MEMPHIS JOOKIN WORKSHOP with Dr. Rico

Category: Event Calendar

Date and Time

• Sunday, Oct 11, 2026  4:30pm - 6:30pm

Location

Details

Sun.10/11 @4:30-6:30pm: MEMPHIS JOOKIN WORKSHOP with Dr. Rico

We are excited to have Dr. Rico teach a Memphis Jookin Workshop at Urban Artistry for @soulsocietyfest!

Come catch the feeling of Memphis Jookin. We’ll get into the footwork, bounce, and musicality that make this dance move the way it does. I’ll break down the foundations, show you how the steps connect, and give you room to add your own flavor. You don’t have to come in knowing how to dance. Just bring some energy, stay open, and let the music move you.

In the workshop, we’ll:
- Break down the foundations and signature footwork of Memphis Jookin.
- Find the bounce, rhythm, and musicality in the movement.
- Connect steps with glides, turns, and transitions.
Make room for freestyle, personality, and your own style.
- Talk about the Memphis roots and culture behind the dance.
- Move together, have fun, and leave with something you can keep building on.

Urban Artistry Dance Academy: 11301 Georgia Ave.- 2nd FI. (entrance on Price Ave.) @urbanartistrydc @wheaton_md

Entry: $40 ($70 for 2 Workshops on 10/11)

DR. RICO FLAKE
Memphis Jookin artist, choreographer, educator, and culture bearer

I’m Marico “Dr. Rico” Flake, born and raised in Memphis, where Jookin is part of how we move, create, and tell our stories. I’ve spent more than 25 years dancing, teaching, performing, and helping carry Memphis Jookin to audiences around the world.

I’m the founder of G-Force, one of the first organized Memphis Jookin crews, and a co-founder of UDig Dance Academy, an early school dedicated to teaching the style. My work has taken me to the stages of So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars, where I worked with Janelle Monáe on “Tightrope.” I also served as lead choreographer and star of Memphis Jookin: The Show, and have performed with artists and organizations including the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the Memphis Grizzlies. (Bio cont. in comments.)

@soulsocietyfest: October 3-11th! - Workshops, Panels, Battles, and more! International Soul Society Festival is the longest running DMV Urban Arts Festival!