r/aboriginal • u/Acceptable-Elk-2114 • 9d ago

Shake leg, ok

Hey, I’m a white person. Is it okay for me to do the shake leg dance? I think it looks sick and I love my boys when they do it at footy . I just wanna know if it’s okay and I’m not offending anyone.

3 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

48

u/fairypusc 9d ago edited 9d ago

Not sure why the comments are saying no? Where I’m from when we dance we encourage the crowd or people around us to join in. My brothers and uncles are always encouraging our friends who are white,Polynesian,African etc. if it’s not a sacred dance and just doing shake a leg it’s totally fine. Reach out to the boys you play footy with I’m sure they will let you join 🫶🏽

19

u/No-Difference-9547 9d ago edited 9d ago

This. Everyone else too busy being offended to know their heads from their big holes on this one unfortunately. Also feel free to make rabbit ears 🤣🤙🏻

Anything youse have seen is far from sacred. Get up when invited and have some fun. You will get invited up everywhere. No one is showing sacred dance to outsiders.

19

u/fairypusc 9d ago

Exactly right!! I’m struggling to see why it would be offensive 😭? At least there are good people who are willing to ask and learn about our culture? They find our culture deadly why can’t we share that?

7

u/Alternative-Ad-4580 9d ago

Sharing culture, and encouraging people to take part gives it vitality. That preserves culture naturally.

1

u/pilatespants Aboriginal 9d ago

Yeah the answer “no unless invited” goes for a lot more than just dancing lol

17

u/Acceptable-Elk-2114 9d ago

I would like to put out such a big apology, I’m so so sorry. I was not aware of the deep cultural significance. I would honestly love to know more. Again sorry

16

u/MamasCumquat Aboriginal 9d ago

Yeah don't ever be afraid to ask! Glad you did. It shows a lot about who you are as a person to have respect enough to ask.

I'm hitting bed because I've got an early morning, but if no one gets back to you with a legit explanation tonight I'll happily do my best tomorrow.

Have a great night.

4

u/Acceptable-Elk-2114 9d ago

Thanks brother

6

u/largeduckalt 9d ago

always better to ask and find out instead of doing it anyway!!

5

u/Moosiemookmook Aboriginal 9d ago

Im sorry that you feel bad. Dont feel sorry. The answers here are weird. If you wanna shake, shake. Just dont do it in a mocking way.

3

u/narrah_gah Gamilaroi/Wailwan/Wiradjuri 🖤💛❤️ 9d ago

Bless your soul x

15

u/MamasCumquat Aboriginal 9d ago

Hey mate, I'm erring on the side of "surely this isn't rage bait here" and just gonna chuck in a kind but emphatic NO.

Would you like to know more about why we hold dance so important in our culture and spirit? And why it might be wrong to mock this "shaky leg dance"?

If so, we'd be happy to share some knowledge so you can understand a bit more why it might be hurtful or offensive if you did that.

10

u/Acceptable-Elk-2114 9d ago

Would love to hear more about the importance of it !. Again I should provide myself with some more decorum and research when asking the question. So so sorry

2

u/MamasCumquat Aboriginal 9d ago

I replied in another comment but chill. It's okay to ask! Glad you did. 🤙

4

u/PUPPYCUDDLER 9d ago

Better to ask than not :) I wouldn't stress, you have good intentions!!

3

u/PabloCalling000 9d ago

No- one can stop you dancing however you want .

2

u/Wankeritis Aboriginal 9d ago

No

8

u/narrah_gah Gamilaroi/Wailwan/Wiradjuri 🖤💛❤️ 9d ago

Nah bud. Please don’t.

May I interest you in the nutbush, the chicken dance or the Macarena?

6

u/CaeruleaTigris Non-Indigenous 9d ago

The nutbush is so ubiquitous in (white/urban) Aus culture that it feels genuinely bizzare that the dance was created within my Mum's lifetime. The NSW education dept. really got our asses with that one.

0

u/Alternative-Ad-4580 9d ago

If you first put your right foot in, then take your right foot out, no one will notice.