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How to Make Friendship Bracelets for the Taylor Swift Eras Tour

2023-04-21T14:05:41-07:00

If there is one thing we know at savormeditation, it's how to make Kandi—er, friendship bracelets. When we heard that Swifties were sharing friendship bracelets at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour we thought it would be a great opportunity to offer a little tutorial on how to make these colorful and fun accessories.

Beaded friendship bracelets have a long history in the rave world, starting with PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect). Miss Swift may have made friendship bracelets popular among the masses when she posted her collection back in 2019, but in our world we call these accessories Kandi. You can learn more about Kandi here, along with a little history on rave fashion which has a rich and global history in marginalized communities.

These colorful beaded bracelets are fun to make and serve as a way to express your individuality and connect with others. Make a piece of Kandi with your favorite song title, or your favorite Taylor Swift lyrics and start trading them with friends. You can even use the PLUR handshake to trade your friendship bracelets! Here's a step-by-step guide on how to make your very own beaded friendship bracelet for the Eras Tour:

Materials Needed

Pony Beads
Elastic String
Scissors
Good vibes

Violet Vibez Rhinestone Heart Bra Top and Skirt

Step 1: Choose Your Beads

Select the beads you want to use for your Kandi bracelet. Pony beads come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, so choose the ones that match your style and personality.

Enchanted Butterfly Mesh Top and Skirt

Step 2: Measure Your Wrist

Measure your wrist using a measuring tape or a piece of string. Make sure to add an extra inch to your measurement to allow for the bracelet to be comfortable.

Haliene X iHR Heavenly Rhinestone Top

Haliene X iHR Heavenly Rhinestone Mesh Skirt

Step 3: Cut the Elastic String

Cut a piece of elastic string according to your wrist measurement. Make sure to leave an extra inch for tying the bracelet together.

Haliene X iHR Rhinestone Butterfly Dress

Step 4: String the Beads

Start stringing the beads onto the elastic string. You can create a pattern or simply string them randomly. Make sure to leave an inch of string at the end.

Buttercup Baby Sequin Ultra Crop Top

Step 5: Tie the Bracelet

Once you have strung all the beads, tie the two ends of the elastic string together. Make sure to tie a tight knot to prevent the bracelet from falling apart.

Haliene X iHR Delightfully Dazed Headband

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Trim the excess string with scissors, and your Kandi bracelet is ready! You can add charms or other embellishments to make your bracelet even more unique.

Kandi bracelets are a fun and easy craft that anyone can make. They are perfect for music festivals, raves, or as a fun accessory to wear with your everyday outfits. So gather your friends, some colorful beads, and get crafting!

Happy Aura Daisy Marabou Top and Skirt

Behind the Collection: HALIENE

2023-04-19T09:00:01-07:00

Part of what sets a dance music act apart from others is the ability to include unique vocals in the music. What Haliene brings to life is just that, with a combination of dreamy, trance-like beats to set the pace with her ethereal vocals.

You can shop HALIENE x savormeditation collection here.

iHR: Tell us a bit about the collection: What inspired it? What concepts are you excited to bring to life?

HALIENE: This collection is inspired by much of the same ideas that inspired my debut album, Heavenly! I wear a lot of sparkly pieces onstage, and I’ve seen a lot of my fans embracing that same shine at my shows.

I get so many messages of fans asking me where I get my stage outfits (and the answer is savormeditation and scouring the internet, or I design/combine things myself), that I wanted to create a collection that both my fans and I could wear, that celebrated what I call the divine feminine. We went with the ethereal colors of white and iridescent pink/purple that to me represent that energy.

As a woman in an industry dominated by men, I have found an inspiring juxtaposition that there is power and strength in embracing the beauty of our feminine essence, and I wanted this collection to empower others to do the same. Like the lyrics in my song Glass Heart express, "we can be both breakable, beautiful and tough as diamonds at the same time."

