Mashed Potato
This article is about the dance craze. For the food, see mashed potato.The
Mashed Potato is a dance move which was a popular
dance craze of
1962. It was danced to songs such as
Dee Dee Sharp's "
Mashed Potato Time". Also referred to as "mash potato" or "mashed potatoes", the move vaguely resembles that of
the Twist, by Sharp's fellow
Philadelphian,
Chubby Checker.
The dance begins by stepping backward with one foot with that heel tilted inward. The foot is positioned slightly behind the other (stationary) foot. With the weight on the ball of the starting foot, the heel is then swiveled outward. The same process is repeated with the other foot: step back and behind with heel inward, pivot heel out, and so on. The pattern is continued for as many repetitions as desired.
The dance was referred to in
Connie Francis' 1962 hit "V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N" ("...we'll
Mashed Potato to a jukebox tune...") and also "
Land Of 1,000 Dances", a song made popular by
Wilson Pickett.
Bill Haley & His Comets had a
Latin American hit in 1963 with "Pure de Papas", a song based on the dance craze.
The step may be incorporated in various dances either as a separate routine or as a styling of standard steps.
*
Dee Dee Sharp, Miss Masher*
Dance Step Definitions
