The Melbourne Shuffle : The head on paper.

What is shuffling anyway? Give me a deck of cards and I will show it to you. No cards? Well I can still shuffle with a stack of bills *grins*. But nope, I'm not referring to gambling or magic tricks. I'm referring to the dance that originated from Melbourne that is now (in my personal opinion) over rated in Malaysia.

But as a (kononnya) 'dancer' I did picked up a few shuffling techniques and style. I'm not some superb shuffling guru (I think they only exist in a person's personal view), and I have not been in the shuffling scene long enough to really say something. But never the less, here’s my analyst and views on shuffling.

Please note that is post is written based purely on my personal (and I think non bias) opinion as a dancer. Some words\shuffling jargons are self created. What I'm about to write maybe not be agreeable by all dancers (in this case, especially Melbourne Shufflers) or even the original Melbourne shuffler him\herself.

The Melbourne Shuffle : The head on paper. Writen by Teckiee.

INTRODUCTION
Like all dances, the Melbourne Shuffle (MS) consist of some basic dance theories such as the technique, the style, music genre\tempo and attire. Mixing and matching these 4 different elements in the shuffle brings out a different shuffle vibe. MS style varies from different continents, countries, and even states. Because of this, many shufflers that are influenced by their own vibe or style tend to prefer a certain style. And from these styles, shufflers usually built their on style on them.

There’s no correct technique or correct style to shuffling. All we actually have is different techniques and different styles. When a shuffler says “I think you can’t shuffle” what I think he\she really means is “I don’t like your technique or style”.

1 TECHNIQUE
So what the hell is shuffling? Shuffling focuses on mainly footwork. Both left and right foot. One foot will be the shuffling leg, and the other called stomping leg. Basically, the stomping foot will stomp\step on the floor following the beat\bass of a song. Mean while, the shuffling foot would shuffle on the floor.

1.1 Stomping foot
I have seen many different stomping techniques, but most of them (if not all) falls under 3 main categories. The tap, toe-heel and the stomp.

The tap is just basically the stomping foot doing a tap on the floor with the tip of the foot (toes area) while shuffling. The heel does not reach the floor.

The toe-heel involves the both the toe and heel area, stomping the floor in a toe before heel motion. Which means, the toes meet the floor first, before the heel 'steps down' to the floor. The toe-heel motion is smooth; it's usually not obvious if you are just looking.

The stomp is, well, the stomp. The whole bald of the foot come banging down on the floor.

1.2 Shuffling foot
A few years back when I was searching the web on shuffling techniques, I have no idea what shuffling on the floor with the feet meant. I had to see the dance for myself in order to understand. What the shuffling foot does is actually rubbing the foot on the floor in a direction, and then rubbing to the opposite direction before a beat ends. Which means one beat\bass count, you will have to move the foot in two different directions.

Most shufflers shuffle in a sideways (left-right vice versa) manner, I have only seen one shuffler on video shuffle in a front-back manner (RESPECT!).

The technique does not end there. According to my observation, there are mainly two ways how a person can shuffle sideways. Bald of the foot, or the toe-heel. It all lies on 'where the weight is placed?' If you are a dance, you would get what I mean already. But for non-technical dancers and my friends out there, I'll try to explain.

Bald of the foot basically means when the shuffling foot shuffles, the 'weight' of the shufflers are on the whole bald of the foot (both the toe and heel).

Toe-heel means the weight while shuffling is transferred from toe to heel, toe to heel.

If you still don't get what I mean, it's like when you are standing and waiting for someone, some of us might tend to 'sit on our hips', putting the weight on one side of the leg\hip. When standing straight, our weight is centered, but if we sit on our hip, it’s on one side. You can apply the same understanding to the above. Bald of the foot's weight is centered to the whole foot, while toe-heel is the shifting of the weight from toe to heel.

Sometime you can tell which technique a shuffler is using. The 'bald of the foot' kind of shuffler usually shuffles on the spot. The 'toe-heel' shuffler tends to move around a lot because in order to shuffle using the 'toe-heel' technique it makes a shuffler shy away from his\her original spot. Most seasoned shufflers will sooner or later learn and combine these two techniques.

2 STYLE
Like all dances, once a dancer grasps the basic techniques, it’s all the style of the dancer that brings him\her out of the shadows. I think it's the same for shuffling. The shuffling style is not fixed. Even as we speak someone is developing a new style\moves that might be the next big ‘in’ thing in the shuffling scene.

I found that there are actually 2 main styles. Aggressive and smooth. The aggressive shufflers (to me) usually have big energetic moves, strong stomps, and have a certain 'roaring' feeling to it. The smooth shuffler is like Michael Jackson and his moon walk. Their movies are less energetic and gives a "I'm floating"* impression to the on lookers. And of course there are many that fall in between aggressive and smooth.

2.1 Head
Shuffling focuses on the lower part of the body, but of course, upper body works brings a different look to a shuffler. This is where some shufflers try new style like bobbing their head to the bass to bring in a different 'feel'.

2.2 Arms and shoulders
Arm movements actually play quite a big part in the whole upper body area while shuffling. It really depends on what style a shuffler is into. A shuffler I know once said not to keep the arms at the side because "You will look like a stick floating vertically in the water". Another shuffler said "Don't simply fling the arms, it will fall off". One also said "...shouldn't keep the arms like that, ....looks like chicken dance", "Eh there's no mosquito here" And once "Use your hands, don't keep em' in the pockets". Well those are different views of different shufflers. One may like it with minimal arms movement; some may find it boring without them. My opinion, stick to what you are comfortable with.