The Butterfly aspect on the pink outfit was inspired by my songs "Butterfly" and "Metamorphosis." Sometimes in life, only after we have gone through the hardest challenges is when we find our true colors and are able to fly. I’ve found this to be true in my own life, and I hope anyone wearing this gorgeous fit can find their wings too.

iHR: What were some of the challenges you faced in creating this collection?

HALIENE: It was definitely challenging distilling the ethereal qualities of my lyrics and music into a piece of clothing. savormeditation and I worked hard on mood boards and fabric ideas for a year, and I’m so proud of what we were able to create together.

The pandemic has also added additional challenges [like] backlogging the supply chain, so it takes a long time to design and launch a new product. We’ve had this issue with my merch too, and many artists are still struggling with the effects of the pandemic.

iHR: I love the celestial look you were styled in for your Heavenly album cover. What did you look to for inspiration in creating that look?

HALIENE: The dress I’m wearing I made out of a shimmery blush and lavender fabric, a corset I hand painted gold, a random tulle skirt and a cropped rhinestone bra top. I found these incredible handmade crowns on Etsy from the Czech Republic, and I knew I wanted to create the image for Heavenly with one of them.

I wanted the look to have an effortless, flowing, fade-into-the-clouds feel, but to be structured and powerful as well… to be soft and yet somehow cut through the noise. On Heavenly I dive into some deep spiritual concepts and life experiences. The undertone of the album is always that pain is earthly, but we are Heavenly.

iHR: You're about to play a festival in your home state for the first time at Get Lucky, what is that like?

HALIENE: Get Lucky was insane! We battled a huge storm and the stage nearly got shut down, but V2 was able to get everything back on track without a hitch! Core memories were definitely made. The Utah crowd was incredible, the kind of crowd you hope for. Even though I’ve gotten to play EDC Las Vegas, EDC Orlando, Dreamstate, EDC Mexico and so many more, playing a festival in my home state was a big moment for me personally. I got to debut my new single, "Hollow" on the day it came out, and despite the extreme weather my Aliens showed up in full force and the tent was packed corner to corner!

iHR: Favorite festival memory?

HALIENE: As a performer: playing my own set at EDC Las Vegas was surreal. I had attended for years and it was a big moment in my journey of being recognized as a solo, headlining artist.

As an attendee: One of the things I love about dance music culture is it’s unity, and taking care of one another. I remember losing my friends at a festival once, not being to reach them on my phone, and finding myself alone, scared and overwhelmed.

Another rave fam found me, and immediately invited me into their group. We watched Above & Beyond together on the main stage and, not even knowing my name they made me feel thought of, cared for, and part of their family. I don’t remember their names now, but they were not an anomaly. That’s the culture of PLUR as it should be, to care for one another. I’ll never forget that moment.

IHR: If you created a piece of kandi right now, what would it say?

HALIENE: YOU ARE HEAVENLY

You can shop HALIENE x savormeditation collection here.

Festival Recap: Electric Zoo 3.0

2022-09-15T13:38:40-07:00

A rumble in the concrete jungle — Electric Zoo 3.0 shook the streets of Manhattan as thousands of tri-state ravers marched through the bridges and subways of NYC to arrive at Randall’s Island this Labor Day weekend. It was my first NY/East Coast music festival since EDCNY 2016. I wasn’t sure what to expect but was super excited to check out all the stage upgrades and performances from some of my favorite artists I’d never seen. Some of the artists I was most excited to see? DJ Snake, Moore Kismet, Will Clarke, Chris Lake, Jauz, Camelphat but more than anything, I knew I'd basically be camping out at Tchami’s Confession Stage Takeover.

