The Harlem Shake is a dance that originated in Harlem in the early 80's. It has roots in the East African dance Ekista, and it is believed that early African immigrants to New York contributed to its development. The basic Harlem Shake is done by moving one shoulder up and forward while the other shoulder moves down and back (both upper arms down and close to the body) as the rest of the body shimmies.
genre: Hip Hop
tags: Harlem, Harlem shake
region of origin: Harlem
made popular by: G-Dep
similar dances: Chicken Noodle Soup, Aunt Jackie
influence for: Chicken Noodle Soup, Toe Wop, Aunt Jackie
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