Same goes to the shoulders. Some have shoulder movements some don't. You'll get different styles with\without them.

2.3 Leg movements
If you are thinking "Huh shuffling is shuffling. We have leg styles?". The answer is yes. A shuffler will get different styles just by adjusting the bending of the knees, shuffling on one leg, the weight shift on the legs, stomping area.

Some shufflers like stomping their foot behind the shuffling foot (aka Back steppers), the 'look' of shuffling will look different compared to 'Side steppers'. Some adjust their shuffling 'height' go get different looks for different steps\techniques. I think a year back shuffling on one leg (Shuffling without the stomp. The stomping foot reminds in the air.) was the 'in' thing in the shuffling scene, that's a style. And now a variation style where the 'hanging leg' (The stomping leg) does not hand but kick to the beat\bass.

3 ATTIRE
Again, like all dances, I think what you wear makes a difference while you are shuffling. But of course wearing a pair of phatties* does not automatically improve your techniques.

3.1 Phat Pants (Phatties)
I realise that I like seeing smooth shufflers with full-length phat pants. It really makes them look like they are on roller skates. Aggressive shufflers look really nice with 3\4 length phatties. With the shoe exposed, it really shows off their techniques and when the cloth bounces with the beat, it gives additional'aggressiveness to the shuffler.

3.2 Other that phat
Other than phatties, some wear head gears (caps caps caps, seriously, caps are flooding the clubs), try out new hair styles to fit their own shuffling style, stuff like that. Those without phatties stick to cargos, jeans, full length track bottoms, some ladies even wear flare A-line skirts to shuffle. Some looks really sexy.

3.3 Shuffling shoes\soles
The most important element for comfort when it comes to shuffling is definitely the shoes. Soles designed to give extra grip to the floor are definitely a No No for me. Flat soles or the less rubbery ones are nice because it has just enough grip, and not to much.

Then again it all depends on the individual (and his\her techniques). Some find it difficult to shuffle with smooth flooring and soles. Some just can't shuffle without powdered floor.

4 MUSIC
*dub dub dub* Trance! The bass is important. Since the stomping foot follow the bass, it's always nice to have music with strong bass although you still can shuffle without one.

Some shufflers prefer hard trance, some just trance, some well... not trance at all. Technically any music with a continuous beat\bass is 'shuffleable'. But there are beats and bass that are more suitable. The speed of the music\beat\bass also plays a big part in the 'shuffleable' factor.

CONCLUSION and Final Comments
Don't let anyone tell you that you can, or cannot shuffle, do or should not do with your style. Every shuffler has his\her own style and have different techniques for the same pattern. Don't go telling other shufflers that he\she can't shuffle either.

You don't need a pair of phat pants to shuffle. I won't mind if you are only clad in your under garments ;P

We are all dancers on the dance floor. People who shuffle are not superior. Please look out for people around you. It's annoying when your arms or feet 'meets' theirs.

If you can shuffle it does not mean you can grove. Vice versa.

You don't have to shuffle to club (go clubbing). Shuffling is just a dance. Everyone seem to be thinking that "oh man, I need to shuffle if not I can't go clubbing anymore". Some how the 'shuffle only' trend is pouring in the clubs, it's so darn over rated. It's really saddening to see people shuffling to 50 Cents - In Da Club. What happen to grooving and sexy and dirty dancing?! Pick up lines have turn from "You look hot when you are dancing" to "Do you shuffle?".

I wonder why the Sydney stomp did not make it to Malaysian dance scenes.

Little\well known fact about the Melbourne Shuffle;
1. You can shuffle on the keyboard like this /\| /\| /\|
2. Some clubs have 'shufflers only' section. (Either because they are attracting more shufflers or (I think) are just sick of shufflers pouring water\powder** on the floor)
3. Pioneer shufflers are emphasising and organising\ed events like GLOW and GLOW2 to promote clean*** clubbing and shuffling.
4. A pair of phat pants cost more than RM350.

* Phatties is a short term for phat pants.
** Some shufflers use various ways to 'smoothen' the flooring to give their dance moves\style a floating effect.
*** Clean clubbing: No drugs, no alcohol.

Related links on the Melbourne Shuffle
Hayden at Clept.net
One of Melbourne's renown shuffler\ that is know to most Malaysia shufflers. More video download at his page.

Dance trance
By Farrah Tomazin, Patrick Donovan, Meg Mundell

Underground Epidemic Productions is currently producing a ground breaking DVD documentary called the “Melbourne Shuffler”.

The Melbourne Shuffler: A portrait of eclectics & the evolution of PLUR through dance
By Tek-ku

xes.cx
One of the Malaysian shuffle pioneer. More video download at his page.

Update [7 June 06] : I have been getting quite a few hits for this post for quite sometime now, so I have decided to add some video I took during Park Shuffle 2.
- Park Shuffle II : Video A
- Park Shuffle II : Video B
- Park Shuffle II : Video C
- Park Shuffle II : Video D
- Park Shuffle II : Video E
- Park Shuffle II : Video F

Update [26 Aug 06] : More current shuffling styles. More on maintaining the smoothness and flow. The first four is taken during the World Cyber Games 2006 in the KL Convention center. The last was taken at the Port Dickson rave last year.
- WCG: Clip 1
- WCG: Clip 2
- WCG: Clip 3
- WCG: Clip 4
- PD Rave July 2005