{{Short description|Hip-hop dance}} {{About|the dance|the meme|Harlem Shake (meme)|the song|Harlem Shake (song)}}
The '''Harlem shake''' is a style of hip-hop dance characterized by jerky arm and shoulder movements in time to music.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iox4AAAAMAAJ&q=%22harlem+shake%22+shoulders|title=The Spirit of Harlem: A Portrait of America's Most Exciting Neighborhood|last1=Marberry|first1=Craig|last2=Cunningham|first2=Michael|date=2003|publisher=Doubleday|isbn=9780385504065|language=en}}</ref> The dance was created in 1981 and first known as "The Albee", after its creator.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of New York|collaboration=The Editors of New York Magazine|date=2020|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-5011-6696-9|chapter=Harlem Shake|oclc=1159858094}}</ref> As indicated by the name, it is associated with the predominantly African American neighborhood of Harlem, in New York City.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Spickard|first=James V.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OX_bDQAAQBAJ&dq=Eskista+harlem+shake&pg=PA231|title=Alternative Sociologies of Religion: Through Non-Western Eyes|date=2017-03-14|publisher=NYU Press|isbn=9781479866311|pages=230–231|language=en}}</ref> The dance became known as the Harlem Shake as its prominence grew beyond the neighborhood. In 2001 G. Dep's music video for the song "Let's Get It" introduced the dance to the mainstream.
== History == The dance was created by Al B. who was known for performing it during breaks at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic basketball tournament at Rucker Park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kugler |first=Sara |date=March 7, 2013 |title='Harlem Shake' craze needs historical, cultural context |url=https://www.msnbc.com/melissa-harris-perry/harlem-shake-craze-needs-historical-cultur-msna19571 |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=MSNBC.com |language=en}}</ref> Harlem resident Al B. (also known as Ali Saadat and Al Cisco), whose legal name was Albert Leopold Boyce, died in 2006 at the age of 43.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130225/central-harlem/harlem-shake-originator-recalled-by-family-friends-as-life-of-party|title=Harlem Shake Inspired by Harlem Mom|last=Mays|first=Jeff|date=February 25, 2013|website=DNAinfo New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126125742/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130225/central-harlem/harlem-shake-originator-recalled-by-family-friends-as-life-of-party|archive-date=January 26, 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-01-26}}</ref><ref name="insidehoops" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Jaworski|first=Michelle|title=What's the Harlem Shake, and why is everyone doing it?|url=http://www.dailydot.com/entertainment/harlem-shake-dance-youtube-meme/|work=The Daily Dot|date=12 February 2013 |access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> The dance was first called "The Albee" after its creator and later became known as the Harlem Shake when it became popular outside of the neighborhood.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/presenting-the-real-harlem-shake-21838530/|title=Presenting the Real Harlem Shake|last=Schultz|first=Colin|work=Smithsonian|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en}}</ref> The dance was then popularised by four man dance crew Crazy Boyz (members Maurice "Motion" Strayhorn, Jesse "Smiley" Rutland,{{efn| One of the co-founders of the dance, Jesse "Smiley" Rutland, was murdered by gunshot in his home on December 10, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/nyregion/behind-harlem-shake-craze-a-dance-thats-over-a-decade-old.html|title=Behind 'Harlem Shake' Craze, a Dance That's Decades Old|last=Gregory|first=Kia|date=2013-02-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/harlem-shake-co-creator-shot-dead-brooklyn-home-article-1.3767119|title='The Harlem Shake' co-creator shot dead in Brooklyn home|work=NY Daily News|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/01/co-creator-of-the-harlem-shake-jesse-smiley-rutland-murdered-in-brooklyn/|title=Harlem Shake Co-Founder, Jesse 'Smiley' Rutland, Killed In NY|date=2018-01-20|work=Vibe|access-date=2018-03-18}}</ref> The suspect, Kumar Reid, was charged by police with second-degree murder and weapons possession.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harlem Shake creator Jesse 'Smiley' Rutland is murdered in his home|url=https://thegrio.com/2018/01/22/jesse-smiley-rutland-tmz/|publisher=The Grio|access-date=18 March 2018|date=January 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://afropunk.com/2018/01/co-creator-harlem-shake-jesse-smiley-rutland-killed-new-york/|title=Co-creator of the Harlem Shake, Jesse 'Smiley' Rutland, was killed in New York {{!}} AFROPUNK|date=2018-01-22|work=AFROPUNK|access-date=2018-03-18|language=en-US}}</ref>|name=|group=}} Kirkland "Dirty Kirt" Young and Joseph "No Bones" Collins).<ref name="Gregory">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/nyregion/behind-harlem-shake-craze-a-dance-thats-over-a-decade-old.html|title=Behind 'Harlem Shake' Craze, a Dance That's Decades Old|last=Gregory|first=Kia|date=2013-02-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Sources differ in identifying the inspiration for the dance - some say it is based on an Ethiopian dance Eskista<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Entertainment/harlem-shake-thing/story?id=18488615|title=What Is This "Harlem Shake" Thing Anyway?|last=Alvarez|first=Alex|date=13 February 2013|newspaper=ABC News|access-date=17 February 2013}}</ref> and others that it was inspired by the dance moves of the creator's mother Sandra Boyce.<ref name=":1" />
