By: Serena Edwards
The sound of sneakers squeaking on the stage filled the Claire Tow Theatre, as Dan Holloway, a dancer known professionally as Chrybaby Cozie, demonstrated the basic steps of the New York City (NYC) dance staple, “Lite Feet”.
Holloway is not only a dancer but an instructor. As the founder of Breakfast Club E.A.T. (Earning All Together), Cozie provides students with a third space for expression through dance. Chrybaby has collaborated with many varied artists, such as Chris Brown, A$AP Ferg, A$AP Rocky, and Doug E. Fresh. He is famously known for his impact on the dance type, “Lite Feet”.
Lite Feet, also referred to as “getting lite,” is a dance form with roots in New York City, specifically in Harlem and the Bronx. The dance is notably known from the early 2000s, featured in songs like “Chicken Noodle Soup” and “The Harlem Shake”. This dance has since transformed from “getting lite” to “Lite Feet”, due to the negative connotation attached to the term.
In history, dance has always been a form of unification for the Black community; however, due to over policing, “getting lite” started to become a figment of imagination due to fear of retaliation. In 2014, there were even laws that allowed “Lite Feet” dancers, particularly seen during train performances also known as “showtime”, to be arrested for “getting lite” on the train.
“Lite Feet is the term we coined today because there was a negative connotation with how people felt about the dance,” Cozie expressed.
Cozie started the event with audience engagement, inviting members on the stage to receive a hands-on demonstration of the choreography. Some of the people in the audience were I.S. 240 Andries Hudde Magnet School of STEAM students, who partook in learning the basics of “Lite Feet.”
The event introduced attendees to the history of Lite Feet, the dance terminology, and its impact within street performances.
“Lite Feet is made up of a core group of social dances, like Albee and the Harlem shake, Chicken Noodle Soup, and then there’s the Tone-Wap, and then the Aunt Jackie,” said Cozie.
Cozie mentions how the history of hip-hop never has an official lineage compared to other dance genres.
“Contemporary or modern dancers would say, Graham, Dunham, or Horton, but when it’s hip-hop, it’s just hip-hop, and that kind of makes it to where you don’t know where to point in which direction to what you’re doing,” stated Cozie.
He further explained how hip-hop has a strong lineage that deserves recognition.
“When you talk about Hip-hop today, there needs to be codified approaches where we can speak to lineage, history, and what this thing is made up of,” expressed Cozie.
He also spotlights DJ’s AG, also known as the Voice of Harlem, who provided him with the platform to perform.
“When it comes to the energy and the music, there are several DJs that step into the fold, but these two gentlemen single-handedly gave me my life and also would create a path for me to be able to promote what this dance is,” said Cozie.
CUNY Dance Initiative is a program aimed at supporting the performing arts by providing choreographers with the opportunity for a CUNY college residency. Cozie is one of the fellows selected to be a part of the initiative for the 2025-2026 school year at Brooklyn College (BC).
Irina Lalciu, a dancer from Romania who was a part of the performance, spoke about Cozie’s influence on her dance life.
“He introduced me to the whole Lite Feet movement culture. That’s how I met the others in the crew. I’m also part of the crew because of him,” said Lalciu.
She also speaks about wanting to be a bridge for other dancers to receive the same opportunities.
“I would like to be maybe more like a bridge. In between, someone that maybe doesn’t have the connection with my teachers and then eventually directs them to my teachers,” expressed Lalciu.
A performance followed the definition of each movement, providing a visual demonstration. Many dances consisted of popular street moves like Albee, a movement where your hands move from one side of your body to the other.
Cozie further emphasized how the dance has evolved through the internet and expanded internationally.
“YouTube is over 20 years old, and we were able to improve it and put and upload our information onto YouTube at the beginning of it. So we have a lot of really rich history that is all over the internet,” expressed Cozie.
Cozie further emphasized the beauty within the dance community and how the performance is a first-circle moment.
“It’s a real touching moment to be able to just watch these people that are in. Growing and pouring into their cups and watching them grow as well. It’s a real joyous experience to be able to share the stage with my family.”