Batusi
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Batusi was a 1960s style go-go dance invented for the Batman television series. The name is a pun on the then-popular dance the Watusi.
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[edit] Performance
The Batusi is performed by making a horizontal V-sign with one's index and middle fingers of both hands, and drawing them across in front of the eyes, one hand at a time, with the eyes roughly between the fingers. This is performed in time with the music, and is improved upon by continuing to dance with the lower half of the body, simultaneously.
[edit] History
The Batusi first appeared in the premiere episode of the 1960s American television series based on the comic book character Batman. In the episode, Batman (played by Adam West) dances the Batusi with the Riddler's henchwoman, Molly (played by Jill St. John).
There are conflicting reports as to who invented the dance, which became a national craze on the dance scene. One account is that it was invented by dance instructor Arthur Murray for Batman, and was supposedly first performed at a cocktail party at a New York City discothèque, Harlow's.[1] But in a 2005 Wizard Magazine interview, Adam West claims credit for creating the Batusi's unique moves.[2]
[edit] Appearances
In the 1994 movie Pulp Fiction, the Batusi was referenced in the dance steps of characters Vincent Vega (played by John Travolta) and Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman), in a scene where the two enter a dance contest in a 50's-themed restaurant.
In the Simpsons episode "Mr. Plow", guest star Adam West performs the Batusi for Homer, Bart, and Lisa.
In the Simpsons episode "My Mother the Carjacker", Kent Brockman shows a sequence about the 60's including Adam West's Batman dancing the Batusi.
In the Justice League animated series, the first-season episode "A Knight of Shadows" includes a costume party at which a man wearing a Batman costume is seen dancing the Batusi.
The cover of the DC comic Solo #7 featured a drawing of Wonder Girl in mid-Batusi. The cover (by writer/artist Mike Allred) was originally meant to be one of the Adam West TV Batman in the same pose. However, due to unspecified tensions regarding DC's relationship with the company that produced the 1960s TV show, Allred was forced to submit a different cover for the issue.[3]
In the season four, week three, episode (originally aired April 2, 2007) of ABC’s Dancing with the stars, Apolo Anton Ohno and his dance partner Julianne Hough performed a jive routine consisting of a version of the Batusi reminiscent of John Travolta and Uma Thurman’s dance in Pulp Fiction.
[edit] External Links
[edit] References
- ^ TV Acres: Dance & Dancing - The Batusi (Batman)
- ^ Wizard Magazine, "Wild Wild West"
- ^ Mike Allred explains the decision to change the "Batusi Batman" cover
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