Fun! Don’t let the haters (who have no talent or artistic ambition of their own) get under your skin. The “original” dance they can’t get past was only an interpretation (not connected in any way to Shirley Ellis) on a celebrity Christmas program by a talented *professional* choreographer and his troupe. It was never the “official” Nitty Gritty dance, like “The Twist,” or “The Funky Chicken.” It’s very good, but it’s not the be-all and end-all of dancing to this song. Do what makes you happy, and other deserving people will enjoy it on its own merits.
Settle down dude. People post a vid, people post their opinions whether YOU think they're valid or not. Now stop crying and take your thumb out of your mouth
I had no clue who Sydney Skybetter was until I clicked on this video. He's the guy in the clip who "co-choreographed this routine with the ebullient Jessy Smith of POW". It's a new take on a classic. *The only things that are "dirty", "awful", "poor" and "lacking class" are these ignorant, infantile, idiotic, vapid, vacuous comments! The video title takes **_"The Real Nitty-Gritty"_** from lines in the song! That's all! It's not a replacement of the version done by Bobby Banas or anyone else, for that matter.* To: Mr. Skybetter *The dancing was great and you are stunning!*
What would be the point of doing the dance the same way someone else already did it before? If someone does a Beatles song do you complain that it doesn't sound like the Beatles?
Eden said: "Seen so many which just impersonate the original...this was new and yet maintained the spirit" How, exactly, did this capture the spirit of the original? You do realize that in the original the dance couples NEVER TOUCHED. See any touching in this version? If that is not jarring to your sense of reinterpretation, then anything can be considered a reinterpretation of the nitty gritty simply by playing the song while dancing. This is a fusion of older dance styles set to the nitty gritty song. Nothing wrong with it, they danced wonderfully. You just don't call it a reinterpretation of the REAL nitty gritty and it certainly didn't encapsulate the spirit.
I agree, this interpretation was lacking... class... something... it was too far removed from the original dance. The style wasn't period based, the moves were over exaggerated... It shouldn't be called the Nitty Gritty, it should have been called... Well... The style of dance wasn't 1960s, so it can't be a "1960's style dance." The costume is all off for 1960s. They should rethink how to reinterpret a dance to be relevant to the dance and the period.
Shannon Williams Meanwhile, I’m thinking those girls on the Judy Garland Show version NEEDED to be barefoot. They were like uptight Tricia Nixons; they didn’t go with Bobby Banas’ loose style.
Don't know if this is the "Real" Real Nitty Gritty or not. Don't care. They could call it the watusi if they wanted. What it is is two beautiful young people having fun. Big thumbs up.
@ American Woman. Ok I just got into this Nitty gritty stuff and I have been binge watching. After seeing that original group with that fast moving front man and a few other versions, it seems almost blasphemous to do that dance different then the way they did it back then. The only dance that will work with this is the original or at least an attempt. Now I'm off to watch the original one, that's the sh**!!
Super-cool choreography, and sharp, precise and cool moves from both dancers, they're a good partnership- getting partner who "fits" and works with you is SO good.
OK, 63 year old. And, that's not 'The Real Nitty Gritty' originally danced from my generation at all. So, from 1 to 10, 10 the best, it's a 1-. So disappointed.
I don't think there was an "original" Nitty Gritty dance... Banas made up that dance when the original choreographer didn't show up at the TV show... It doesn't have to be the same as the Banas choreography, they can be different and yet dance well...
What a sloppy improvised amateur mess verging on the embarrassing. Clearly nothing learned in the 55 years since the penultimate professional Bobby Banas showed the world how it’s done.
No, this was just someone else's idea for a dance to this song. *People use inspiration from all kinds of sources to create things of their own and that's life!*