In 2003 interview Al B. said that the dance is "It's a drunken shake anyway, it's an alcoholic shake, but it's fantastic, everybody loves it and everybody appreciates it. And it's glowing with glory. And it's respected." According to Al. B. the dance came from the ancient Egyptians and describes it as what the mummies used to do.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="insidehoops">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidehoops.com/harlem-shake-081303.shtml|title=Inventor of Harlem Shake Interview|date=2003-08-13|publisher=Inside Hoops|access-date=2013-02-15}}</ref> Because they were all wrapped up, they couldn't really move, all they could do was shake.<ref name="dancejam">{{cite web|url=http://dancejam.com/dances/harlem-shake|title= Harlem Shake dancing videos and lessons|publisher=dancejam.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118110009/http://dancejam.com/dances/harlem-shake|archive-date=2011-11-18|url-status=usurped}}{{Self-published source|date=October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rapbasement.com/hip-hop/dances/the-harlem-shake.html|title=The Harlem Shake|date=2008-04-08|publisher=rapbasement.com|access-date=2013-02-15|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215034018/http://www.rapbasement.com/hip-hop/dances/the-harlem-shake.html|archive-date=2013-02-15}}</ref>
== In African-American culture == The Harlem Shake became mainstream in 2001 with the release of the music video for "Let's Get It" by G. Dep. The video featured children performing the dance.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1449771/g-dep-delivers-harlem-shake-in-new-video/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702162347/http://www.mtv.com/news/1449771/g-dep-delivers-harlem-shake-in-new-video/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 2, 2017|title=G. Dep Delivers Harlem Shake In New Video|work=MTV News|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en}}</ref><ref name="dancejam" /><ref>{{cite web|author=Jake Crates |url=http://allhiphop.com/2013/02/14/exclusive-g-dep-comments-on-harlem-shake-craze-it-ain-defining-harlem/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: G. Dep Comments On "Harlem Shake" Craze; "It Ain't Defining Harlem" |publisher=AllHipHop.com |date=2013-02-14 |access-date=2013-02-22}}</ref> The dance became popular in hip-hop music videos of the era especially with artists from Harlem. Most notably it was a key feature in music videos for Jadakiss' "Put Your Hands Up and G.Dep's "Special Delivery", both released in 2001.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2013/02/5-music-videos-featuring-the-actual-harlem-shake.html|title=Five Great Hip-Hop Videos Featuring the Actual Harlem Shake, Not That Fake-Ass One|date=2013-02-14|work=Vulture|access-date=2018-01-26|language=en}}</ref> The outro to Missy Elliott's 2002 hit "Work It" states "Yo, it's okay though, you know if you wanna be hard and ice-grilled, and Harlem Shake at the same time, whatever, let's just have fun." The Harlem Shake was also referenced in the lyrics to the song "Down and Out" by Harlem rapper Cam'ron.
The Harlem Shake is commonly associated with a similar dance move "The Chicken Noodle Soup". The "Chicken Noodle Soup" dance evolved from the Harlem Shake and exploded into popularity in the summer of 2006 when DJ Webstar and Young B brought it to the mainstream with the release of a song of the same name.<ref name="dancejam" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UW-NAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22harlem+shake%22+%22chicken+noodle+soup%22&pg=PT141|title=Affirming Students' Right to their Own Language: Bridging Language Policies and Pedagogical Practices|last1=Scott|first1=Jerrie Cobb|last2=Straker|first2=Dolores Y.|last3=Katz|first3=Laurie|date=2009-06-02|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135269449|language=en}}</ref> The dance is referred to in the CunninLynguists song "Old School", in Mac Dre's "Thizzle Dance," and in Nelly's "Dilemma." A band from New York City took the name of the dance and dubbed themselves Harlem Shakes.
=== Reaction to the Harlem shake meme and song=== {{main| Harlem shake (meme)| Harlem Shake (song)}} In February 2013, a song named "Harlem Shake" (due to a sampled line referring to the Harlem Shake dance), originally released by Baauer in May 2012, went viral and became an Internet meme after featuring in a YouTube video by DizastaMusic, primarily known as Pink Guy or FilthyFrank at the time, who is now known as Joji. The dance that is done on the internet as a meme is not the Harlem Shake.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2013/02/20/the-real-harlem-shake/|title=The Real Harlem Shake: 6 Videos You Shouldn't Meme Without|last=Laird|first=Sam|date=20 February 2013 |publisher=Mashable|access-date=21 February 2013}}</ref>
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{YouTube|cqjNSONd1vk|Examples of the Harlem shake in hip-hop (April 8, 2006)}} * {{YouTube|Mdeu5aGwwWI|The Real Harlem Shake Dance (March 12, 2013)}} * {{YouTube|dKAjnYffoaE|The Story of the Real Harlem Shake Dance (March 12, 2013)}}
Category:Urban street dance and music Category:Performing arts in Harlem Category:1981 introductions Category:Hip-hop dance Category:Dance crazes