Dance the Jerk

During the 1960s, it was quite popular for musical groups to write a song and invent a dance to accompany it, such as "The Twist" and "The Mashed Potato". Don Julian wrote the song "The Jerk" in 1964 and it was performed by his vocal group, The Larks, in 1964 and soon the dance joined the ranks of other popular song-based dance crazes of the time.

During the 1960s, it was quite popular for musical groups to write a song and invent a dance to accompany it, such as "The Twist" and "The Mashed Potato.” Don Julian wrote the song "The Jerk" in 1964 and it was performed by his vocal group, The Larks, in 1964 and soon the dance joined the ranks of other popular song-based dance crazes of the time.

The dance is known as The Jerk for the exaggerated and somewhat stiff and jerky motions one makes in performing the dance. As with many things from the '60s, some things come back into style and are seen as cool again, so who knows, maybe you and your friends can revive this '60s classic.

The dance is best and most easily done to music that has a strong, slower back beat, such as in the song The Jerk and many other songs of the '60s. If you imagine you are a marionette, it will be easier to perform the dance.

1. Stand in a fighters pose across from your dance partner, with your feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent, with your elbows bent so that your hands are up about level with your face at shoulder width, hands loosely closed or in the position to snap – whether you do or not.


2. With the beat of the music, bend your torso forward as if you are a marionette whose strings have suddenly gone slack and turn to your left as you do, crossing your hands at the wrists in front of your face as you bend and letting your head bob forward also as you bend your body.


3. On the next beat, straighten your body with a jerk as if your strings have been tugged at and spread your hands shoulder width again.


4. On the next beat, drop forward again toward your partner, crossing your hands at the wrists again, bobbing your head downward as you bend forward.


5. On the next beat, your "strings" are tugged upward again, to straight you upright, as you spread your arms to shoulder width again.


6. Repeat the above steps as to your right.


7. You can add a bit of flare to the dance by snapping your fingers each time you move your hands outward.