Janelle Monae Introduces New Dance for 2010, the Tightrope

We mastered the Stanky Legg, the Get Silly, the Superman, the Halle Berry, Jerking and Swag Surfin'. What's next? Janelle Monáe introduces a new dance for 2010 on her latest song "Tightrope."

Although Janelle Monáe has released two CDs, including "Metropolis-The Chase Suite" and "Cold War," some people still draw a blank about where they know her from. One of her most popular appearances was sitting in the back of a Cadillac in Big Boi's "Morris Brown" video from the "Idlewild" soundtrack. She's also the voice behind the songs "Letting Go," "Many Moons" and "Violet Stars Happy Hunting," although I'd never heard any of these songs before today.

But "Tightrope" will be added to my Dances to Know and Songs to Blast list. From first glance, Janelle Monáe reminds me of Lauryn Hill. However, instead of the dreads, Monáe sports a curly Mohawk-style double bun. Like Hill, she's not afraid to stand out from the crowd and has a unique music style laced with funk. Best of all, she is as nice on her feet as she is with her voice.

In the March 2010 "Tightrope" video when she sings, "Whether you're high or low," her arms flap out like she's flying up and down, and her ankles touch, feet turned in two different directions. As soon as she sings "You've got to tip on the tightrope," James Brown immediately comes to mind. Her legs slide forward like she's walking on a tightrope but then slide around like James Brown's crazy leg rhythms of "getting on the good foot."

Rocking a black and white tuxedo outfit with a bowtie, her pants flood Michael Jackson style to make sure you see her moves, she hops on a table and jukes it out some more. The dance is best done with hard-toed shoes that can easily slide across the floor (Velcro padding may help) or just practice with socks on. Don't be afraid to improvise. Some dancers in the "Tightrope" video added variations to the Robot and Kid n' Play's leg raises.

April is Stress Awareness Month, and two of the best ways to relieve stress are exercising (i.e., dancing) and laughing. You'll probably laugh at your rendition of the dance before you get it right, but give it a shot. Tip on the "Tightrope."