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He Brings World Peace, One Goofy Dance at a Time

Burned-out video-game designer is now a web sensation

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 24, 2008 5:56 PM CDT

(Newser) – Fred Astaire he's not, but Matt Harding sure inspires the masses. The globetrotting former video-game designer, whose goofy dance set the Internet abuzz, is back at it. His latest video shows him dancing—OK, maybe flailing— with fans from Seattle to Fiji to Rwanda, and it's approaching 2 million hits on YouTube, Michelle Kung notes in the Wall Street Journal.

Harding got started in 2003 when he ditched his job to travel around Asia. He taped himself dancing in different countries, posted it on the web, and gained a cult following. He's since gone on two more worldwide tours and is sponsored by Stride chewing gum.

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Matt Harding at Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Flickr)

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He Brings World Peace, One Goofy Dance at a Time