Where do I start ?

First topic message reminder :

Hi, we're just doing some updating on this thread fixing links etc. So some pics and vids may not display. We'll be done soon, thanks MSO

So you've just found out about the Melbourne Shuffle, and you want to know more. You've come to the right place

The Melbourne Shuffle is an underground dance culture, which began in Melbourne (Australia) in the early 1990's and has now spread around the world.

It's a friendly inclusive culture. All nations, races, languages, abilities, old and young, male and female, are welcome.

There's a lot you can learn, in Shuffle moves, music, fashion, art works, video, meet-ups, crews, teams all associated with the Shuffle.

So please, don't be shy, we welcome people new to the Shuffle, and we're happy to help with whatever we can. So please ask...

jamie-jeffrey wrote:hey,
started shuffling few days back and cant master the whole movements techniques could you please help me or try to explain it to me in a way that would make it easier ..
thank you very much if you can help ..

-- jamie

I think the best thing to do would be to read this entire thread. It's packed full with information and videos. Also check out BigMilans tutorial to learn the basic T step.

Oh and I wouldn't expect to be able to master it in a few days!

It takes a lot of practice just like anything

Hello again fellow shufflers!
Garry And De Locke thanks for all the help and advice given.
it helps a whole lot.

and i've noticed when i practice my shuffle i dont transition well or do the basic t-step well.

is there any way i can fix this. or should i just practice transitioning and the t-step at a slower pace so i can get the fundamentals down?

jamie-jeffrey wrote:hey,
started shuffling few days back and cant master the whole movements techniques could you please help me or try to explain it to me in a way that would make it easier ..
thank you very much if you can help ..

-- jamie

Yep like de locke said. Check out the posts in this thread there's plenty of advice for beginners, but you'll need to work at it. Shuffling is a discipline, you need to control your body and your mind to do it.

The Len Hall dvd tutorial is very good, he breaks it down very well. I've seen 8 year olds picking it up in minutes.
http://melbourneshuffleoldskool.blogspot.com/2008/11/best-shuffle-tutorial-ever.html

But there's no way to make it easier, it's you who need to learn and teach your muscles what to do. You teach your muscles through repetition, it will take effort, no question about it.

Expect to spend hours practicing each week and months just developing your leg muscles and balance.

If you're having trouble getting started check out Rockin in the music mix posts on the MSO site. Just get used to your body moving in time with the music and gradually build up from there.

http://melbourneshuffleoldskool.blogspot.com/2009/01/shuffle-music-practice-mix-2-rockin.html

Domicide2010 wrote:Hello again fellow shufflers!
Garry And De Locke thanks for all the help and advice given.
it helps a whole lot.

and i've noticed when i practice my shuffle i dont transition well or do the basic t-step well.

is there any way i can fix this. or should i just practice transitioning and the t-step at a slower pace so i can get the fundamentals down?

hey how's it going. definitely try a slower pace. Most of the hardstyle is a bit too fast for shuffling to start with, so go for a slower track 120 bpm is plenty enough for practice.

It's good that you are paying attention to your body. If it's saying it's too fast, then it's probably right. Relax a bit more and get into a groove you feel comfortable with.

Once your muscles are doing the moves without you thinking too much about it, then you can start picking up the pace a bit.

Hello Everyone,

Iam Johnny Age 20 from CA I just Discovered Melbourne shuffle And it looks So Fun I've been practicing The basics for about a week ago now But I don't see any improvement, and i sometimes get some what demoralized because of my lack of improvement I know its still to early to see any development of course Anyways one of my concern is that I might be a little to old to learn shuffle I wish I had found out about shuffling When I was younger..

These Are Great fourms By the way

Hi Johnny welcome to MSO.

Yep sadly you can be too old to shuffle, it depends on your bones, muscles and joints, they wear out with age whether you shuffle or not.

I can't shuffle anymore, haven't been able to for years. Mainly because I have lower back injuries, compressed vertibrae and fused spine. So I can't even jump or twist anymore - if I try I end up with more damage and in hospital.

That can happen to professional dancers before they're 35, and female pro dancers can have problems with child birth before they're 40 from a worn out body.

But that's for people who do it as a career. So for social shuffling, just doing it now and then for fun or fitness, you can go for as many years as your bones will lets you.

