Twerking Takes Center Stage At VMAs, Gets Pronounced Dead Upon Arrival

Twerking is the biggest dance craze of the summer but according to the Associated Press, yes the Associated Press, the dance move has already jumped the shark.

Now, the AP may not be the “go to” source for everything hip and cool but reporter Nekesa Mumbi Moody makes a pretty compelling argument. How can a dance move be “edgy” or “cool” if the world’s expert twerker is a Disney star?

How can it still be considered a risque dance move when it’s done at zumba dance classes? Or if there are instructional videos on YouTube? (And yes, if you don’t know how to twerk, or if you don’t know what twerking is, you can take a video lesson below.)

Twerking, which has a handful of definitions on Urban Dictionary, is basically rigorous booty shaking. And in case you didn’t know that has been around for a few decades.

The first documented use of the word twerk (speaking of jumping the shark, there are actually reports being done studying the history of twerking) came in the 1993 song “Do The Jubilee All” by DJ Jubilee.

Here’s a sample of the lyrics: “Twerk baby, twerk baby, twerk, twerk, twerk.”

The phrase has been used by other musicians and in other songs but it really didn’t explode until this summer when Miley Cyrus started twerking on stage. She is now the world’s most renown twerker and for that, and many other reasons, the move has jumped the shark.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that people are going to stop booty shaking. But like Tebowing, milking, Eastwooding, Quidditching and all other internet memes, twerking has had its day in the sun.

So before it officially becomes uncool (you may only have a few minutes) check out this how to video and treat yourself to one last twerking session.

Do you think twerking is dead?