The Vibe

Electric Zoo is known for having artists’ labels take over entire stages, in past years they’ve had Nightbass, Ophelia Records, Anjunabeats, Deadbeats, Pryda Arena & so many other incredible takeovers but this year the one I was most excited about was Confession. Confession took over the recently renamed & revamped Landing Stage (formerly known as the Hillside Arena) with one of the most stacked rosters if you’re a house head like me. Starting the day off we had Capozzi, the only female DJ/Producer on the Confession lineup, who’s been stirring up the tech/house space with her unique look and sound – bringing the matrix to life with her all black ensemble and futuristic visuals. Next up we had Taiki Nulight, bringing that UK sound to the big apple with UKG and heavy-house bangers to warm the decks up as the sun began to set for BIJOU.

The crowd was elated and had good vibes as BIJOU went back2back banger after banger with Originals, IDS & house favorites from Bleu Clair & Pop Smoke. Next up was Croatian-born DJ/Producer on the rise: Matroda. Playing his first EZOO set, Matroda lit the stage and the crowd up with his one-of-a-kind Matrodasound, which had the crowd going absolutely mad. The most beautiful moon sat behind the landing stage as Wax Motif walked up and hugged Matroda before starting his set as his loyal Wax Gang awaited anxiously and patiently to throw their W’s up for the legend himself. Wax Motif did NOT disappoint, as pyrotechnics and 808’s brought the nightlife vibes to The Landing stage at approx. 7:30PM – a true vision with the AI assisted visuals that EZOO upgraded their stages with this year. I did make sure to bounce over to Netsky, Of The Trees, Jason Ross and Slander before heading back for Malaa, and ending the night with Tchami before getting my phone stolen! Highly recommend that everyone keep their phone in a fanny pack in front of them where they can see it at all times because you just never know!

Bouncing from backstage to pockets of shuffle circles in and around the landing, there was never a dull moment to be found at the Confession stage. What I really loved about this stage was that there were a few trees that lead into the groovy house grove, plenty of places to sit and enjoy food from the nearby vendors and no soundbleed from the neighbouring Levitron Stage, which hosted the likes of Gem + Tauri, Ilan Bluestone, Jason Ross, Abraxis, Lab Group and the entire Odyzey takeover on Day 3 curated by Clozee.

There truly was a little bit of everything for all tastes of EDM subgenres, which in my opinion was curated really well – from their stages and stage hosts to the food and layout to the artists playing each stage. I can’t deny that aside from The Landing, I was really stuck at Main Stage for John Summit, Surf Mesa, Chris Lake, DJ Snake, Gorgon City, Joel Corry, and Ship Wrek – I mean if you were at mainstage you were not wrong and in fact you were simply being engulfed in both lazers and some of the most electric vibes.

The Event

This year’s EZOO was also cashless, so in order to purchase any drinks, food or merch, you’d have to reload your bracelet with money at one of their booths throughout the festival – not the worst thing and the food was definitely worth it – shout out to Capuano’s pizza because that pizza and lemonade combo just HIT.

Traveling to and from the festival is also fairly easy depending on where you’re coming in from. If you drive, keep in mind that there is no parking on Randall’s Island, so you’ll have to check what the nearest area you can park in is which depends on where you’re coming from but Astoria worked really well for us. From there, you can either take a taxi to the island or walk, however make sure to check to see how far the walk is and if it’s worth it for you. I mention this because on the first day I took the train up from Penn Station and I almost made the mistake of walking 59 minutes (which is many miles) to the festival from the 125th Street subway stop in Harlem. It may work for some, but I wanted to conserve my energy and not wear myself out in the sun or tire my feet out so early into the day.

Make sure to drink plenty of water and bring sunscreen, as the weather certainly rose into the high 80’s both days that I attended – by day 3 the festival goers caught some clouds and light rain. Overall the production was fantastic, the fashion, food and vibes New York brought were next level. Not to mention the views of the Manhattan skyline next to a majestic main stage blasting the kind of music that just captures your heart and soul and makes you pause to admire everything that it took to put this production together and how lucky you are to be standing there – my favorite kind of music and my favorite kind of feeling.

Curious about attending next year? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Ezoo!

