Oak Grove ‘Shakes’ in viral video

“Now do the Harlem Shake!”

These words rang through the ears of a a crowd of Indiana University of Pennsylvania students in  the Oak Grove Feb. 18.

“Harlem Shaking” is a viral-video phenomenon that has taken the internet by storm. The various  30-second videos  that appear when one searches on YouTube all follow the same formula:  a single person dancing someplace, suddenly interrupted by random dancing and chaotic movements by a group of people with costumes, props and few inhibitions.

Many of the videos include scantily clad people dancing provocatively often adorned with a plastic horse head or mask covering the main dancer’s face.

The videos are created by various schools, organizations, businesses and at parties or events. Even within IUP other videos have surfaced, such as one made by the Robert E. Cook Honors College, one at Twisted Jimmy’s and even one made by the swim coaches.

Many of the videos posted have consistently garnered over one million views, all within the short time that the videos have become popular.

The IUP students that put in their own bid for viral stardom were organized by Sarah Bader (freshman, communications media)  and Kiana Mcleod (freshman, pre-med), who brought students together to let loose, relax and have some fun. 

Making a “Harlem Shake” video,  Mcleod said, “brings all the diversity of IUP to one place, and brings IUP together as a school.”

“I saw the video,” Bader said, “and I thought IUP had to have one.”

Bader was surprised by the student turnout to be in the video.

“I was nowhere near expecting this many students to turn out,” Bader said, “just to dance for fun in the Oak Grove.” 

The girls directed the students who began by walking casually in normal clothes while James Tarmin (senior, communications media) danced in a fluorescent orange correctional facility jumpsuit.

After they had filmed their “calm” beginning, the group shed their classroom-friendly attire to reveal costumes, spandex and a lot of neon.

“Let’s get weird,” Bader said to the group before the crowd ignited and did indeed get a little weird.

A robot, Finn and Jake of “Adventure Time,” Pikachu and more exploded with gyrating motions as Tarmin’s calm moves

became suddenly much more animated.

What would cause a person to dress up in a costume, show up in the Oak Grove and dance with other students they might not even know?

It’s all in the name of fun.

“My friends set this up,” Tarmin said, “and I’m just trying to act a fool. It’s just for fun though. We wanted to do an IUP version.”