Dancer Lil’ Buck grew up jookin and bucking on the streets of Memphis. After a breathtaking video of him dancing to Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Swan,” accompanied by cellist Yo-Yo Ma went viral, everything changed.
Charles Riley, known as Lil’ Buck, became known for a street dance called jookin that originated in Memphis. He eventually took his art form to a whole other level as he began to incorporate elements of contemporary dance and ballet. As a kid, he dreamed of sharing his love of this dance with the world spending every mo1ment perfecting his craft.
After director Spike Jones shared a video of him performing his interpretation of Camille Saint-Saëns’ “The Dying Swan” on social media, he became a national sensation and has been celebrated not only for his amazing talent but his generosity in giving back by mentoring young dancers.
This is a story of a young man who began dancing in the streets and at a local skating rink but is now an icon in the dance world. This documentary is so inspiring! Lil Buck’ is such an incredible talent and a joy to watch, he proves you can get anywhere you want no matter where you begin.
“Lil’ Buck: Real Swan” was the Closing Night Film at the 2020 NY African Diaspora International Film Festival