But if you're 20 no drama's. You won't notice much improvement for a month or two. You get the basic steps quick enough, but it's a steep learning curve after that while your body strengthens

Just take it easy, don't push too hard - I say this to teenagers too, mostly because teens bodies have growth bursts and you can damage stuff if you push it too hard.

So the good rule of thumb is, when it starts to ache STOP Pain is an early warning system, you ignore it at your peril.

If you want to push it, like an elite athlete would do, you MUST HAVE PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION, like a coach or someone, and have regular check ups by sports medicine profesionals. Basically dance is as tough on your body as any elite sports.

What Age is too old ? Well, you'll be slowing down in your 40's regardless of what you do

But before righting yourself off, check out the legendary Bill Bojangle Robinson here with Shirley Temple. She's about 8 or something, Bojangles is 56 !!! and just look at the way he gets up those stairs...

Thank you so much Mr.Garry Not only did you
motivate me to keep on practicing You inspired me, I have had some knee

& back Injuries myself, But I'll still

do my best To Try and learn this Awesome Dance

I bet you were a great Shuffler Back in the day Thankz Again Mr Garry I have a

feeling Iam gonna be

spending Quiet Some Time On MSO

And that Bill Bojangle Robinson is some character!!

hey no worries Johnny, let us know how you go.

Alright, so Ive been shuffling for a little while. 3-4 months to be exact. Heres the link my latest video.
My problem is kinda embarrassing to be honest. I dont seem to be able to shuffle any faster!! Heh, that might sound weird, but its almost impossible for me to keep up with hardstyle songs. I pretty much have to stick to slower songs. Im basically asking, what can I do to speed up my shuffle? Should I just push myself to go faster?

Ideally, Id love to be able to shuffle at this speed. I love this kids style too btw

HI feoo welcome to MSO. You're doing pretty good for just a few months. You're probably a bigger body frame than the other guy. Which means you have more body mass to move.

But it's not too much of a jump up in speed. You're getting pretty close. It'll mainly be muscle strengthening for you to get faster. With a higher body mass you need a higher muscle mass to move it. The drama is bigger muscles add to the body mass as well

One thing to consider tho is, hardstyle shuffling is just short bursts. 5 mins and you're done, where a bit slower, as you are doing, you could go for half an hour.

Oldskoolers would shuffle slower so they could go all night. Doing a short burst every now and then. The hardstyle shuffling has mainly become popular with youtube and 1 min vids, you'd never see a hardstyler go like that for 30 mins non stop, they'd be exhausted.

But from seeing your vid, I don't think you'd have any problem reaching that speed. Just more practice...can't get away from it

Thanks for the quick response!! I see what you mean with the whole weight issue. Like you said though, I guess I'll just keep practicing and hope I'll get faster .

Thank you Garry for your help.
sorry i havent been on lately

well the advice is working out very well.
also spinning is one of the things that i do but sometimes
i lose control and loosing my balance
should i also try spinning to a slower paced song and gradually work up to
a faster song? also, how should i practice it so later on when i pick up the pace i can do its smoothly and not get irritated?

thanks for the help
hope to hear from you soon.

hey there...

Obviously, I'm new to the shuffle too. I have no idea what I was looking for on youtube but I found the shuffle which I'm so glad I did. I checked out a couple of "tutorial" videos too but I knew better than try it at my place. The walls are so thin you can hear anything and everything.... and I mean everything, it is so annoying, even my small kitten takes a step and the floor is making odd noises lol, so I had no chance to try the shuffle yet. Another thing, I'm a bit (very) shy when it comes to new things, and I don't want anyone seeing me screwing up. I feel a bit old too lol... good thing i look young, even today they ask me for my ID when I buy lotto tickets and such anyways, hopefully I can try shuffle soon, I really want to learn it. Cant let the younger people show off so much, got to show them we can do it too

Saya

hey saya! welcome to the forums

You are NEVER too old to shuffle! Don't be shy about learning, the more you practice the quicker you will improve.

