Does anyone remember the Running Man dance from the late 80s and early 90s? It was part of the cheezy rap music scene of that era, along with people like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice. I think I can remember MC Hammer doing it in some of his videos.

Here's some video footage of people doing the dance:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3235601318965864582
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVjjmwMaQ9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_300_V6h4Q

The dance is even mentioned on this site's list of 80s dances:

http://www.inthe80s.com/80sdance.shtml
(scroll down the page)

I was just wondering, does anyone know who it was that originally invented and popularized the dance? Was it MC Hammer?

I remember when I was in the sixth to eighth grades back in the early 90s, from about 1990 to 1993, everyone wanted to be able to do the Running Man so that they could be cool. It was probably the most popular move at the lame dances that were held in the school gym! Our school dances were just so lame; they'd  turn off all the lights in the gym and stick a giant flashing strobe light under one of the basketball nets. And I remember that everyone at the dances would pick a spot on the floor and just do the Running Man on it. Even today, I like to think that my own Running Man is pretty decent, if I do say so myself!

Oh yeah, I remember this craze.  I always thought it was stupid ;D

So many rap era singers did it, I don't remember who did it first, though I can sort of picture Milli Vanilli doing it in one of their late 80s videos

I thought it was pretty lame too.  ;D

Does anyone remember the Running Man dance from the late 80s and early 90s? It was part of the cheezy rap music scene of that era, along with people like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice. I think I can remember MC Hammer doing it in some of his videos.

Here's some video footage of people doing the dance:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3235601318965864582
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVjjmwMaQ9E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_300_V6h4Q

The dance is even mentioned on this site's list of 80s dances:

http://www.inthe80s.com/80sdance.shtml
(scroll down the page)

I was just wondering, does anyone know who it was that originally invented and popularized the dance? Was it MC Hammer?

I remember when I was in the sixth to eighth grades back in the early 90s, from about 1990 to 1993, everyone wanted to be able to do the Running Man so that they could be cool. It was probably the most popular move at the lame dances that were held in the school gym! Our school dances were just so lame; they'd  turn off all the lights in the gym and stick a giant flashing strobe light under one of the basketball nets. And I remember that everyone at the dances would pick a spot on the floor and just do the Running Man on it. Even today, I like to think that my own Running Man is pretty decent, if I do say so myself!


You just took me back to middle school!  Everyone at my school found a spot on the floor and did the Running Man, myself included.  Occasionally we'd mix it up and add the Roger Rabbit or the Cabbage Patch.  If I wasn't at work right now, I'd be dancing around the room!  :)

I think I was in middle school at the time it was popular too. (1992-94)

Didn't Emmitt Smith just use it to win Dancing With The Stars? And I can't recall the Roger Rabbit, how did that go?

Your Pal,
Doc
8)

Oh yeah, I remember this craze.  I always thought it was stupid ;D

So many rap era singers did it, I don't remember who did it first, though I can sort of picture Milli Vanilli doing it in one of their late 80s videos


This is exactly what I was thinking.  I thought it was a stupid dance too, and for some reason I flashed on Milli Vanilli as well when this topic was brought up.  But I can't remember if they ever did it.  It seems like something they or MC Hammer would do though.   I'm surprised people are saying this dance was still cool in their schools during the 90s, my memory is not good on this one, but I just remember this being a total 80s thing, like peak popularity right around 1987, 1988.  But I could be wrong.

I'm surprised people are saying this dance was still cool in their schools during the 90s, my memory is not good on this one, but I just remember this being a total 80s thing, like peak popularity right around 1987, 1988.  But I could be wrong.


It shouldn't be too surprising that this dance lasted past the 80s. That whole MC Hammer/Vanilla Ice brand of pop-rap lasted well into the early 90s. Heck, Vanilla Ice didn't even become prominent until 1990!

yes, I totally remember this dance....it was/is so goofy.

I totally remember that dance! Course I always saw it as lame, but I always see it as the dnce of the early 90s. It is quite possibly the most embarrising dance of the 90s. I never do it because it's just dum. The macerena however, even though it's a little lame but oh so fun to do!

Didn't Will Smith do it on Fresh Prince also? If my memory serves me correct, I think he did, but I don't know which ones tho.

I remember Kin N Play doing a derivative of it. But like most Hip-Hop dance and beat it all started with James Brown. RIP.

Yeah, I think they might have done the Running Man on one or two episodes of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air". And I think the Fly Girls on "In Living Color" also might have done the dance.

there was one episode of Full House where they tried to teach Jesse the running man for his music video, but he couldn't do it and looked ridiculous when he tried :D. then Rebecca and Stephanie showed him they could do it and the audience cheered for them ::).

