Trance dance ‘shuffling’ has definitely changed since its heyday in Melbourne. Sabrina Lee breaks down the latest moves in Singapore

Twentysomethings in baggy pants stomp left, stomp right, shuffling around as their glowsticks cut through the air. At first glance, this dance might look like a bunch of people throwing tantrums in unison. However, shuffling is far from just foot-stomping; it involves an intricate balance of quick heel-toe movement and complementary arm action – sometimes even 360-degree spins. What started as an underground dance movement in the late 1980s in Melbourne has since exploded across the globe. They say the world’s a stage, and with shuffling forums, instructional videos and even a documentary entitled Shuffle! The Movement (shufflethemovement.com) by musician and artist Garry Shepherd, it’s no longer confined to the city of the hook turn.

The Melbourne shuffle made its way to Singapore in the early ’90s (during the acid-house era), when university students returned not only with degrees, but with happy feet. These are the old-school shufflers who used to attend rave parties in Melbourne, and cite trance anthems like ‘Love Stimulation’ by Humate, ‘The Sound of “E”’ by Ultra Shock and ‘Belfast Trance’ by John ‘00’ Fleming vs Simple Minds as dance-floor classics. Shuffling is also synonymous with substance use, and a copious amount at that. Since the dance moves require speed and energy, shufflers would normally take Ecstasy in order to last from dusk till dawn. And because of this association, it’s not surprising that most interviewees were reluctant to speak about shuffling in Singapore. But let’s swing things back into perspective: shufflers insist you don’t need to be under the influence to have a good time. ‘Granted, no other dance form I know of is so closely linked to substance abuse, [but] you can still shuffle without the additional “rocket fuel”,’ says Kai, 32, who started shuffling while studying in Melbourne.

For some, the appeal of this dance extends beyond the quick fix. Aside from the iconic dance moves, shufflers have a distinctive look, too (see ‘Get-up and dance’, below). ‘We had a lot of fun deciding what to wear,’ says Pat, 31. ‘We even custom-tailored our own pants and legwarmers… it felt like going to the prom.’ Like Kai, Pat first discovered electronic music while studying in Melbourne. She went to her first rave, popped her first pill and gradually mastered the art of shuffling in her five-year sojourn in the techno capital of Australia.

Shuffling – in its essence – can accompany any genre of electronic music, anywhere. As long as there is a strong bassline, there’s a basic structure to work with. But most local shufflers interviewed were quick to say that there is no ‘movement’ here. ‘We seldom shuffle in Singapore unless we feel the music,’ says Raymon, 32, who started shuffling while pursuing his degree in architecture in (you guessed it) Melbourne. ‘The music comes first. The current bunch of shufflers do it for show…like a performance.’

And like any underground subculture, trendspotters are never too far away. By the early 2000s, shuffling in Singapore reached its peak and made headlines only because clubs started to capitalise on the commercial aspects of it, dedicating nights to shufflers.

‘The biggest difference between the old- and new-school shufflers is that the latter do it to be perceived as a raver. But how can you be a raver if there is no rave culture in Singapore?’ says Melissa Wang, 30, who started shuffling in 1999 while pursuing a degree in nursing. ‘While we were in Melbourne, we were exposed to the scene. It’s akin to going to Japan and eating sushi.’ On a recent trip back to Melbourne, Wang noticed regretfully that even ground zero has been commercialised.

With instructional videos on YouTube, more and more Singaporeans are learning the moves without having been exposed to the culture – thus, there’s a certain internet-based uniformity without expression. ‘There’s also a disregard for the music, for the new-school shufflers – now it’s all about the dance steps, and who can do it quicker and better,’ says Kai with a grimace.

There are even shuffling competitions held across the region in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, backed by big local and regional sponsors. This underground dance movement has now turned legit, with organised dance-offs judged by predetermined criteria. Like breakdancing competitions, you’re put into teams and the team that can shuffle the quickest while maintaining fluid hand movements, wins; the emphasis is now on mastering movement rather than self-expression.

Several of those interviewed still shuffle, but in small doses, as they don’t appreciate the attention they get when they do. ‘People would often come up to you and ask for a quick lesson; in Melbourne, no one really cared what you did as long as you were into the music,’ says Wang. Meanwhile, others are just worn out. ‘As you get older, you’ll notice your knees and ankles suffering the bulk of it,’ Kai says about hanging up his phat pants.

To check out the local shuffling scene: Home and MoS  hold shuffling nights, presided over by both local and international DJs.

Get-up and dance
    Phat pants The definitive unisex shuffler’s must-have, and the bigger the better. Get them tailor-made with reflective strips and designs (www.zapfashion.com or www.clubfunk.com.au).
    Alexa tank top You’ll probably be sweating, so wear something to air those pits. For extra effect, get them printed with phrases in DayGlo like ‘If You Can Read This I’m Moving Too Slowly’ or ‘My Glowsticks Bring All The Boys To The Yard’. Tank available at Topshop (#03-16/21 Wisma Atria, 6235 3195); printing services available at Super Goodluck Sports and Imprint (#03-01, P/Q/R Queensway Shopping Centre, 6474 9418).
    Visor Let’s not kid ourselves: no one needs to keep the laser lights out of their eyes that badly. But the visor comes in handy when incorporating hat tricks into your shuffle. Find it at Sinma Jewellery (#B1-15 Lucky Plaza, 6737 0352).
    Kandy No, not the kind you swallow. These colourful plastic baubles add that cutesy life-is-just-great element to your neck and wrists. Find them at Talisman (#03-134 Far East Plaza, 6836 6051).
    Fluoro accessories Anything that glows in the dark, or under the UV light, is welcome and adds dramatic effect to your moves. Get these wristbands from 77th Street (#03-105/106 Far East Plaza, 6732 1707).
    Chain A bit of bling makes those 360-degree spins all the more spectacular. Bits and pieces of this DIY chain can be purchased from Beads Passion (#03-13 Far East Plaza, 6341 9224).
    Mini-backpack Large enough to hold all your gear but small enough to be carried while you spin around. There’s a great selection at www.bagking.com.
    Water Shuffling is hard work – stay hydrated.
    Red Bull What can we say – except that it gives you wings.
    Lollipops Another endurance trick: the sugar rush from these Chupa Chups keeps your energy up.
    Powder For serious shuffling, a sprinkle of baby powder on the floor reduces friction and curbs any stickiness from spilt drinks.

Sabina-Leah Fernandez