Hey de locke :3

Thank you. :3 Seeing your age makes me feel more comfortable now I'll try to practice, but I'm a bit scared of actually doing some shuffle in the apt below mine without wanting to This place suuucks... sometimes it makes you think if whoever build and thought of doing apartment buildings like these, are sane or not... probably not... anyways it wont stop me no more, hate myself when i get so shy... have to overcome it... im rambling, sorry.....

Hey Im Matty, Im 20. Im new to the shuffle, Been practising for a few days now. Ever since I saw the Youtube Vids I was hooked, Im pritty sure I said out loud "Holy F*ck Thats Outta Control!!" And so im hooked and very determind to give it my all at the shuffle. Iv been going through my basics, Spending roughly 1-2hrs a day trying to perfect my Running man and T-steppin, I think ill leave the Kicks and tricks for when i have those on down pat ay.

I cant see the flow in my running man as yet, But its like you said "We have to wait for our muscles to build for better flexability and stability. With each passing session of practise and day's I can see myself slowly but surely improving.

I have to admit I do have my times where I wonder if im being taught the right way or not, theres alot of tutorials on Youtube and they vary from person to person I guess since its a freedom dance it doesnt matter.. But as an example.. While doing running man, Start on your left and bring your right leg up as the left slides vertically, then with the right leg, slide it forward and the left back.. Now heres the thing.. Most say Both feet have to be flat at the end of the steps, but a few say the foot at the back can be raised, I dont know if it shows the same effect so i just stuck to flat feet after the steps. maybe u have some imput?

I hope to master the shuffle, Imma deff keep at this and see where it goes, I needed something to express myself, and this seems perfect.

Also, I live in Adelaide and was wondering if you knew how to find out about Adelaide Meet-ups.

Cheers Matty.

Okay, so I'm completely new to the Melbourne shuffle. My girlfriend introduced me to shuffleing a moth or two ago, but I didn't take a real interst in it untill just recently. Now I'm completely new keep in mind. Where should I start? She's pretty good and I'm hopeing to be as good as her as soon as possible. I'm good with danceing and co-ordinateing my feet, so I think that will help alot. I'm just really not sure where to even begin.

Best place to start is the begining of this topic. It will take you through all the steps, what shoes, exercises, the history etc

feoo wrote:Alright, so Ive been shuffling for a little while. 3-4 months to be exact. Heres the link my latest video.
My problem is kinda embarrassing to be honest. I dont seem to be able to shuffle any faster!! Heh, that might sound weird, but its almost impossible for me to keep up with hardstyle songs. I pretty much have to stick to slower songs. Im basically asking, what can I do to speed up my shuffle? Should I just push myself to go faster?

Ideally, Id love to be able to shuffle at this speed. I love this kids style too btw

So here I am, 2 months later. Im the third shuffler. Matt

nice vid matt you need to move them arms more though ! lol got WAY better then the other vid(s)

Hello, I've been practicing shuffle for about four months and have encountered a problem I could use some advice on. Every time I do a few sessions, I experience some pain in my shin bones, joints and lower back. It's not incredibly bad, more of an annoyance really, but it gets worse when I try and work through the pain. I have to take some down time for about a week or two to feel normal again. I hate to wait so long as I want to practice more often. Would anyone know how I can develop stronger leg and back bones fast so I can start practicing again?

Hi Prometheus welcome to MSO

hehe, no there's no fast way. Sounds like you're pushing a bit too hard. So once you start feeling pain STOP, Don't go for another 10 minutes and push through the pain. Stop immediately and let your muscles recover. That could take an hour or 1-2 days.

Try practicing for less time per session, and more sessions. So for instance if you do 1 hour, try 40 minutes instead. Or do 30 mins each day, instead of 1 hour every 2 days. So you stop before you reach the pain threshold.

There's no benefit gained with the sort of pain your talking about. When begining expect 6-12 months of regular exercise to build up strength. Then you can push a bit further.

But ask youself this question, is it worth pushing for another 10 minutes and pulling a hamstring and spending the next 3 months walking with crtuches or a walking stick, then spending another 6 months getting back to the same level of fitness, 10 minutes before you 'pulled a hammy' as we say in Melbourne when watching a top level pro athlete footballer limping off the field in the middle of the game and being out of action for the next 8 weeks with, hydro therapy, sports specialist doctors, physiotherapy and all the medical expenses

In case you're still thinking NOOOO lol.

