The Running Man (dance)
Encyclopedia
The Running Man is a street
and fad dance that originated in late 1986 early 1987 and was performed most notably by MC Hammer
and Vanilla Ice
during their live concert shows and music videos, but achieved renewed popularity in the 2000s. It is also used in some forms of the Melbourne Shuffle
dance style. It consists of a hopping or sliding step done in such a way at speed to simulate a runner
.
The Running Man achieved celebrity focus in 2007 with Britney Spears
doing an homage to it during her M+M's: Concerts From The HOB Tour 2007 and Scarlett Johansson
stating of her dancing in an interview with Seventeen
that, "I do a great Running Man."
2008 saw the re-release of "Something Good
" by the Utah Saints
. The video, set in 1989, comically suggests that the Running Man craze started in Cardiff
, Wales
. It features many people dancing the Running Man and ends with the "rights" to the dance being signed over to MC Hammer under duress
.
The Running Man dance is also popular in PlayStation Home
for PlayStation 3
where people line their avatars up in long train lines and perform the dance.
Will Smith performed the running man in Drums and dance as his old title, Fresh Prince.
The dance Jumpstyle
similarly contains moves whereby the legs are swung back and forth, almost imitating the running man in an airborne manner.
Street dance
Street dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
and fad dance that originated in late 1986 early 1987 and was performed most notably by MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
and Vanilla Ice
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle , best known by his stage name Vanilla Ice, is an American rapper, extreme athlete and home improvement television personality...
during their live concert shows and music videos, but achieved renewed popularity in the 2000s. It is also used in some forms of the Melbourne Shuffle
Melbourne Shuffle
The Melbourne Shuffle is a rave and club dance that originated in the late 1980s in the underground rave music scene in Melbourne, Australia. The basic movements in the dance are a fast heel-and-toe action with a style suitable for various types of electronic music. Some variants incorporate arm...
dance style. It consists of a hopping or sliding step done in such a way at speed to simulate a runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
.
The Running Man achieved celebrity focus in 2007 with Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
doing an homage to it during her M+M's: Concerts From The HOB Tour 2007 and Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
stating of her dancing in an interview with Seventeen
Seventeen (magazine)
Seventeen is an American magazine for teenagers. It was first published in September 1944 by Walter Annenberg's Triangle Publications. News Corporation bought Triangle in 1988, and sold Seventeen to K-III Communications in 1991. Primedia sold the magazine to Hearst in 2003. It is still in the...
that, "I do a great Running Man."
2008 saw the re-release of "Something Good
Something Good (Utah Saints song)
"Something Good" is a house music song released by Utah Saints in 1992. It was first included as the lead song on a seven-track EP titled Something Good, then later included on the Utah Saints album...
" by the Utah Saints
Utah Saints
Utah Saints is a dance band based in Leeds, England. The music is produced by Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt, who are joined on-stage by other musicians whenever the band plays live...
. The video, set in 1989, comically suggests that the Running Man craze started in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It features many people dancing the Running Man and ends with the "rights" to the dance being signed over to MC Hammer under duress
Duress
In jurisprudence, duress or coercion refers to a situation whereby a person performs an act as a result of violence, threat or other pressure against the person. Black's Law Dictionary defines duress as "any unlawful threat or coercion used... to induce another to act [or not act] in a manner...
.
The Running Man dance is also popular in PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home
PlayStation Home is a virtual 3D social gaming network developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio for the PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network . It is available directly from the PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar under PlayStation Network. Membership is free, and only requires a PSN...
for PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
where people line their avatars up in long train lines and perform the dance.
Will Smith performed the running man in Drums and dance as his old title, Fresh Prince.
The dance Jumpstyle
Jumpstyle
Jumpstyle is a rave dance and electronic music genre mainly practiced in Europe, specifically Belgium, the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, northern France, and a few parts in the United States, specifically Indiana. The dance is also called Jumpen...
similarly contains moves whereby the legs are swung back and forth, almost imitating the running man in an airborne manner.
See also
- Novelty and fad dancesNovelty and fad dancesFad dances are dances which are characterized by a short burst of popularity, while novelty dances typically have a longer-lasting popularity based on their being characteristically humorous or humor-invoking, as well as the sense of uniqueness which they have.-Fad dances:These are also called...
- Hip hop danceHip hop danceHip-hop dance refers to dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. It includes a wide range of styles notably breaking, locking, and popping which were created in the 1970s by African Americans and made popular by breaking, locking, and...
- Street danceStreet danceStreet dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
- Melbourne ShuffleMelbourne ShuffleThe Melbourne Shuffle is a rave and club dance that originated in the late 1980s in the underground rave music scene in Melbourne, Australia. The basic movements in the dance are a fast heel-and-toe action with a style suitable for various types of electronic music. Some variants incorporate arm...