SLC PUNKS: DIY Festival Performer

Held at the Utah State Fairpark every August, the 17th Annual Craft Lake City DIY Festival Presented By Harmons is Utah’s largest local-centric arts, music, science and technology festival. Over the three-day weekend, experience the best of our state’s creative culture with over 500 local artists and makers, three stages for music and dance performances, a youth entrepreneur area, a STEM building with hands-on exhibitions, dozens of food vendors and more. Kids of all ages and dogs are welcome — find more info and get tickets at craftlakecity.com!

A new type of dance emerged in West Hollywood in the ‘70s, first called punking but more commonly referred to today as whacking (or waacking). This countercultural dance form is a powerful means of expression for the marginalized groups that created it, which flourishes through the group SLC PUNKS.

One of the crew’s leaders, Julia Ma, says that before their founding there “was never a distinct community space for whackers to come together” in Salt Lake. Then, in 2022, Ma and others started hosting open punking sessions which attracted dancers of all styles. Ma says there was a “desire for this type of dance and culture.”

While every member of SLC PUNKS is a multifaceted artist with varying influences, they all draw from the history of original punkers. Much of their inspiration came from the drama of Hollywood glamour, including notions of strength and power from kung fu movies. “There’s no limit to what can inspire you,” Ma says. “That’s what makes our movement so special.”

Their performances feature rapid hand movements and synchronization as dancers feed off each other’s energy. “It’s an emotional dance that lets you express your feelings through dramatics and theatricality … through which we’ve found local and global community,” Ma says. Watch them at the DIY Fest’s KRCL stage on Saturday, August 9 at 4:30 p.m. and learn more on Instagram at @slc.punks.

Read more about past DIY Festival performers here:
Heidi Butterfly & Chad Rockstar: DIY Festival Performer
fezmaster: DIY Festival Performer