I've been out of action since last September 2008 until now, by pulling a hamstring, then getting DVT (blood clots resulting from immobility) And it's very very painful, just walking feels like you've ripped all your muscles from the bone. Not pleasant.

That's the shin pain you can feel, you are probably 10 minutes away from hospital and crutches.

You can only push yourself to that pain threshold when you have a pro coach and doctor working with you and formulating an exercise regime, specifically for you, after they've done a physical exam and medical tests, scans xrays etc to evaluate your physical condition.

But apart from that, it's common to spend as much time warming up and warming/cooling down as you do exercise. It's all self discipline, but that's good for a dancer, learning how to control your mental enthusiam just wanting to Shuffle, with how much your body can take at any time.

So try the stretching exercises and balance exercises we've got posted on previous pages as low impact exercise.

Simply standing and balancing on one leg can give a beginners muscles a really good workout if you do it for 15 minutes.

All your muscles will pull and stretch to keep you upright. But rest after than for 10 minutes, gently massaging the sore bit on your leg and back etc. Don't even shuffle sometimes just try the balance and stretch, just to get your muscles strong.

Read what happens with Ballistic exercise, which is what shuffling is, it's ballistic, the hardest most demanding and potentially damaging injuries you can experience in any sport or exercise.

So take it real easy, take your time, spread your exercise over a few hours doing 15 exercise, 15 mins rest.

You're not trying to loose weight here (even though you will), these aren't exercises designed to burn fat like an aerobic workout. You're just trying to strengthen your muscles. Pilates exercises are good and low impact, all the pro ballet dancers I know do it

Pilates (PIL-ar-teez)
http://www.pilates.com/BBAPP/V/index.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilates

PILATES (PIL-ar-teez)

Here's the wiki extract for Pilates, that should get you going with some healthy exercise for dancing. All the pro dancers I've know over the years swear by it. They'll often do a one hour pilates workout 2-3 times a week, apart from doing their dance exercises.

You can vary this sort of exercise regime to suit your needs, pro dancers for instance spend half their life 'in class' as it is called just keeping their bodies fit and flexable. Us mere mortals would be lucky to find the time to do this once a week.

But it's good, healthy, great for stress release, great to do to unwind before school exams and after a stressful day at work or just the usual dramas life throws at you.

And it's low impact so beginners or older people can do it without over doing it.

Principles

Pilates claimed his method has a philosophical and theoretical foundation. He claims that his system is not merely a collection of exercises, but a method developed and refined over more than eighty-five years of use and observation.
According to practitioners, the central aim of Pilates is to attempt to create a fusion of mind and body, so that without even engaging the mind, the body will move with economy, grace, and balance.

Breathing

Joseph Pilates believed in circulating the blood so that it could awaken all the cells in the body and carry away the wastes related to fatigue. For the blood to do its work properly, he maintained, it has to be charged with oxygen and purged of waste gases through proper breathing. By this standard, if you stop breathing during exercise, there is an error in your practice. Full and thorough inhalation and exhalation are purportedly a part of every Pilates exercise. Pilates saw forced exhalation as the key to full inhalation. “Squeeze out the lungs as you would wring a wet towel dry,” he is reputed to have said.

Pilates breathing should be done with concentration, control, and precision. Proper and effective breathing, practitioners assert, not only oxygenates the muscles, but also reduces tension in the upper neck and shoulders. Pilates breathing is described as a posterior lateral breathing, meaning that the practitioner is instructed to breathe deep into the back and sides of his or her rib cage. When practitioners exhale, they are instructed to note the engagement of their deep abdominal and pelvic floor muscles and maintain this engagement as they inhale. Pilates attempts to properly coordinate this breathing practice with movement, including breathing instructions with every exercise. Joseph Pilates stated, “Even if you follow no other instructions, learn to breathe correctly.”