What to Wear to Firefly Music Festival

2022-08-18T14:01:22-07:00

This year is the tenth anniversary of Firefly Music Festival, and we are so excited! With artists like Porter Robinson, Green Day, Zedd and Dua Lipa, this year’s lineup is stacked. The festival takes place from September 22-25 and you can get tickets here. So what do you wear to a festival with such a wide range of music? There are countless options!

While Firefly is an alternative festival, the fashion has moved a lot more toward rave styles in the past few years when it comes to the fashion you'll see there. Last year, we saw a lot of mainstream EDM trends like mesh and booty shorts. There are some killer DJs on the 2022 lineup, including the late addition Seven Lions, so don’t be afraid to go all out. Try something bold, like the Trip Of My Life Outfit!

Waking Dream Outfit

Watercolor Eyes Outfit

We’re predicting more trendy pieces to appear at Firefly this year, specifically reflective gear and chaps. The Crazy Daisy Reflective Cut Out Top totally fits the Firefly vibe, especially when it’s paired with a matching skirt! Mini skirts are a great way to get a little more coverage from your outfit and complete the look.

Chaps will be another awesome piece to have at Firefly. Not only are they trendy and super versatile, but they are a great way to transform any outfit from day to night. Throw on the I’m Unorthodox Cross Stitched Chaps when the sun goes down! You’ll be warm enough and they’ll give your fit a little more edge to match some of the alt rock headliners.

Cypherpunk Outfit

Now that Firefly has moved from June to September, trying to beat the heat doesn’t need to be such a priority. It’ll still be warm during the day, but we won’t quite feel the blazing sun like we did in the earlier days of the festival. It’ll also get a little cooler at night, so you might want to pack some warmer pieces. The Say My Name Ultra Crop Top will go with any outfit and help you stay comfortable when the temperature drops. It’s also smaller than a regular sweatshirt so that you can fit it in your hydration pack!

This lineup includes many emo bands we couldn’t get enough of in the 2000s and early 2010s. This is the perfect time to throw it back to your Tumblr days and dress for My Chemical Romance or All Time Low. Think fish nets, chains and all-black fits like the Most Wanted Outfit. You could also channel another featured artist, Avril Lavigne. She’s been known to rock a plaid skirt like the Treasure The Funk Plaid Mini Skirt with her pink hair extensions.

Super Shuffler Outfit

When in doubt, just wear what makes you comfortable. Firefly, like most festivals, builds a very accepting community. Good luck choosing the perfect style, and get pumped for another fantastic year of Firefly!

Everything U Need To Know About ARC Music Festival

2022-08-12T13:00:01-07:00

Labor Day weekend is the last chance to party without worrying about work on Monday before summer is over. And what a better way to cool off than in The Windy City for the second ARC Music Festival by the lads at Arius Presents. Last year, ARC was during a time of uncertainty (*cough* 'rona *cough*) as Chicago was trying to define limitations of how hard one could party.

But so far, there haven’t been any announcements for any COVID-19 restrictions, and the festival added a third day of music (September 2-4), which means the gloves are off for a bender you’ll hopefully remember. Here’s everything you’ll need to know about ARC Music Festival 2022.

What’s The Difference Between ARChitect, GLOBAL, and ICON

Yeah, the ticketing for ARC can be a little confusing with the different tiers, so let me break it down for ya. The three types of tickets are the ARChitect (GA), GLOBAL (VIP), and ICON (VIP+). The good news is that there are still 3-day and single-day tickets available. The bad news is that all the prices are at tier 4, so it’s gonna be a little pricey.

Bratz Be Like Outfit

The ARChitect basically gets you into the festival and priority access to purchase tickets for all ARC After Dark events (all three ticket types will give you priority access before the public). If you have the extra money to spend and are over 21, you’ll probably want either the GLOBAL or ICON pass. Both VIP tickets will have a separate entrance from GA, where you’ll be greeted with a “welcome cocktail,” air-conditioned restrooms, and access to the Global lounge and elevated viewing areas. The ICON adds an all-inclusive private bar, free food/hors d’oeuvres, massage/general spa service, and free lockers. ARChitect and GLOBAL also can purchase lockers.

