The Melbourne shuffle is the new moonwalk. A dance that emerged during the 'acid house' or 'rave' era, the shuffle involves fast moving feet that seem to defy physics.
The Melbourne shuffle dance style has remained relatively underground since its birth in the late 80s and early 90s. However, there is a Melbourne shuffle phenomenon going on now. You will be hard pressed to find a teen now that hasn't at least heard of the dance.
Today name "Melbourne shuffle" has been derived from overseas DJs, party goers, visitors and the media trying to describe this phenomenon. Some have referred to it as looking like "a cross between the chicken dance and a foot stomping robot" (to the untrained eye), but locals have simply called it the "shuffle" since the early '90's.
Some dancers sprinkle talcum powder on the floor beneath their feet to help them glide more easily, some including 360 degree spins or jumps into their moves.
There are a lot of people using the "Phat Pants" for the Melbourne shuffle as it hides the actual movement of the feet, making the dance appear smoother, as if the dancer is actually floating above the ground.
What's Driving This Trend
- Underground Dance Styles
- Opportunity to mainstream and market unique dance styles like the Melbourne shuffle
- Innovative Dance Shoes/apparel
- Creating dance-focused products that enhance movement and skill while remaining stylish
- Virtual Dance Communities
- Expanding reach of dance communities through social media and online platforms to create more opportunities for connection and collaboration
Who This Affects Most
- Fashion
- Opportunity to create functional yet fashionable dance apparel to enhance performance and appearance
- Entertainment
- Innovative dance styles provide fresh and engaging content for events, performances and media productions
- Social Media
- Facilitating connections and collaborations among dance enthusiasts through virtual dance challenges, tutorial videos and dance-based content
