IT’S the internet dance craze which has swept the world.
And now two Ipswich football clubs have embraced the phenomenon by creating their own version of the Harlem Shake.
Players from Westerfield United and Waterside have created their own versions of the viral video sensation.
Harlem Shake clips show one person, usually wearing a motorcycle helmet, dancing alone to the music, created by American DJ Baauer, while a group of people nearby act oblivious.
But when a voice on the track says “Do the Harlem Shake” after 15 seconds, the image suddenly switches to everyone dancing wildly in fancy dress.
The Harlem Shake started life in an Australian schoolboy’s bedroom on February 2, but versions have since been made by the Norwegian Army, the English National Ballet and anti-government protesters in Egypt.
Westerfield and Waterside, who both play in the Suffolk and Ipswich league on Saturdays, created their videos in their dressing rooms before matches.
Waterside FC manager Danny Banthorpe, 39, said: “We saw the videos and for a bit of team bonding we thought we’d give it a go.
“The players turned up for the game on Saturday and did it before as part of our team talk.
“They piled in and put the costumes on and did it in one take, it wasn’t choreographed.
“We won the game (against Benhall St Mary) 2-1, so it must have worked.”
Goalkeeper Chris Burrup started the video off, dancing in a Star Wars Chewbacca mask, before the other players all joined in.
“We have a good team spirit and we’re all game for a laugh,” Danny added. “They want to do another one – we’re going to do it outside next time.”
Westerfield United’s video starts with centre back Rich Burges dancing in a motorcycle helmet, before the other players strip off and join in.
Midfielder Joe Southgate, 28, said: “One of our players, Karl Sandilands, had seen the viral video and there hadn’t been any football club ones, so we decided to do one.
“We didn’t know Waterside had done it as well until later on.
“It wasn’t choreographed at all, everyone brought their own fancy dress and I think we win the prize for the most nudity in our Harlem Shake.”
The team recorded the first half of the video before their match against St John’s and the second half after they won 3-0.
“I’m not sure we’d have done it if we’d lost,” Joe said. “It was just for fun and a bit of team building.
Waterside’s effort is currently ahead of Westerfield’s video with more than 4,500 views compared to Westerfield’s 1,600 views.
“It would be good if we could catch up with them or overtake them,” Joe added. “They got their video up there first, but I think their dancing is a bit better than their football.”
Send us links to your Harlem Shake videos and we will put them on our website. E-mail starnews@archant.co.uk
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