Lost In The Speed Outfit

You don’t have to be 21+ for the VIP passes, but I feel like you’ll get more bang for your buck if you are. Honestly, you can have a helluva time with a GA ticket. So if you don’t mind port-a-potties or are tight on cash, then I say stick with GA.

How To Get To Union Park

The three-day celebration will be held at Union Park, just west of downtown Chi-town. I DO NOT recommend driving to the event. There are parking lots south of UP, but those will probably be full by the time the festival starts. Plus, you don’t want to be partying and driving because of safety concerns for you and your car.

Dancing In The Desert Outfit

If you’re staying downtown, you could take the Green (Adams/Wabash) or Pink Line (54th/Cermak) to Ashland Station, across the street from UP. The metro will cost you €2.50 for a two-hour or $5 for a day pass. ARC will probably end at 10 pm, which is good news because the metro will run till about 11:45 pm. However, getting into the train station will be a bit of a cluster buck if you stay till the last song of the day because the turnstile onto the platform only allows one person at a time. So plan accordingly.

Ride share from downtown will run between $15-$20, depending on demand/surging prices. If you are going to be taking ride share FROM UP, then it’s going to be a bit of a pain due to the hoard of people who are also trying to call a car. I suggest you walk east and try to find a well-lit-up area to call your car. Last year, my friend and I walked from UP to downtown (2.5 miles) because we could not secure a ride due to demand. So, be prepared for the muggy summer night after ARC as you wait for a car.

Overdrive Outfit

The Music At ARC

ARC is a celebration of house music in a city where its roots run deep. So it’s not surprising that the Arius team would bring such a stacked lineup. Without boring you with a massive list, check out the link for the complete list of artists. Here are my picks for each day.

Electric Escape Outfit

Friday: ANNA, Lane 9, Nora en Pure, Richie Hawtin.

Saturday: Carl Cox, Charlotte de Witte, Joseph Capriati.

Sunday: Adam Beyer X Cirez D, Ben Böhmer, Fatboy Slim

Hopefully, Adam Beyer has no problems with his visa like last year. Fingers CRSSD. Besides the DJs, check out the psychedelic Elrow stage, where performers will be doing crazy stuff in even crazier costumes. It’s a trip.

After the park closes at 10 pm, you can continue the party with ARC After Dark. Tickets aren’t on sale yet, but I assume these after parties will take place at Concord Music Hall, Prysm, and Radius for the official after party with Adam Beyer X Cirez D.

Video Game Vixen Outfit

While You’re in Chicago, You Should…

If you’re like me, who traveled to the Windy City for ARC, I suggest you embrace the adventure. Eat a deep-dished pizza from one of them semi-casual restaurants in River North, take an architectural boat tour down the Chicago river or force your friends to walk 3 miles up and down the River Walk after ARC hungover.

Unlike most festivals that are in the middle of nowhere, ARC is actually in the heart of Chicago, so you can double dip as a raver and a tourist! Or don’t, whatever.

Beyond Wonderland Pacific Northwest Guide

2022-04-15T10:00:02-07:00

Who's ready to go down the rabbit hole? Beyond Wonderland Pacific Northwest returns to the Gorge Amphitheater on June 18-19. The two-day event takes place at one of the most beautiful venues in the United States, so this is one you won't want to miss. Grab your rave fam and get ready to hang out with Alice and her friends. Here is everything you need to know about planning a trip to Beyond Wonderland Pacific Northwest:

Lineup and Tickets

The lineup for Beyond Wonderland this year is insane. Black Tiger Sex Machine, Acraze, Dombresky, Ekali, Marauda, Porter Robinson, Troyboi, and Zeds Dead are just a few of the many talented artists performing at the event. Just these artists alone would make me purchase a ticket. Check out the lineup below:

Two-day General Admission passes start at €209.50 and General Admission plus starts at €259.50. VIP starts at €329.50. I've heard that this is the perfect festival for camping. Not only is it a beautiful place to wake up to, but the party never stops when you camp. Camping starts at €129.50. Fox Den and Acorn Village are the only camping spots left, so the time is now to grab your passes. You can get tickets and camping passes here.

