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

Radicals mumble about commercialization, but the kids love it

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 19, 2008 7:36 PM CDT

(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.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (2)]

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)

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A tecknonik fan in France show how it's done. (YouTube)

A sample of the techtonik dance craze. (YouTube)

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