Dancing is one of the greatest outlets that we use to express ourselves.
Done by virtually every culture in the world and in every corner of the world, dance is something unites us all as humans.
And what’s great about dance is that, when analyzed, it allows us to pinpoint a specific moment–a dash on the cultural timeline of history.
For example, 1966 gave us the Batusi.
You may remember this dance from movies like Pulp Fiction and Antz. You know, the one where you make two V’s with your fingers and slide them outward across your eyes.
But did you know that this dance was actually a parody of the then famous Watusi dance?
It became famous after a scene in the Batman movie from the 1960s.
Batman decides to share a dance with a woman from the bar and ends up dancing his own version of the Watusi.
The movie and the dance became so popular that all the hip young dancers of 1966 could be seen busting out the Batusi at all their favorite dance clubs.
So when inspirational comedian Judson Laipply decided to come up with a routine that captured the heart and soul of every dance from the 1950s until the 2000s, he was sure to include the Batusi.
Begining his routine with Elvis Presley’s, “Hound Dog,” Laipply gets the crowd going with some of Elvis’s famous leg shaking.
As his act progresses, the audience is taken on a cultural journey through time revealing the fads of each subsequent year.
And the best part?
The best part is that even though Laipply is a comedian, he’s actually a pretty good dancer too!
Most of us could go up on stage and limp our way through a handful of mediocre attempts at recreating the magic of various dance genres.
Our failed attempts may be funny, but it wouldn’t hold the type of attention that Laipply was able to accomplish from his audience.
When Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” comes on, Laipply breaks into one of the best dance impressions I’ve ever seen.
He puts his whole body into it–reaching and pulling and stepping–and is able to pull off the perfect Thriller dance.
Laipply was able to combine two awesome artistic styles together to make one great show–comedy and dance.
And what’s awesome about this combination of dance and comedy is that both of these are proven to be beneficial to our mental health.
According to Psychology Today, “The same endorphins that make you feel better when moving also help you concentrate and sleep better, have more energy, and can help you become more resilient when faced with the mental or emotional challenges of life.”
And in terms of comedy, Help Guide tells us that, “Laughter shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict.”
Beyond giving us a great show, Laipply demonstrates how to positively impact our lives by combining two of the best stress-reducers out there.
So watch this video and enjoy his comedic take on the evolution of dance through the years.
But don’t stop there, get up and try a few of these dance moves out your self!
You’ll be happy you did.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
