"The Shuffle" is a dance step that stems from the "Melbourne Shuffle", a disco and rave dance that originated in the late 1980s during the period of underground rave music in Melbourne, Australia. The foundation of the shuffle is the fast heel-to-toe movement that works best with electronic music. However, today there is a more modern form of shuffle, popularized by the music video for LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem" in 2009, which has caught on in popular culture and the club scene. To perform this type of shuffle, you must master the "T-Step" and "The Running Man" and learn how to switch between them. You will find more information on how to do it immediately after the explanation of the two dances.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Method 1: the T-Step
Step 1. Keep your feet about 30cm apart
This is the starting position for the "T-Step".
Step 2. Raise your right foot and swipe your left inward
Raise it about 15cm off the ground, lifting the knee and moving it inward as the calf and foot extend away from the body. As you lift your right foot, the left has to crawl inward, so that the toes point inward instead of outward. This should happen at the same time as you lift your right foot.
Step 3. Return your right foot to the ground as you swipe your left foot outward
Put your right foot back on the ground and point outward, just before your toes or the sole of your foot touch the ground. This is a quick movement, so you don't have to put your foot firmly on the ground. As you put your right foot back down, swipe your left foot outward so that your toes point outward.
Step 4. Take at least five steps to the left
Practice combining the movements of the right and left foot. Keep moving to the right, in the direction your foot is pointing, as you raise and lower your right foot and at the same time swipe your left foot in and out. Once you have mastered this technique, your right foot should rise exactly as your left one moves inward, and your right foot should point downward as your left one moves outward.
Step 5. Move left
Once you have taken at least 5 steps to the right, you can move to the left. As your right foot lands on the ground for the last time, make it the foot you drag and begin to raise and lower your left as the right crawls in and out to the left.
Step 6. Keep moving sideways
After taking at least 5 steps to the left, move back to the right, and keep doing this until you have mastered the movement perfectly - or until you simply need to drink some water. Although the "T-Step" is just a matter of foot work, you can swing your arms slightly away from your hips, moving them in as the knee moves in and vice versa out along with the knee.
Method 2 of 3: Method 2: The Running Man
Step 1. Stand with your left foot 30cm in front of your right
Your left foot should be on the ground while your right foot should touch the floor with your toes only.
Step 2. Raise your right foot
Slide and lift your right foot. Raise it about 6 inches, with the knee slightly bent. The position of the left foot should remain the same.
Step 3. Bring your left foot back
Bring the left foot back to the full length of the foot, while the right foot remains suspended in the air.
Step 4. Rest your right foot
Place your right foot on the ground as you raise your left foot touching the ground with your toes only. This will make it easier to lift the left foot to the next step.
Step 5. Raise your left foot
Now simply repeat the same movement alternating legs. Slide and lift your left foot about 30cm, with the knee slightly bent. The right foot should remain in the same position.
Step 6. Bring your right foot back
Bring the right foot back to the full length of the foot while the left foot remains suspended in the air.
Step 7. Rest your left foot
Place your left foot touching the ground with your toes only. This will make it easier to lift the right foot in the next step.
Step 8. Continue alternating feet
Continue to slide and lift one foot and bring the other back until you have mastered the incredible step of the "Running Man" perfectly.
Method 3 of 3: Method 3: Put It All Together
Step 1. Switch from "T-Step" to "Running Man"
To properly shuffle, you will need to combine the "T-Step" with the "Running Man". To do this, simply move to one side while doing the "T-Step" and then switch to the "Running Man" instead of moving in the other direction. Take five steps to the left and when you lift your right foot for the last time turn 90 degrees forward or back, and use this foot as the guiding foot for the "Running Man".
Do the "Running Man" on the spot, or even move in circles to show your skill. Then, when you put both feet on, choose which foot to lift for the "T-Step" and start taking that kind of step. You can use this trick to move back and forth between the two dances
Step 2. Switch from "Running Man" to "T-Step". Start by doing the "Running Man" (in place or in a circle), then turn your body 90 ° to the right or left and start moving from left to right doing the "T-Step"
Wait until both feet are on the ground during the "Running Man", lift one foot and start using it as the starting foot for the "T-Step" as you move in the direction of the chosen leg.
Step 3. Switch between the two types of shuffle
You can truly alternate between the "T-Step" and the "Running Man" in any way you want. You can take just one or two steps of the "T-Step", turn the body and then move to the right with the "Running Man". You can do two or three steps of the "Running Man" and go back to the "T-Step", do a few steps of this dance and then go back to the "Running Man" again.
You can also emphasize one step over the other. You can focus more on the "T-Step" and just do the "Running Man" every now and then or vice versa. There is no need to do both dances in the same way
Step 4. Add a lap
If you want to take your shuffle to another level, just spin around while doing the "T-Step" or "Running Man". To turn while doing the "Running Man" do the movement of running as you move slightly as in a circle each time you put your foot down. You can practice doing this movement slowly and once you are comfortable with the step you can do this move as you turn.
To turn during the "T-Step" just place the foot you drag moving it towards the center of a circle while rotating the body on itself by rotating the foot you lift
Step 5. Add some arm movements
Although the leg movements are the most important part of the shuffle, once you have mastered the footwork, you should pay more attention to your arms. If you keep your arms at your sides while trying these steps you will look like a robot. Instead, try to keep your arms slightly outstretched and move them more naturally by following the movements of your feet.
- If you are doing the "T-Step", simply move your arms outward each time you put your foot down and move them towards your body as you lift your leg.
- If you are doing the "Running Man", simply move your arms back and forth in a way that mimics the natural movement of your arms as you run as if you were hopping.
