Shuffle off: Ape-X calls time on the dance craze sweeping Newcastle

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past three months, you would have noticed the spread of the shuffle in the Toon.

The shuffle, which takes its roots from the “Melbourne Shuffle”, is a sequence of foot work associated with rave culture in the late 80s.

But now, in 2014, Ape-X events has sensationally banned the move from its dance floor – putting up posters that say “Nee fucking shuffling, man”.

The dance has recently collected a cult following of “shufflers”, who attend various house and techno nights of Newcastle.

But now the seemingly harmless dance has become highly controversial issue – with a strong opposition against the subculture emerging.

The term “shuffler c*nt” has now been coined, showing the general disgust held towards those who showcase their skills.

And the dislike for shuffling isn’t just held by the student population. Now, popular house/techno night Ape-X,  has gone as far as banning the dance altogether from their events.

The post amassed just under 200 likes on facebook

Ape-X manager Gabriel Day told The Tab:  “We haven’t strictly banned shuffling, we made a light heard joke around it as it seems to annoy a lot of people.

“I personally fully encourage people to express themselves, but I feel shuffling is more a representation of how the underground house and techno scene has being come polluted with posers and attention seekers.

“The main reason I got involved in running nights was the the sense of togetherness and community. But saying that, I have seen you shuffle Luke and I find enchanting and very entertaining.”

 “I just wish you would do it elsewhere!”

A post by Micky Lomax, Ape-X events manager

But a real life shuffler told The Tab: “It appears, the general consensus is a wholly negative one, but as a proud shuffler myself this doesn’t faze me in the slightest… I’ll still be in the club ‘cuttin’ dem shapez’.”