We do the Watusi

Ever get a song stuck in your head that you just can’t get out? I’ve had a particular camp song in my head for about a week now. If you ever attended Glen Mhor, you may recognize it:

Ohhh, we’re from Camp Glen Mhor and we’re on the best team

We do the Watusi, we’re seven feet tall!

Mosquitoes may eat us, but they’ll never beat us

Cause we’re from Camp Glen Mhor and we’re on the ball!

Sing along, sing along, sing along, sing along!

Ooon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gala-wa

Oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gawa, oon gala-wa!

Today, when I started singing this song again, I stopped to think about the words; what in the world is a WATUSI? Well, my good Cairn friends, wonder no more! Wikipedia has informed me that a Watusi is “a solo dance that enjoyed brief popularity during the early 1960s.”

So, what’s a Watusi look like? Have we been dancing the Watusi properly all these years at camp?

Well, we were close. Generally when I sing the line, “we do the Watusi” I bend my arms at the elbows and swing them around from side to side a bit. According to Wikipedia, “in the classic Watusi, the dancer is almost stationary with knees slightly bent, although may advance forward and back by one or two small rhythmic paces. The arms, with palms flat in line, are held almost straight, alternately flail up and down in the vertical. The head is kept in line with the upper torso but may bob slightly to accentuate the arm flailing. The dance, which became popular in the American surf/beach sub-culture of 1960s, may be enhanced if one imagines that ones feet are on sand.”

There you have it folks, the WATUSI! We’re definitely bringing that dance move back to camp this summer! Be sure to practice your Watusi moves at home with your family and friends. In fact, send us a photo of you and/or your friends doing the Watusi and we’ll post it!

Here’s me doing the Watusi in my living room (it even looks like this picture was taken in the 60s!):

Dance, dance, wherever you may be!