Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

August 21, 2008 8:27:25 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

France's Latest Craze: A Dance or a Brand?

Posted Jul 19, 08 7:36 PM CDT in World,  Arts & Living 

(Newser) – There’s a dance craze gripping France—or is it an unabashed commercial scheme, hawking t-shirts and chewing gum? Either way it’s called Tecktonik, and kids are crazy about it, the Los Angeles Times reports. The mix of hip-hop, techno, and random arm movements is championed by dancers with skinny pants and asymmetric hairdos, and is even showing up in grade schools.

Tecktonic was popularized in clubs in the suburbs of Paris. Now, in addition to having its own hair salons in Paris, the trademarked dance has been recognized by the French Ministry of Culture. So, how is it done? "All you have to do is imagine you have a pot of gel, and you were taking some out and putting it in your hair. And you're dancing Tecktonik," says one of its creators.

Source Los Angeles Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • French Police Storm Housing Projects

    Feb 18, 08 5:03 AM CST
    French Police Storm Housing Projects More than 1,000 French police stormed housing projects in three largely immigrant communities outside of Paris early today and arrested 33 suspects believed linked to riots in November, AP reports. Police sources said two gang leaders in particular organized the street violence that included armed rioters in what they described as a "quasi-military operation." More »

This frame grab from YouTube shows a fan of the dance craze.   (YouTube)
Parisian youth practice Tecktonik on the street.   (Getty Images)
Parisian youth practice Tecktonik on the Metro.   (Getty Images)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
A tecknonik fan in France show how it's done.   (YouTube)
A sample of the techtonik dance craze.   (YouTube)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 4)

Tags

France  • Paris  • dance  • branding  • suburbs  • merchandise  • club


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Arts & Living Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »