Online dance craze 'Harlem Shake' set to descend on Newquay (From Falmouth Packet)

Online dance craze 'Harlem Shake' set to descend on Newquay

3:57pm Saturday 9th March 2013 in News Exclusive By Greg Fountain, Reporter/Photographer

An online dance craze that has been watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world and spawned thousands of imitations is coming to Newquay this month.

Harlem Shake by American DJ and producer Baauer was first released in May last year - but it wasn't until Australian longboarding group the Sunny Coast Skate Crew released a 30-second video, dancing to a short excerpt from the song, on February 2 this year that the meme took hold.

(ABOVE) Watch the original Harlem Shake video by Sunny Coast Skate

Thousands of imitations have followed, all with a similar concept - one person, often wearing a helmet or mask, dances to the song unnoticed for about 15 seconds until the bass drops and the video cuts to an entire crowd doing a crazy convulsive dance for the next 15 seconds.

(BELOW) Watch the Norwegian Army edition of the Harlem Shake video

Now the craze is coming to Newquay, with a charity event set to take Fistral Beach by storm on Saturday, March 30.

Hundreds are already signed up for the free event, which aims to raise awareness for local charities as well as creating a North Cornwall version of the Harlem Shake video for posterity.

Organiser Maria Kimsey said: "We're hoping to get Surfers Against Sewage and the Cornwall Air Ambulance involved.

"It's a day event with live bands in the beach bar from noon until 2pm and then we will be filming Newquay's own Harlem Shake video."

Afterwards - from 3pm until approximately 6.30pm - there will be live DJs and a charity raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses.

"Let's get Newquay back in the summer spirit," Maria said, "But please be sensible in the video - no nudity, violence or weapons just good clean fun!"

For more information on the event search Facebook for "Official Newquay Harlem Shake"

(BELOW) Watch one of the largest Harlem Shake videos ever recorded by university students in Austin, Texas

(BELOW) Listen to the original Harlem Shake track by Baauer