I remember this dance. Sometimes I got it confused with the Roger Rabbit dance...

Wanna hear something pathetic?.... After all this time, the Running Man is still the only dance I know how to do! I don't know how to do anything else!  :-[

I could be at a goth night club where everyone's dressed in black and they're playing heavy industrial music, or at a wedding party with a swing band, and the only dance I'd be able to do is the Running Man. It's just so embarrassing!  ;D

As far as dance trends went, I actually thought the Running Man was all right. It's easier to do than the Moonwalk, and I definitely prefer it to the Macarena!

Wanna hear something pathetic?.... After all this time, the Running Man is still the only dance I know how to do! I don't know how to do anything else!  :-[

I could be at a goth night club where everyone's dressed in black and they're playing heavy industrial music, or at a wedding party with a swing band, and the only dance I'd be able to do is the Running Man. It's just so embarassing!  ;D

As far as dance trends went, I actually thought the Running Man was all right. It's easier to do than the Moonwalk, and I definitely prefer it to the Macarena!




well....karma for your honesty! ;) :D

And there's even a Wikipedia page on the Running Man, now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Running_Man_(dance)

Hey, is the Running Man making a comeback? At the end of her music video for "Hot N Cold," Katy Perry does a bit of the Running Man!

And there's even a Wikipedia page on the Running Man, now:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Running_Man_(dance)

Hey, is the Running Man making a comeback? At the end of her music video for "Hot N Cold," Katy Perry does a bit of the Running Man!


Could be. Utah Saints used it earlier this year...in Something Good '08

I am getting too old.  ;D

Could be. Utah Saints used it earlier this year...in Something Good '08


Awesome.  I'll have to grab that remix.  Thanks for sharing! :)

Actually the running man was made up by Paula Abdul who was a choreographer at the time of its origination. It was first used for Janet Jacksons Control tour in 1987-1988. Sadly it took off from there. in the dance community Paula Abdul is credited with the "running man." Notice how she never used it in any of her videos lol.

OK, now you're hitting me right in my home...

I spent some time learning how to do the running man.  I rmember watching other kids do it at school and watching a music video frame by frame to figure out the physics of it.  Even taught my older sister how to do it a few years later.  By then I was able to actually do the trick where you don't just step, but you twist your feet at different angles as you do it.

Yeah... I was good.  ( Snorting with confidence.)

I am also fairly well-versed in the videos of Milli Vanilli, and I can't say I remember them doing it.  Their trick was to run in place for a few steps, then run and jump to each other and chest-bump in the air.  I honestly don't think they were coordinated enough to do the running man.  I mean, they were fake singers but AWFUL dancers.

Proof:  See their silly version of, I don't know, the cabbage patch (?) at 1:23...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyMz7Lka5EA&feature=related

Also see the rigor mortis on display at 1:00 and 1:13 and... well, the rest of the video.

I do recall distinctly seeing the Running Man on display at the end of Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation video, from late 1989.

Starting at 4:03:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk7i_EPxTlY

I believe that's the video I learned it from myself.  ...at 3 in the morning during Christmas break in 8th grade.  Ah, I miss my wasted youth.

But I think the best performance of it was by Mr. Whitney Houst-- er, I mean Bobby Brown.

From May of 1989...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-WvXWbt73U

I mean, say what you will about Bobby, but his Running Man was fluid.  Effortless.  Grade A, kids!

Sadly, like Satish, I think I still dance this way, and, well, only this way.  On the other hand, kids don't seem to really dance anymore anyway (except those crazy-ass krumping kids... that's just spinal injuries waiting to happen, I tell ya.)  So me doing the running man is still exercise compared to the "I'll stand here and you rub your butt up against my crotch and we'll call it dancing" of today.

But then, I'm old.

Just remembered an earlier example...

New Edition, August 1988.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtdPMoX2iws

At about 2:21, they kind of throw in a Running Man-ish move.  Beyond that, I just LOVE the Motown throwback choreography.  Almost as much as I love Ralph Tresvant's stirrup pants.  And Jamie Foxx's career-making turn as their manager.  (Seriously, even in '88, if your manager is making you do those dance moves, you tie him to the top of the tour bus and drive slowly through Utah in July.  Even if he is Jamie Foxx.  Wrong is wrong.)

Oh, and I'm guessing the author of that Wikipedia entry to be about 17 or so.  Whoever credits Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansen or (gulp) LAURA BUSH with "bringing the Running Man to national attention" was NOT watching MTV between 1988 and 1991.