Centering

Pilates called the very large group of muscles in the center of the body – encompassing the abdomen, lower back, hips, and buttocks – the “powerhouse.” All energy for Pilates exercises is said to begin from the powerhouse and flow outward to the limbs. In other words, the Pilates technique asserts that physical energy exerted from the center should coordinate movements of the extremities. Pilates felt that it was important to build a strong powerhouse in order to rely on it in daily living. Modern instructors call the powerhouse the “core”

Concentration

Pilates demands intense focus. For instance, the inner thighs and pelvic floor may be assessed when doing a standing exercise that tones the triceps. Beginners are instructed to pay careful attention to their bodies, building on very small, delicate fundamental movements and controlled breathing.^{[citation needed]} In 2006, at the Parkinson Center of the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, the concentration factor of the Pilates method was being studied in providing relief from the degenerative symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Control

Joseph Pilates built his method on the idea of muscle control. To him, that meant no sloppy, uncontrolled movements.

Precision

Practitioners assert that every movement in the Pilates method has a purpose. Every instruction is considered vitally important to the success of the whole. To leave out any detail is believed to forsake the intrinsic value of the exercise. The focus is on doing one precise and perfect movement, rather than many halfhearted ones. The goal is for this precision to eventually become second nature, and carry over into everyday life as grace and economy of movement.
A qualified Pilates instructor is expected to understand the technique well enough to adapt it to the real-world capabilities of his or her students. Students with physical disabilities, for example, should be given a Pilates regimen intended to improve their methods of physically compensating for their ailment.

Flow or efficiency of movement

Movement is expected to be kept continuous between exercises through the use of appropriate transitions. Once precision has been achieved, the exercises are intended to flow within and into each other in order to build strength and stamina.

Flexibility

A controlled experiment gives some support to claims that pilates enhances flexibility.

Use

Traditionally, Pilates is performed using a machine, classically known as the Pilates reformer, which provides exercise resistance to build strength, develop proper alignment and posture, and increase flexibility. Presently, however, mat Pilates, which does not make use of the reformer is becoming increasingly popular. In the absence of the reformer, an individual's core strength is garnered as resistance to increase flexibility and further develop the core muscles.

Precautions

Pilates during pregnancy can be a highly valuable and beneficial form of exercise, but the use of Pilates in pregnancy should only be undertaken under guidance of a fully trained expert.

Hey, I've just started 2 shuffle a few days ago and i really love it ! but its hard Im 17 years, and live in sweden >.< i cant find any place to buy phats and i hope i could buy it from this site ? anyway, i think that the running man is easier then the T-thing (when ur feet are formed as a "T" and u move sideways) . Ehm, could some one give me some tips on how to train the T-thinng more effectice ?

damn, soz about all the smileys, didnt realize how many i wrote untill now

How's it going Hampus, don't worry about the smilies

Yep you sure can buy phats from this site, www.msophats.com will give you the details.

The 'T step' is a simplification of Celtic dance. Celtic dance is the basis for shuffle footwork. You can find out more about the origins of both the running man and T step at this link.
http://melbourneshuffleoldskool.blogspot.com/2008/09/advanced-shuffle-footwork_24.html

The shuffle is a skill, so that means you need to practice to learn it. There's no short cuts, sorry You may be able to get away with some moves like the running man, which is pretty simple and just a natural leg movement that most humans learn when they're 2 years old.

So to get beyond that, you need to train your mind and muscles to move in a different way, and that, like learning to walk and run, just takes time and practice.

Try the beginners how to shuffle vids at the begininning of this topic and keep working at it ! Read thru the 15 or so pages of this topic as well, and you'll find lots of help getting started, not just steps but how to avoid injury, what shoes, what to do with your arms, how to spin, kick, balance etc. What to do when you feel like you're getting nowhere.

How long will it take ?

Well expect to find at least 6 months worth of exercises and training in this thread alone, with links to advanced steps that will take another 6 months to a few years to learn.

The biggest thing to remember is, don't Shuffle if you don't want to. Don't force yourself to practice. Do it when you feel like it.

Let your shuffle practice be something you really look forward to, don't treat it like homework. You'll find that you want to practice more and will progress much faster, if you love what you're doing, and really want to do it.

So if you don't want to shuffle some days or even weeks, then don't. Work at your own pace. There's no shuffle police going to penalise you for not practicing. Shuffling is something you do for yourself, your own pleasure and enjoyment.

Before you know it, the moves will become easier, you'll loosen up and get a flow to your moves, and you'll have trouble stopping yourself from shuffling . Every time you spot a smooth surface somewhere, you'll just have to shuffle on it for a bit.