Review of Daily Dancer

Part of 2005’s Contagious Media Showdown, The Daily Dancer, who wishes to remain anonymous, posted short videos to his blog from May 19, 2005 to September 3, 2006. Though he had neither skill nor rhythm, he enjoyed dancing and thought the world might enjoy watching him enjoy it (an idea which was not unfounded). Within two weeks of his original post, he had 25,000 viewers and began to be featured in newspapers and blog directories all over the world. Although he ranked only #7 in the Contagious Media Showdown, he appeared on Canadian Idol at the height of his success. Dancing to requested songs, he first posted videos on a daily basis, then three times a week, and finally once a week. Located somewhere on the west coast of Canada, this geeky software developer started a five-month trend that ended in a heartfelt letter to fans, citing exhaustion and financial depletion as the reasons for his grand exit (to “Billie Jean,” in case you’re wondering).

Most of the videos were filmed in Daily Dancer’s living room, while he worked it out in pajama pants

, boxers and a t-shirt, or nothing but a belted pair of khaki shorts. It’s like Napoleon Dynamite and William Hung mated and begot a hairy dancing baby. Towards the end of the series, the Daily Dancer actually began to travel and perform his iconic moves in public. Viewers can access the archives chronologically or alphabetically by song, since each video was a unique request for the dancer to wiggle to a specific tune. He’s bad, it’s funny, and he knows it. If you aren’t sure where to start, he has included a list of his favorite dances just for indecisive people like you.

Don’t think the daily dancer just danced for fun. Two of his dances were commissioned to promote an Atlanta fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina. And although Daily Dancer usually danced alone, he sometimes welcomed back-up dancers, as in the series of dances guest starring his mother-in-law.