How to Start Shuffling

This has been one of my most requested blog posts. Shuffling has been around for decades and has become extremely popular within the EDM community. It is a form of dance, an art truly. I’ll never forget the first time I saw someone shuffle and was completely mesmerized. I was inspired by influencers on social media like Elena Cruz and Gabby J David. It has become a way to express yourself and for you to feel the music in a new way. You can walk through any festival and find a couple of shuffle circles here and there. It has become a whole community within itself and is continuing to grow.

My Shuffle Journey

I started shuffling in the fall of 2017. I danced back in middle school and a little bit in high school but wasn’t super advanced. I did know how to keep a tempo and stay on beat due to my musical background. I had been watching videos on Instagram of amazing shufflers and was so curious as to how they learned. When I moved to Austin, Texas, I had no friends the first couple of weeks so I had to find a way to preoccupy my time. It was also storming pretty bad due to Hurricane Harvey so I stayed indoors, threw on some YouTube tutorials and started learning. Since then I shuffle at shows and festivals. Whenever I hear that solid house beat something comes over me and I just can’t help but dance. I just had my two year anniversary living in Austin which marks my two year shuffle anniversary as well which is so exciting!

How I Got Started

Practice practice and more practice. I practiced after a workout at the gym, I’d take a break from content and practice at home. I spent the weekends practicing. I really enjoyed finding a new way to express myself through the music I love. I found time to practice and took it. Then when I felt comfortable I’d break out my new moves at a show or festival.

Tips for Learning and Practicing 

• Practice makes perfect. Malcolm Gladwell states it takes 10,000 hours to truly master something. While you’d have to dedicate your whole life to reach that number, every little bit helps. Everyone has to practice even the top shufflers still practice to perfect their flow.
• I have a YouTube playlist of tutorials that helped me:
• Use a mirror or record yourself whenever possible to see how your moves come across and how you can tweak it. I took my Walmart door mirror and leaned it against my entertainment center so that I could watch the YouTube tutorials on my TV and still see my feet in the mirror.
• Take it SLOW. It can be easy to want to shuffle to all the quick and upbeat songs. Take your moves down a tempo so that you can get the basic technique down then you can learn to speed it up.
• Be patient with yourself. It’s going to take time. It’s going to feel uncomfortable,  but the more you keep at it the more comfortable you get.

Tips for Shuffling at Shows and Festivals

• Forget what you look like. If you’re feeling the music and the beat, who cares what you look like. Get lost in the music and shuffle your a** off.
• Use that time to have fun with it and experiment! I don’t take myself so seriously and try to incorporate more moves I’ve been trying to do.

Favorite Shufflers to Follow

• Elena Cruz
• Vanesa Seco
• Gabby J David
• Cici
• Genousse
• Rebel Industry
• Briggidy
• Bgirldern
• Mary Grace
• Tmack8769
• Leslie Malave
• 2pull

I hoped this helps you start your own shuffle journey! Let me know if you have any questions and best of luck! See you on the dancefloor 🙂

Check Out My Video on YouTube!

YouTube Shuffle Tutorials Playlist