The Venue

The Gorge is one of my dream venues to attend. Everyone says that once you go there, you never want to go to any other venue. The event will have numerous stages that all play into the Alice in Wonderland theme. Fractal Valley, Cheshire Woods, and Caterpillar’s Garden will leave you in a trance filled with lasers and great music. For those who want to venture beyond music, the event will have art and performers to keep you entertained.

Travel

Planning your travel to the event is an essential part of raving. The Gorge is located in the town of Gorge by the Columbia River. The airports that you can fly to are the Pangborn Memorial Airport, Tri-Cities Airport, Spokane International Airport, and the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The closest airport is Pangborn Memorial which is 43 miles from the venue, though the most affordable flights will probably go in and out of Seattle or Spokane and around a 2 and a half hour drive from both.

Insomniac offers hotel packages to make booking your stay easier. The Sagecliff Travel Package is filled with luxurious rooms that are walking distance away from the venue. The Moses Lake Hotels include four different hotels 30 minutes away. There are restaurants nearby as well.

Insomniac is offering two different shuttle passes for guests. The city shuttle meets at King Street Station while the hotel shuttles depart from the Holiday Inn Express, The Inn, Wingate, ad Ramada. All are located in Moses Lake. For more information on travel, head over to the Beyond Wonderland PNW Website linked above.

What to Wear

savormeditation has so many options for this event. When there is a theme, you always want to stand out. Here are some options for what to wear to Beyond Wonderland at The Gorge.

Feelin' Funky Outfit

Free Spirit Outfit

Trippy Touch Outfit

Secret Playdate Outfit

Miss Finesse Outfit

Hot Topic Outfit

Daisy Deluxe outfit

Be safe and have a great time at Beyond PNW! Don’t forget to tag us in your photos to be featured on social media.

Everything You Need to Know About Decadence Arizona

2021-12-20T10:00:00-08:00

There is something special about New Year's Eve festivals and raves because everything is sparkly and exciting. Bringing in the new year is best when you're with people you love, and doing it alongside your rave fam will make the experience unlike any other. This year we're stoked to bring in 2022 at Decadence Arizona—an annual festival going down at the Rawhide Western Town & Events Center just outside of Phoenix on December 30th and 31st, 2021. Read on for everything you need to know about Decadence Arizona, from where to stay to what to wear.

Lineup and Tickets

Getting There/Where to Stay

The Rawhide Western Town & Events Center is located just south of Phoenix in Chandler, Arizona and is right off of I-10. The event itself is about a 30 minute drive from Downtown Phoenix, which is about $25 on Uber if you book ahead. Decadence also offers travel packages which you can learn more about here.

What Can I Bring?

There is a list of things you can and cannot bring into Decadence Arizona on the festival website here. Note that this festival does not allow totems.

What Should I Wear?

You should wear whatever makes you feel confident and beautiful! savormeditation just dropped a collection of gorgeous New Year's Eve inspired pieces that would be perfect for Decadence. The weather in Arizona in late-December is pretty cold, even for the desert, so I recommend packing some longer pants or chaps that will keep you warm. Here are some of my favorite pieces from savormeditation that you can wear to Decadence Arizona:

Tempt Me Stud Ultra Crop Top and Two-Piece Short Set.

Liquid Tripp Buckle Crop Top

Same Ol' Me But More Fab Rhinestone Crop Top and Mesh Bell Bottoms

Sizzling Hot Rhinestone Crop Top and Booty Shorts

Shop the full New Year's Eve 2021 collection at savormeditation here.

