The Sugar Plum Ball: Fabulous Winter Waacking Battle

About the Waacking Battle

What happens when Waackers get down to Tchaikovsky? Witness the whimsy, fun, and fabulosity of Waacking with a touch of holiday spirit at the Sugar Plum Ball!

Born in the gay clubs of 1970s Los Angeles among Black and Latino dancers and thriving in New York City’s underground dance culture, Waacking is rooted in disco, self-expression, and unapologetic individuality. Part of the Winter Waacking Festival, this year’s Waacking battle and costume contest draw inspiration from the Land of Sweets and The NutWAACKer. Expect theatrical flair, dazzling moves, and deliciously imaginative looks as participants bring their own flavor to a magical holiday showdown.

Co-produced and hosted by Princess Lockerooo. 

Highlights of the Evening 

• Waacking dance battle judged by NYX, CocoMotion, and Danzel
• Costume contest
• Excerpt performance of Princess Lockerooo’s The NutWAACKer: A Dance Concert
• Cash bar featuring a signature winter cocktail
• DJ and dancing 
   

About the Judges

Tyrone Bevans (NYX) is dancer, and sound/visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. He weaves together Contemporary, Jazz, House, and Waacking to create his unique approach. Tyrone is a recent Angela’s Pulse Dancing While Black Fellow (2025). And recently collaborated with J.Bouey Dance Projects in the 2024 ImPulsTanz | 8:tension Artist-in-Residence. Tyrone has worked with brands a such as Refinery29, Buzzfeed, and Bad Binch TongTong. As an educator Tyrone has taught at Wesleyan University, York University, Hunter College, Pratt Insititute, and Vienna Public Moves. As a Performer Tyrone has graced the stages of Lincoln Center, The Guggenheim, Places des Arts (Montreal), Central Park SummerStage, BRIC, Bronx Museum of Art, and Impulstanz (Vienna). He was a founding member and assistant choreographer of Princess Lockeroo’s Fabulous Waack Dancers. He was also a former performer and collaborator with Christal Brown’s Inspirit, Chafin Seymor :: Dance Collective, EPIC Motion, and FunkanometryNY. As a mover Tyrone investigates space, risk, and play with one’s physical vernacular in order to access personal freedom. He is currently a principal dancer in Joya Powell’s Movement of the people.

Christina “CocoMotion” Smith is a dancer, choreographer, photographer, and educator from Jamaica, Queens. Her work fuses Black social dance and storytelling. Through her company NuTribe Dance Company, she creates movement experiences rooted in hip hop, waacking, and krump — using dance as a vehicle for liberation, meditation, and ancestral connection.  As a performer and choreographer, Coco’s work has been presented at The Apollo Theater, The Guggenheim Museum: Works in Process (2022, 2023), The New Victory Theater, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Movement Research at Judson Church, Mark Morris Open Spaces, LayerRhythmn, and The House of Yes. Her honors include the City Artist Corps Grant, Movement Research Parent Grant, Queens Council on the Arts Grant, and BAAD!’s Pepatián Dancing Futures Grant.

Danzel is an Indonesian-American international dancer and Waacking specialist born in Los Angeles. He began dancing at age 12, training in Locking, Popping, Breaking, Hip-Hop, and choreography before specializing in Waacking freestyle at 16. Since then, Danzel has built an international career competing, judging, and teaching workshops across the United States, South Korea, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. A decorated competitor, he has earned more than 63 championship titles, including victories at Freestyle Session World Finals (2022), The Queen of Disco in Nanjing (2023), and BB Party in Shanghai (2024). His performance credits include serving as a backup dancer on Dylan Wang’s D PARTY tour in Bangkok (2024) and Shan Yichun’s 2025 tour. In 2023, he was also a finalist on Street Dance of China Season 6, competing as part of team captain Van Ness Wu’s team. Through his movement, Danzel continues to represent the artistry and global culture of street dance.

Originally from China and now based in New York City, DJ Carrey is a seasoned dancer and Waacker whose deep connection to dance shapes his approach to music. Bringing a dancer’s perspective to the DJ booth, he crafts dynamic sets that celebrate musicality, movement, and the energy of the dance floor. Rooted in the classic disco sounds that gave birth to Waacking, his repertoire spans funk, boogie, soul, and house. Carrey has DJed at events including Waackerholic 2026, Modega Disco/Waacking Sessions, Open Frequencies, and Columbia DJ Collective's Open Decks Night. For the Sugar Plum Ball, expect soaring strings, infectious grooves, theatrical drama, and unexpected musical surprises as DJ Carrey brings his energy to the Land of Sweets.

Princess Lockerooo (Samara Cohen-O’Neal) is a highly accomplished artist and leader in the field of dance. As a fellow of the RSA she has received numerous accolades, including a Bessie award for breakout choreographer and a nomination for sustained achievement. Princess Lockerooo has successfully spread waacking to dozens of countries utilizing it as a powerful tool to build communities, promote self love, and invoke confidence. Her exceptional contributions to the dance world have been widely recognized, and her talents have been showcased on several leading television platforms including So You Think You Can Dance? and America's Got Talent. Princess Lockerooo has worked with some of the entertainment industry's top pop artists such as Madonna, Jody Watley, and Icona Pop. Her productions have been featured at prestigious venues around the world including The Guggenheim Museum, Lincoln Center, NYBG, Summerstage, Women's Entrepreneurship Day, HATCH, Original Thinkers, ASAP NextGen, and the United Nations. As a philanthropist and activist for LGBTQ rights, she's collaborated with and raised funds for various organizations including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Omomuki Foundation, The Center, GMHC & NYC Pride.

Questions? Please contact the Public Programs department.