It’s the start of a new year, which means gyms are packed with optimistic “New Year’s resolutioners” looking to get fit. If you’re like most people determined to get back into shape this year, but you want to avoid battling the crowds at the gym? Then here’s a perfect at-home cardio exercise that will have you sweating in no time—shuffling! 

Shuffling originated in the underground rave scene of Melbourne, Australia, in the late ’80s. Deemed as the “Melbourne Shuffle,” the basic technique includes quick heel-and-toe steps with various hand movements. Originally danced to house and techno music, more variations like cutting shapes evolved as other genres emerged. However, it wasn’t until around 2006 when shuffling stepped into the international spotlight. With the popularity of YouTube on the rise, dancers could now contribute to the online shuffling community by posting their renditions of the dance. With more people learning the dance from others, shuffling took off in the US, providing a new culture for those willing to be taught.

Although YouTube still offers plenty of shuffling videos to be consumed, many shufflers today have accumulated a significant following on Instagram and TikTok. If you want to skip the gym and learn a new at-home exercise that will impress everyone on the dancefloor, then check out these five shuffler accounts! 

Elena Cruz 

With over 1.3 million followers on TikTok, 640k followers on Instagram, and 127k YouTube subscribers, there’s no denying Elena Cruz is one of the most recognized shufflers. The Miami-based shuffler started shuffling in 2015 after going to her first music festival, Ultra Miami. She uploaded her first shuffling video on YouTube in November of that year, and the rest is history.

Elena’s energy and elegance are indisputable, and her talents helped build an impressive resume. You may recall seeing Elena featured in 3LAU’s music video for “Is It Love,” as well as the video for “Superfly” by THE HOTEL LOBBY, where she’s alongside other shuffle legends Mary Grace, Vanesa Seco, and CiCi. Additionally, she co-starred in the music video for “Back 2 You” by the Electric Polar Bears. Elena offers virtual and in-person classes for a low-cost membership fee on her website called “Every Step With E.”

Follow Elena Cruz on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Gabby J David

Gabby J David is a professional dancer, choreographer, and social media personality with over 350k followers on Instagram and 209k YouTube subscribers. Signed to Go2 Talent Agency and Selter Media, her dance background ranges from ballet and jazz to hip hop. 

Outside of dancing, she advocates for people who suffer from neurological disorders, specifically Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). After being diagnosed with CRPS after suffering a foot injury in 2014, Gabby looked to the EDM community to help her get back on her feet. 

In an interview with Insomniac, she said, “I’m eternally grateful to the rave community. I would probably still be sitting in my room depressed if these people didn’t take time out of their day to reach out to me.” 

The support and recognition helped her kickstart a successful shuffling career. She created the “Electro Shuffle” emote for Fortnite. She was cast as the lead dancer in four of Don Diablo’s music videos, and she scored a sponsorship from ElectricStyles. She’s an inspirational spirit and incredible teacher, so make sure to check out her Instagram for all her latest shuffling videos!

Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Mary Grace

Los Angeles-based dancer and choreographer Mary Grace is best known for her rapid, energetic shuffling style, specifically cutting shapes. Although dancing preoccupies most of her life, she likes to DJ on the side and has released her mixes on SoundCloud. 

A natural on-screen talent, she’s featured in music videos spanning multiple genres. In January 2020, she starred in the “Road Runner” video by Rich Redd, Clarence Keith, and Diamond Jewels. After that, she shuffled in “Dance With Me” by Sick Individuals. And was also in the video for ALRT’s bass house bomb “Touch Me.”  

Through her original choreography, she’s taught virtual classes and workshops designed to improve technique, creativity, and overall flow. However, as you may notice on her Instagram, she is rocking quite the baby bump, so she’s had to press pause on her classes for now.

Instagram | YouTube | TikTok 

Vanesa Seco

Hailing from Colombia, Vanesa Seco is a fitness model and athlete who has made a valuable impact on the dance scene with her shuffling skills. Her follower count speaks for itself; she has garnered over 1 million followers on Instagram and 2.3 million followers on TikTok.

Vanesa pursued her passion for dance by posting dance tutorials on YouTube, her first being from 2017, and after years of steady hard work, she turned her passion into a full-time career. She was featured in a shuffle video for Kaskade and Felix Cartal’s collab “More,” and she’s the CEO of “Diosa By Seco,” a festival fashion brand. 

2021 was Vanesa’s biggest year yet. She collaborated with The Hotel Lobby on their single “Gold,” but not as a shuffler this time. Instead, Vanesa showcased her talents in a new light as the singer-songwriter on the track. Vanesa’s shuffling abilities even opened the door for her to be on national TV. She made an appearance in Season 16 of America’s Got Talent along with her shuffling group, “Shuffolution.” Their mission was to raise awareness of shuffling across the globe, aiming for the world to recognize it as a professional style of dance. Unfortunately, they were eliminated in the Quarterfinals, but their mission still stands true.

Instagram | YouTube | TikTok 

CiCi

CiCi is a professional dancer and content creator based in Los Angeles, CA. She’s been dancing since she was three and has a background in ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics. 

CiCi fell in love with shuffling and cutting shapes only four years ago. However, with her technical dance training, she’s shuffled her way into becoming one of the most influential shufflers in the game. 

CiCi teaches various in-person and virtual classes ranging from basic shuffling skills to acrobats & tricks and even stretching techniques. She also offers private lessons in Los Angeles or via FaceTime, where she designs each session according to her students’ abilities. So if you’re looking for some personalized attention on your journey to becoming a shuffling master, then check out her website to schedule a lesson!

