The Shampoo is a 1960s novelty dance in which the dancers imagine they are taking a shower.
Imagining that they are all taking a shower, the dancers "pass the soap from one to another," "wash each other's backs," "wash that man right out [of their hair]," or they can "come up with any number of ludicrous contortions charging the atmosphere with electricity" [DB65].
The more agile dancers "inject a sliding technique reminiscent of 'slipping on the soap,'" incorporating the splits or "other acrobatic gyrations" [DB65].
When employing rubbing motions, you can rub with one hand for four counts, then switch to rubbing with the other hand for four counts [DB65].
The Pony can be used to travel around the room to change partners throughout the course of the dance [DB65].
Any music can be used for the Shampoo, but Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" (1958) is thematically appropriate.
© 2020 Nick Enge
For more dance descriptions, see our three books on dancing:
The Book of Mixers: 100 Easy-Teach Dances for Getting Acquainted (2022) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge,
Cross-Step Waltz: A Dancer's Guide (2019) by Richard Powers and Nick & Melissa Enge, and
Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living (2013) by Richard Powers and Nick Enge.
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