Dr. A-L Tells:What to Read & Watch- Waack Girls

Welcome to my blog series Dr. A-L Tells: What to Read & Watch, where I get to share with you some of my favourite finds from books, films & other gems that resonated with me so deeply I just had to write about them! In each post, I’ll keep it short & sweet with a 500-word-ish review of something I’ve recently read or watched, often centring Black people, identity & diverse experiences around the globe.

This series mixes my personal reflections, feelings & academic insights to offer a fresh take on stories that capture the richness & complexity of Black voices worldwide. I’m here to explore the layers of culture, history & identity while unpacking how these narratives hit home for me on both intellectual & emotional levels. So, whether you’re in the mood for a thoughtful analysis or just a solid recommendation, I hope each post brings a quick but meaningful spark to your day! ✨

In this post, I dive into the series Waack Girls (2024)

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Waack Girls is a captivating & deeply inspiring Amazon original nine-episode series offering a vibrant cultural crossover between Kolkata & the African American origins of waacking in California. Bold, joyful & thoughtful, it weaves dance, music & storytelling into something that feels both global & intimate.

The series presents waacking as more than a dance style- a living art form rooted in Black queer culture & lovingly reinterpreted within an Indian context. The history, origins & creators of waacking are acknowledged, cited & respected, offering a rare example of cultural appreciation done right. Rather than extraction or imitation, what we see is translation, education & homage.

Language plays a key role. Dialogue moves fluidly between English & Punjabi, creating a rhythm that feels natural & refreshing- mirroring the show's wider commitment to hybridity & connection. Waacking becomes Indian not through erasure, but through conversation, adaptation & shared feeling.

At the heart of the series is Ishani, the driving force of Waack Girls, whose passion propels the group forward even as she carries the quiet weight of caring for her grandfather, whose dementia adds a tender & heartbreaking dimension to her story. Lopa brings both resources & rebellion- a wealthy backer funding the group's dream & direction while fighting her own battle against a family that refuses to accept her sexuality. Her journey is one of the show's most quietly radical, a woman choosing her truth over tradition at great personal cost. Anumita arrives from a different world entirely, a disciplined gymnast whose father envisions one path for her life, only for Waack Girls to open another. LP, Michke & Tess each bring distinct energy & background to the collective, reminding us that sisterhood is built from difference as much as sameness. Completing the circle is Manik, their male ally & one of the group's most devoted supporters- proof that solidarity across gender is part of what makes this community so powerful.

The series offers meaningful engagement with LGBTQ+ histories & ongoing stigma, honouring queer communities with sensitivity & acknowledging both struggle & resilience. Waack Girls also foregrounds feminism, empowerment & entrepreneurship without ever feeling preachy. These themes are embodied rather than announced.

The narrative doesn't shy away from complexity. Dementia, grief, trauma, gambling, homophobia & cultural expectations are all woven in with care, adding emotional depth & realism.

Visually, the show is a love letter to Kolkata- its beauty, energy & thriving creative scene a reminder that cultural innovation flourishes far beyond the usual global capitals. Indian cultural practices are seamlessly integrated, from sangeet celebrations to the breaking of coconuts & stylish traditional dress sitting beautifully alongside waacking. There were moments that felt strikingly familiar, echoing Nigerian (Yoruba) customs in ways that were distinct yet warmly recognisable.

Waack Girls is more than a dance series. It is a story about belonging, creativity & the radical joy of finding freedom in motion.

You can watch the trailer here.