Archie Burnett

Check Your Body At The Door is a documentary film about some remarkable underground house dancers in NYC during the golden decade of the 1990s. It follows master free-stylists into the clubs, their jobs, and their everyday lives. Filmed in the studio as well, the dancers’ virtuosic moves are brilliantly revealed in silhouette or light pools. In their words they describe the importance of clubbing, why they dance, how they dance, and what it means.

A documentary that explores the history and evolution of the UK waacking dance scene, highlighting its cultural significance, key figures, and the influence of LGBTQ+ and underground club movements. Through interviews, archival footage, and performances, it examines the challenges and triumphs of the community while showcasing waacking’s impact on contemporary dance. It also traces the dance style’s origins in Black and Latino gay clubs of 1970s Los Angeles and its expansion into the UK scene.