The Witch Dance: What It Is And Where You Can See It Live
The Witch Dance: What It Is And Where You Can See It Live, photo of long pink haired human in black outfit and pointy hat by Kayla Maurais on Unsplash
Updated 2022.05.01
Remember the movies... Bring It On, So You Think You Can Dance, and You Got Served? Well, the dance troops are back, but this time, it's with witches.
Every year, women and men get together to celebrate the seasons, host gatherings, dance, and have a good time.
But at the end of April, the women of Wolfshäger Hexenbrut (in English: The Wolf Hunter's Coven), located in Wolfshagen im Harz, Germany, do something a little different.
They get together to celebrate Walpurgis, a holiday celebrating fertility, celebrations including lots of dancing, foods, and drinking, which usually occurs every year on April 30th.
However, in 2016, their celebrations included a choreographed dance to Schüttel deinen Speck, in English: Shake Your Bacon, by German Reggae-Pop artist, Peter Fox, in 2008.
The dance went viral once posted to YouTube -
See their dance video here:
After their video took off, it made waves all around the world.
Their 'Witch Dance' was then picked up by various different covens, pagan groups and Halloween celebrations all over the world, becoming particularly popular with US-based groups.
The ladies posted a thank you note for the response they received that first year.
The choreography was later released to English by American choreographer Kelli Derengowski in North Carolina.
Since then, groups from all over the world have taken up the dance, and many groups have performed the witch dance live.
In America, the dances seem to have been scheduled not in honor of Walpurgis, but rather, for Samhain, also known as Halloween.
After these dance videos started popping up in cities all over the world from 2016-2017. This seems to have thereby turning Peter Fox's Schüttel deinen Speck into a now sort of universal anthem for female power.
Photo of person in pointe black hat, skirt with mist behind her by Kayla Maurais on Unsplash with text overlay - The Witch Dance: What It Is And Where You Can See It Live -
Looking for a performance idea for your next event?
Why not the Witch Dance?
Wolfshäger Hexenbrut welcomes new groups to perform the dance and to make the process easier, to purchase the track used for this song, visit Peter Fox at Apple Music.
Want to See an upcoming live performance of the Witch Dance?
Check out the Wolfshäger Hexenbrut YouTube Page for the most recent and upcoming events or consider hosting one in your area.
Want to see the dance yourself?
Check out my Witch Dance Playlist on Youtube for a few of my favorites!
So far, the response to these dances has been incredibly positive.
It's been a long time since the ladies and men of non-traditional faiths have had a universal dance, and now is clearly the time.
Schüttel deinen Speck, ah, schüttel deinen Speck -
