In the last year there has been an explosion of mass media attention to some new and exciting performing arts. "Break dancers" have made their way into mainstream An1erican consciousness via major motion pictures and television appearances. Rhythmic dance songs on the radio feature clever poetic "raps" about the trials of urban life or the joys of dancing. And the "funky" dance music played in clubs and discos, heard on radio, and seen on television musical variety shows includes a new type of instrumentalist: the disc jockey, or DJ, who plays a barrage of electronic turntables, mixers, and special effect synthesizers with the finesse of a ...