Pogo is a type of dance that consists of jumping and pushing.
Pogo is a type of dance that is characterized by jumping and developing from collisions and pushes between those who practice it. Pogo emerged at punk music concerts and spread to other heavy rock genres, such as heavy metal and hardcore .
For example: “Esteban lost a shoe in the middle of the frantic pogo” , “When the first chords were played, people started to pogo” , “The musicians encouraged the audience to sing and pogo during the show” .
Origin of the pogo
The origin of the pogo is unclear. There are those who maintain that it was invented spontaneously by Sid Vicious , before he joined the Sex Pistols . At a group show that took place without a stage, Vicious was in the audience and, since he couldn't see the musicians, he started pushing people around and jumping.
Little by little, the pogo began to prevail as a way of dancing or sharing music . On the other hand, the jumps and pushes allow the audience to accompany the power and rhythm of the songs.
The usual thing is that the pogo takes place next to the stage, avoiding disturbing those who do not want to jump and push each other. Despite the violent nature of the dance, we try not to hurt anyone and help those who, in the middle of the concert , fall.
The pogo is common in punk and heavy metal.
Its characteristics
In addition to everything stated about this type of movements, we must highlight these other hallmarks:
- The pushes that are made to other people are not done with the aim of bothering them or causing them harm but rather to integrate them into the activity and the concert in general.
- It requires that the people who carry it out not only have muscle strength but also cardiac and respiratory resistance.
- Individuals who take advantage of the pogo moment to vent their anger and carry out violent attitudes are quickly repressed by the rest. And that is not the essence of this movement.
- It must also be stated that in other corners of the world it is known by names such as slam, pit, mosh or even pot.
- It usually takes place at concerts by punk, death metal, grincore, metalcore or hardcore punk groups.
- As a result of this type of “dance” variants and variations have emerged, such as the one known as the wall of death . It basically consists of the attendees being divided into two halves and, when the musical band on stage indicates it, those from one side clash with those from the other.
Other uses of the term pogo
Pogo , on the other hand, is the nickname of an American serial killer, a keyboardist who played with Marilyn Manson , and an Australian electronic musician.
There is also, on the other hand, what is known as jumping pogo. It is a kind of cane with a spring and pads to place your feet on. In this way, the person in question will be able to move by jumping thanks to this system.