Yesterday we may have uncovered the greatest conspiracy of our generation. Your hands are supposed to go to the left when doing the 'C' in the YMCA dance, inverting the consonant. What? Not the right? Needless to say our minds were blown. Our entire life has been a lie. We scheduled an immediate session with our therapist. "But how can it be to the left? It's just not right," we sobbed. "Do some real work," the reply.
We put it to bed consenting that it probably does make more sense although it still feels wrong somehow. Today though the plot thickens. We reached out to the Village People and received a lengthy analysis from original lead singer Victor Willis as to the origins of the dance. Apparently the 'C' isn't the only thing we were doing wrong... The 'M' is supposed to be done mid-way on your chest not on top of your head.
Outrage. Scandal. Blasphemy. As the kids say, we are shooketh.
Read the response below.
“People have been doing the YMCA dance wrong from its inception. But because I was there, that day in 1979 when the dance first materialised, and became the first Village People member to do the dance after Dick Clack said to me, 'Victor, I’m going to roll the video back… take a look at the dancers.' I’ve always given great latitude to fans who do it wrong, because at least they’re trying.
"But we always make sure to demonstrate the correct way to do the YMCA dance at our concerts, and people are always most surprised that the 'C' goes to the left. When we tell them that, there’s always a lot of surprise like, 'Ohhhh,' or 'Ahhh'. It never fails. However, as far as the 'M' goes, there’s a lot of flexibility there because if you take a look at the 1979 American Bandstand appearance where the dance was originally conceived, you’ll see the 'M' being done numerous ways. And we kinda like it like that, the flexibility, although there is a preferred way to do the 'M' and that is, mid-way to your chest, and we demonstrate that. But we always insist that the 'C' is done correctly to the left, and it surprises fans like crazy.
"The YMCA dance is very special to us, and me in particular, because if you take a look at that 1979 American Bandstand appearance, as I’m singing YMCA, I’m holding my arms up in the 'Y' position and other letters, as the other group members are looking puzzled by the dance. So I’ll have to let you in on a little secret, Dick Clark had already approached me in the green room and informed me that the Bandstand dancers would be making arm movements. I said, 'You mean like… Y M C A… as I oddly attempted to spell out YMCA with my arms.' Dick Clark said, 'Yeah like that.. is that ok?' I said, 'Sure, why not.'
"So, once the American Bandstand dancers started doing the YMCA arm movements, I was ready to do it along with them, and I did, because I knew it was coming. And that’s how I became the first Village People member to do the YMCA dance, as the 1979 American Bandstand appearance clearly shows.”
Village People tour with the Summer Series festival which continues around the country this month and now you won't embarrass yourself with the wrong moves. You're welcome.
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