Waacking Croatia

We had a talk with Waacking Croatia, a collective of dancers that has been gracing our stages for the last few months.

Photo: Ivana Radić

Our friends from Waacking Croatia have been gracing our stages for more than few months now, and it's always a pleasure to have them back.

We wanted to learn more about them and their dance culture, and we are sure you want that too, so we decided to have this nice little feature so that can tell their story. So let's get into it!

Photo: Ivana Radić

How did you first discover waacking, and what made you fall in love with it?

All of us discovered waacking in different moments, but the feeling was the same: something finally “clicked.” The drama, the expression, the freedom to take up space and be unapologetically yourself - that’s what pulled us in. Some of us came from street styles, some from club culture, some from heels or dancehall, but nowhere else did we find this unique blend of emotion, music, attitude, and storytelling.
Waacking allows us to be too much - and that’s exactly why we love it.

How do people respond to Waacking Croatia and your club performances, and are you happy with their reactions?

We’re still a very new collective, so we know there’s a lot of room for us to grow and reach our full potential, but the reactions so far have been amazing. People respond with so much warmth, curiosity, and excitement, and that means the world to us. Every cheer, every smile, and every moment of connection on the dance floor gives us huge motivation to keep building the scene and pushing forward. Their support is truly the fuel that keeps us going.

If you had to pick one waacking move that really shows off your style, which one would it be?

Waacking isn’t really about one signature move - it’s an entire culture fused into expression, performance, and character. The vocabulary we learn becomes a toolbox that blends into our own style, personality and energy.

Unlike styles such as hip-hop or house, which have clearly defined steps with fixed names, waacking draws from social and party dances mixed with attitude, flavour and glamour. The hand and arm gestures give us endless freedom to express emotion, story, and individuality. So instead of choosing a single move, we’d say our style shows best through the way we combine the vocabulary with our own character, that’s where the true essence of waacking lives.

Which waacking icon do you look up to the most?

We look up to the original pioneers, the people who created this style out of resistance, identity, and community in the 70s. Their legacy of courage and authenticity is what guides us today.

Our waacking icons are the artists who shaped both the history and the evolution of the style - names like Victor Manuel, Archie Burnett and Tyrone Proctor.

Tonya is especially inspired by Victor Bukovy from the Czech Republic, Doma from Poland and the entire Polish waacking scene. Tuna has been inspired by Kumari from the very beginning. Danchi draws her inspiration from Bagsy and Lip J.
Mikki began her waacking journey in Hungary, where she trained and received the push she needed to bring the style back to Croatia - she’s deeply grateful for the Hungarian scene.

Are there any myths or misunderstandings about waacking that you’d like to clear up?

Yes, one - waacking and vogue are two different styles.

How do you usually get ready for a set with Dobar House? Do you have a routine or go with the flow?

There’s always a bit of both. We love to ride the energy of the club and the DJ, but we also come prepared, warmed up, tuned into each other, and connected to the music. 

How do you find the balance between nailing the technique and freely expressing yourself on the floor?

We train technique so that in the moment, we don’t have to think about it. When the music hits, we let instinct and emotion take over. 

Which track never fails to get you fired up and set the floor on fire?

Mikki: Donna summer - I Feel Love
Tuna: Isaac Hayes - Disco Connection
Tonya: Purple Disco Machine, WIESS - Feel My Needs
Danchi: The Vision, Andreya Triana - Heaven

If you could improvise a set with any DJ or artist, who would it be and why?

We already had the chance to dance with Mousse T., and it was an incredible experience. In the future, we’d love to dance with artists like Purple Disco Machine or Natasha Diggs, whose music carries exactly the kind of disco soul, rhythm and sparkle that brings out the best in waacking. 

What inspires you most to keep dancing waacking and evolving as an artist?

Disco music inspires us endlessly. But above all, we dance because we have to dance; it’s our way of expressing ourselves, our emotions, and our identities.

If you could perform waacking on any stage or at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?

We would love to perform at Defected Croatia. There’s something magical about dancing waacking under the sun, by the sea, on our own coastline, representing our style and our culture on an international stage right here in Croatia.
So if Defected Croatia is reading this… you know where to find us 😉

What do you hope people take away or feel after watching your performance?

We want people to feel joy, freedom and a spark of something personal. Whether it’s empowerment, nostalgia, excitement or simply the urge to dance, our goal is to make the audience feel alive. Waacking is meant to touch people, and that’s the energy we hope they carry with them long after the performance ends.