Batusi

Batusi /bæˈtuːsi/ was a 1960s style go-go dance invented for the Batman television series. The name is a pun on the then-popular dance the Watusi.

Performance

The Batusi is performed by making a horizontal V-sign with one's index and middle fingers of both hands, and drawing them across in front of the eyes, away from the center of the face simultaneously, with the eyes roughly between the fingers. This is performed in time with the music, and is improved upon by continuing to dance with the lower half of the body, simultaneously.

History

The Batusi first appeared in the premiere episode of the 1960s American television series based on the comic book character Batman.

There are conflicting reports as to who invented the dance, which became a national craze on the dance scene. One account is that it was invented by dance instructor Arthur Murray for Batman, and was supposedly first performed at a cocktail party at a New York City discothèque, Harlow's.^[1] But in a 2005 Wizard magazine interview, Adam West claims credit for creating the Batusi's unique moves.^[2]

In popular culture

• The Batusi was seen in two episodes of the original Batman TV series. The first, "Hi Diddle Riddle," was the series' first episode and originally aired January 12, 1966. The second, "The Pharaoh's in a Rut," was the 28th episode and originally aired April 14, 1966.
• It has reappeared in many television shows, including two episodes of The Simpsons,^[3][4] Xena: Warrior Princess,^[5] and Everybody Loves Raymond,^[6] and Shaggy refers to the dance in an episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!^[7] It has also been in movies such as Pulp Fiction, Antz, and Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt.
• The cover of the DC comic Solo #7 featured a drawing of Wonder Girl in mid-Batusi. The cover (by writer/artist Mike Allred) was originally meant to be one of the Adam West TV Batman in the same pose. However, due to unspecified tensions regarding DC's relationship with the company that produced the 1960s TV show, Allred was forced to submit a different cover for the issue.^[8]
• The Batusi is mentioned in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Mayhem of the Music Meister!" during the song "Drives us bats!".
• The Batusi is performed by character Fox Mulder in the 2016 episode of The X-Files, "Babylon".^[9]

References

Further reading

• Singh, Arune (May 18, 2002). "Batusi Fever: The Adam West Dance Club". arune.com. 

External links

• • (The Dance) Video on YouTube
  • Batman - Dance 2 on YouTube (Batman 1966, S01E01, Hi Diddle Riddle)