Move Ya Body: The Birth of House

Born in Chicago and birthed out of the backlash against disco, this is the origin story of house music, a subculture centring around the queer and black community.

On a global scale, house music peaked with pop superstars like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga bringing its euphoric rhythms to the masses. Its humble origins are the core of this buoyant documentary, which traces its roots from the DIY clubs of Chicago while shining a light on some of its key players. Born out of a backlash against disco and finding its true expression through the queer and black community, the film traces the music genre's complicated legacy and gives voice to some of its biggest legends, such as DJ Frankie Knuckles and Jesse Saunders. Musicians such as Vince Lawrence are also given their due as one of the creators behind 'On and On', considered to be the very first house record.

Curator's note
Director Elegance Bratton explores house music through the lens of the community that birthed it and found each other through it. Centring the film around musicians such as Lawrence and their personal experience gives the film a potent message about how subcultures can be marginalised when something hits the mainstream. The infamous Disco Demolition Night of 1979 becomes a dark example of this, as Lawrence found themselves in the crossfire of racial violence that erupted from a seemingly innocuous publicity stunt gone awry. Ultimately, the film is a celebration of the resilience of a community that continues to bring joy to the dancefloor.