Write for Studio 240

2021-05-20T10:00:07-07:00

While we love keeping up with the latest stories about our favorite DJs and the music they make, Studio 240 isn’t a music blog—it’s a blog that celebrates the EDM and rave community from around the globe. It is a place to share the thoughts we have about the culture and experiences that connect us and, of course, it's about the ever changing trends and styles of this amazing community.

Like the idea of contributing your own commentary? We’d love to hear from you!

If you would like to join the conversation, we’d like to get to know you a little more. Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch!

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How to Shuffle for Beginners

2020-06-15T18:51:00-07:00

With all the raves and festivals being on hold, now is the perfect time to practice your shuffling skills for when you head back to the festivals and shows! Shuffling is fun and unique from person to person and it’s a great way to express your own style when the music is blasting. You can shuffle to house, techno, bass house and even trance! This guide will teach you all the things you need to know to start shuffling

1. Get on your favorite shoes

Shoes are definitely an important factor when shuffling. A good shoe means that it fits nice and tight and doesn’t slip off. My favorite kinds of shoes are ones that have a thick sole, that way, it acts as a support for your own shuffling. Sneakers are also really great since the soles are nice and flat, which makes gliding and sliding a lot easier. The shoes I’m wearing are the Euphoria Reflective Sneakers which are not only sturdy, but they look super cute too!

2. Turn up your favorite tunes

Grab your speakers and turn on your favorite playlist! Having your favorite songs can get you in the zone. Some recommendations for music would be playing house, techno, bass house or trance tracks. Most of these tracks are in the 128 bpm which is the perfect speed to shuffle to. If you need some recommendations for tracks, look up house playlists or shuffle playlists on SoundCloud or Spotify; there’s usually tons of different tracks that you can find. Here is a playlist with some good tracks on SoundCloud.

jesssiiccaaa · cutting shapes & shuffling

3. Learn a Few Shuffling Basics:

The Running Man

Shuffling consists of similar moves with your feet. To learn how to shuffle, begin with learning how to do the running man. This is the move that acts as the intro to get you used to shuffling. The move consists of four basic steps. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do the running man.

My trick to learning the running man was using shapes.

1.) You start off with your feet spread out and image making a triangle. This is the first step. I had my left leg in front and my right leg in the back.

2.) The next step is to bring your left leg to the center and at the same time, bring your right leg up to form a smaller triangle.

3.) The third step is similar to repeating the first two steps, and this time you’ll bring your left leg to the back and your right leg down to the front to form a larger triangle again.

4.) The final step is to bring your right leg to the center and at the same time, bring your left leg up to form another smaller triangle.

With these four steps, you can learn how to do the running man, which will serve as the foundation for many of the other moves that you’ll learn later on. It’s important to get this move down because once you do, you’ll have the rhythm spot on which then you can start adding other moves to cut shapes!

Cutting Shapes Basics: Leg Twists

Cutting shapes is the term for the dance where it involves a lot of leg twists aka Charleston dance move rather than the running man. Learning how to do the Charleston will allow you to know the foundation for many other cutting techniques. I like to call these leg twists since it involves more in and out moves using your heel and toes rather than running in place. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to start doing some of the basic moves for cutting shapes.

1.) Start with your legs shoulder-width apart and point your toes inwards.

2.) The next step requires two parts, first cross your right foot in front of your left foot and at the same time, point the toes outwards.

3.) From the previous step, return back to the first step’s position with the feet apart and toes pointing inwards.

4.) The final step is to put all your weight on the heels of your toes and point your toes outward.

Repeating these steps will help you get the hang of this motion which is common to cutting shape moves!

Shuffling for me is a way to express my energy at festivals and raves. Being inside shuffle circles is a really amazing experience and opportunity to meet lots of new ravers as well! Inside the shuffle circle, you get to see all different kinds of shuffle and cutting shape techniques and everyone does it differently. I recommend learning these basic moves first and getting them down. Once you’ve mastered these moves, learning new ones should be a breeze.