey-Jey becomes the face of Tecktonik and has packs of girls trying to get into his white jeans.



Another brand name is Treaxy, the dance champion picked to perform in this video for Yelle. He's now teaching Tecktonik in a chain of fitness centers.



One of the few female icons in the Tecktonik scene, Lily Azian has made a name for herself by dancing only in high heels. The shoes play a starring role in this self-promotion video, as does her azian heritage. Behold as Lili keeps it real by dancing Tecktonik with a bowl of shrimp chips!


P.S. Can I get one of these Ristourne masterpieces made? I think a soft focus video calling card would be the perfect birthday gift. Spice up my Myspace and all that...

P.P.S The article has now been published over at Gridskipper. Run-run-run to see footage of raging street battles, the Tecktonik Body Killer hair salon, and the trend's frightening cross over among US teens.

7 comments:

Princesse Ecossaise said...

I have to say, Yelle's video is THE BEST EVER! And am I a traitor to my gender if I mention that I think Lily Azian is rubbish?

Mind you I can't even walk in a pair of high heels so I suppose I shouldn't bitch!

Le Meg said...

Rubbish? Rubbish?!

Our little Lili-From-the-Block dances in front of public housing, looks thoughtfully out onto the Seine, blows a big kiss to the camera as it pans up along her backside, and dances among the laquer decorations of a Chinese restaurant...

There is a MESSAGE here, somewhere. And I'm sure it's very fierce. Just like Tiffany.

rhino75 said...

I love Ristourne (if only for his name) but my favourite is Fozzie Bear. And Tiffany, of course. We HAVE to do a Tecktonik dance-off!!

Anonymous said...

My fave is the Tektonik-Breakdance scuffle (on the Gridskipper version). Take that! And move over George Chakiris, snap snap!! Hopefully kidz will be doing it in Lawrence next year, ha.

Allez les mecs.

--satchmo

Anonymous said...

You should rather watch that :
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=y9X3ddo4e2g
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=mUZgRZutCOE
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=EkrgaZfV32I

E. said...

This genre of dance reminds me just slightly of a more streamlined and sped-up version of Ricky Gervais's "David dances spontaneously for charity" bit on the British Office.

Anonymous said...

A lot of Tektonik information herehere