How to Shuffle (Dance Move)

Last Updated: December 15, 2021 References

"The Shuffle" is a dance move that stems from the "Melbourne Shuffle," a rave and club dance that originated in the late 80s during the underground rave music scene in Melbourne, Australia.^{[1]
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Research source}The basis of the shuffle lies in quick heel-toe action that works best with electronic music. However, the more modern shuffle, made more popular by LMFAO's music video for the song "Party Rock Anthem" in 2009, has taken off in the club scene and popular culture. To do this type of shuffle, you need to master the "T-Step" and "The Running Man" and to learn how to transition between the two. See more information on how below the jump.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

The T-Step

1
Stand with your feet about 1 foot (0.3 meters) apart. This is the beginning stance for the "T-Step."
2
Lift your right foot and shuffle your left foot inward. Lift it about half a foot (15 cm) off the ground, by lifting your knee up and inward while your calf and foot extend away from your body.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Expert Interview. 13 September 2021.} As you lift your right foot, your left foot should shuffle inward, so your toes are pointing inward instead of outward. This should happen at the same time as you lift your right foot.^{[3]
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Research source}

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3
Point your right foot back down as you shuffle your left foot outward. Point your right foot down and outward, just until your toes or ball of your foot touches the ground. This is a fast motion, so you don't have to firmly plant your foot on the ground.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Expert Interview. 13 September 2021.} As you point your right foot back down, shuffle your left foot outward so that your toes are pointing outward.
4
Take at last five steps to the right. Practice combining the movements of your right foot and your left. Keep moving to the right, in the direction of your pointed foot, as you lift and lower your right foot while you shuffle your left foot inward and outward. Once you master this technique, your right foot should lift exactly when your left foot turns inward, and your right foot should point downward when your left foot turns outward.
5
Move to the left. Once you've taken at least five steps to the right, you can switch to the left side. As your right foot hits the ground one last time, switch it to your "shuffling" foot, and begin to lift and lower your left foot as your right foot shuffles inward and outward to the left.
6
Continue shuffling sideways. After you've taken at least five steps to the left, switch back to the right, and keep on going until you've mastered the shuffle -- or if you just need a water break. Though the "T-Step" is all about the footwork, you can let your arms fall a bit away from your sides, moving in when your knee goes in, and moving out when your knee goes out.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

The Running Man

1
Stand with your left foot about a foot (.3 meters) in front of your right. Your left foot should be flat on the ground while you should only touch the ground with the toes of your right foot.
2
Lift your right foot. Slide and bring up your right foot. Lift it about half a foot (15 cm) in the air, with your knee lifted up a bit. The position of your left foot should remain the same.
3
Drag your left foot back. Drag your left foot back about the distance of its own length while your right foot remains lifted in the air.
4
Plant your right foot. Plant your right foot on the ground while lifting your left foot back to its toes. This will make it easier to lift your left foot in the next step.
5
Lift your left foot. Now just repeat the same motion with alternate legs. Slide and bring your left foot up. Lift it about half a foot (.3 meters) in the air, with your knee lifted up a bit. Your right foot should remain in the same position.^{[5]
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Research source}
6
Drag your right foot back. Drag your right foot back about the distance of its own length while your left foot remains lifted in the air.
7
Plant your left foot. Plant your left foot on the ground while lifting your right foot back to its toes. This will make it easier to lift your right foot in the next step.
8
Continue alternating feet. Keep sliding one foot up while moving the other back until you've mastered the incredible "Running Man" dance move.^{[6]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Put it all Together

1
Transition from the "T-Step" to "The Running Man." To truly do the shuffle, you'll have to combine the "T-Step" and "The Running Man." To do this, simply move to one side while doing the "T-Step" and then switch to the "Running Man" instead of moving to the other side. Take five steps to the left and when you lift your left foot or the last time, turn 90 degrees forward or backward, and use this foot as your lead foot for the "Running Man."
- Do "The Running Man" in place, or even move in a circle as you show off your skills. Then, when you plant both of your feet, choose one foot to be the lifted foot for the "T-Step" and start doing that type of shuffle. You can use this trick to move back and forth between the two dance moves.
2
Transition from "The Running Man" to the "T-Step." Start off by doing "The Running Man" either more or less in place or in a circle, and then turn your body 90 degrees to the right or left and start moving from left to right as you do the "T-Step." Just wait until your feet are both in the planted position during "The Running Man" and then lift one of your feet and begin using it as your lifted leg for the "T-Step" as you move in the direction of that leg.
3
Alternate between the two shuffles. You can really alternate between the "T-Step" and "The Running Man" in whatever way you want. You can take just one or two steps of the "T-Step," turn your body, and then move right into the "Running Man." You can take two or three steps of "The Running Man" and switch back into the "T-Step," take just a few steps of that dance, and then return to "The Running Man" again.
- You can also emphasize one move over the other. You can focus more on the "T-Step" and occasionally burst into "The Running Man" or vice versa. You don't need to do both dance moves equally.
4
Add a spin. If you want to kick your shuffle routine up a notch, just spin while you do either "The Running Man" or the "T-Step." To spin while doing the "The Running Man," just do the running move while subtly moving in a circle every time you plant your foot. You can practice doing this slowly as you become more comfortable doing the move while spinning.
- To spin while doing the "T-Step," just plant the shuffling foot as you shuffle it in the center of a circle while you rotate your body around the circle by rotating your lifting foot.
5
Add some arm movement. Though your leg movements are the most important part of the shuffle, once you've mastered the footwork, you should pay more attention to your arms. If you keep your arms at your sides while you try these dance moves, you'll look like a robot. Instead, keep your arms slightly out and just move them in a way that feels natural with your feet.^{[7]
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- If you're doing the "T-Step," just move your arms out whenever you plant your lifted leg, and move them in when you lift your leg.
- If you're doing "The Running Man," just move your arms back and forth in a fun way that mimics the arm work of running with a hip-hop flavor.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you shuffle dance for beginners?

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Dariusz Horvath-Krol is a Professional Ballroom Dancer and Dance Instructor based in New York. With more than 20 years of dance experience, he specializes in ballroom dancing, hip-hop, funk, and ballet. He has also spent the last seven years performing and working with Dancing With The Stars professionals. Dariusz has received full bronze, full silver, and gold awards from The Dance Vision International Dance Association.

Dariusz Horvath-Krol

Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

You have to skip back on one foot, then make a tiny hop onto the other foot in front of you. All you gotta do now is repeat this process, as the difficulty simply lies in the repetition.
Question

Is it okay to do this barefoot?

Sombra

Community Answer

Yes, but it is easier to do with socks or flexible shoes. It also depends on the kind of shuffle and where you are performing it.
Question

Can you go forward doing the T-shuffle?

Community Answer

Yes. When you step forward, you should move a longer distance than when you move your feet backward. Practice makes perfect.