Instagram | YouTube | TikTok 

Want more inspiration? Check out these shufflers below!

@marktore 

@ciaracastro_

@cocoshuffles 

@2pull 

@sofia_sofia9379 

Hailing from sunny Los Angeles, California, Good Society embodies the feelings of warm weather, endless days, and good vibes. The record label and event promoter is renowned for their incredible line-ups, careful curation, and stacked compilations. Their latest project Good Society Volume 3 pushes the future beats sound with standout artists like oshi, capshun, Laxcity, whereisalex, DECAP, Chromonicci, and more. They're a mainstay in LA and have been expanding their shows out of state to Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Austin, for SXSW. 

With Good Society's constant growth we felt it would be the perfect time to connect with Josh Yamini, the brand's founder to get an inside look at what makes them so good. We discuss their origins, the fusion of hip-hop and electronic music, fostering relationships, creating a unique live experience, and much more. 

Starting at the beginning, Josh explains what sparked the birth of his platform saying, "I started Good Society as an expression of my love for the underground and bringing people together. My taste in music was largely influenced by SoundCloud at the time of launch and all of my experiences at Insomniac festivals made me want to put that love of music and people into action." 

One of the core facets of what makes Good Society so special is their ability to bring together the worlds of hip-hop and electronic music. Whether it's future beats, chilled-out lo-fi, or experimental hip-hop and trap, this fusion is central to Good Society's platform.

"My love for these genres initially stemmed from ripping gems off of YouTube and Adult Swim bumps. I listened to lots of Nujabes, Flying Lotus, and Erykah Badu at the time which then evolved into listing to artists like Mr. Carmack, Sam Gellaitry, and Smino. Oftentimes I’ll bring my knowledge of the beat scene together with vocalists that I’m newly discovering to create a blend of genres that’s totally unique. Other times I might just be working with the artists who’ve coined a sound in between the two and are perfectly representing the medium with us," Josh elaborates about bringing together the two sonic worlds. 

In addition to uniting unique sounds, Good Society strives to bring people together. This applies to fans, through the music and events, as well artists. Josh expands on this outlook, "Our goal is to create a space where people can express themselves and find common ground through music. Ultimately we’d like to bring that to scale and create immersive experiences that go beyond traditional club settings while incorporating the songs and artists we’re releasing on our label. We want to create an ecosystem."

The genuine love for connection is what makes the brand so good. While some platforms focus more on numbers, social media following, or ticket sales, Good Society is all about creating an intangible vibe through human connection. Whether it's friendships, business relationships, or something even deeper.

"The good in Good Society stems from all of the constructive relationships this brand has built with artists, fans, and listeners alike. Many of our work relationships extend into personal ones. We’ve seen countless people having become close friends or start dating after having met at Good Society events. One couple is even getting married!"

Relationships are the cornerstone of any great business, but authenticity is what seems to separate Good Society from your typical promoter and label. Their connections are longstanding with many artists and come out of genuine respect and appreciation for their work. The brand is an extension of its founder's life. The friendships and connections along the way aren't just to the benefit of the label but are also about enriching his personal life.

"Much of our early outreach was done through Instagram and led to us doing things like flying out chromonicci for our second show ever, when we were really just learning the ropes and how to refine our events process. I’ve done everything very personally with this brand to the point of hosting artists at my apartment for the week of our shows, such as chromonicci, capshun, zotti, J Kuch, Malik Eliah, and more. Running Good Society is just as much a means to expand on my own life as it is for that of the audience that I curate for. So these relationships I’ve formed with everyone involved are directly tied to my own happiness," Josh tells us.

While Josh is the driving force behind Good Society, he's not doing it alone. Roto and MadBliss serve as the brand's resident DJs. In addition, they have their own videographer, Gavin Banksy, and Arielle Lana LeJarde serves as their publicist and advisor (editors note: Arielle is a writer for Festival Inside but did not take part in writing this feature). Josh handles the majority of the bookings, label releases, promotion, content, and social media while collaborating with different partners on a per-project basis. 

Matching the quality of their label releases, the Good Society events series looks to raise the bar. Josh explains what makes the series special saying, "The vision behind our concerts was initially to throw them in nature. Being that we’re in a big city, it felt natural to build up the foundation of our brand with solidly curated lineups, and uniquely unforgettable nights. More recently we’ve pivoted into renegade shows, different experiences such as the boat party, and are slowly gearing up to diversify the setting of our parties to better fit our initial dream of Good Society. What makes our events special is the fluidity of it all. You might get a live band 420 show with seemingly infinite free cannabis, a massive warehouse party with Alexander Lewis, or cruise on a boat across the ocean with Josh Pan & Luca Lush. We’ve even done insane live shows at a mansion and in a tunnel on the beach. Our diversity of curation and experiences is one of our strongest points."

Good Society has a lot of exciting prospects on the horizon. They will be expanding their events series, working towards an outdoor indie festival, and releasing more thematic compilations pushing the sounds they love. Josh closes our interview fittingly with an invitation to all, "I hope you get to attend one of our shows in the future or are positively charged by the music we release! Moreover, I hope we get to meet someday. Don’t be a stranger!"

Good Society Volume 3

"I curated this project to affirm the belonging of hip-hop & electronic music in a single space. Otherwise known as future beats, this project brings together soulful and jazzy boom bap production riddled with soulful rap vocals and electronic sound design."- Josh Yamini