It may be a Minnesota State Fair first: a flash mob that will bring people together in spirit of camaraderie and connection that recognizes our state’s role in the national spotlight.
“The Walz Wiggle,” is an easy-to-master original dance. All fair-goers are invited to learn it and show up to perform it, under the direction of its originator, WCCO Radio host Sheletta Brundidge.
Brundidge will lead the dance at the WCCO Radio booth while doing her show on Saturday, August 24. The flash mob is set to begin at 2 pm and is certain to go viral.
Flash dancers can check out the video of the Walz Wiggle and practice its easy to master steps here!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGvJi8bnQiA
The group dance is dedicated to our state being in the national spotlight, thanks to Gov. Tim Walz being named the Democratic vice presidential nominee. It’s also a chance for participants to have a little fun, demonstrate our “Minnesota Nice” reputation and politely remind non-Minnesotans how to correctly pronounce Gov. Walz’s name.
“The Walz Wiggle” is a collaboration between the choreographer known as Line Dance Lynn and Brundidge, who has come to be known in some quarters as “The Boom! Lady.
On the day Gov. Walz was to be named as Vice President Kamala Harris’ Veep choice, Brundidge’s reaction was captured in an NBC News interview. Brundidge’s “Boom! I said Boom!” response has captured 5.7 million views on TikTok.
Brundidge wanted to keep the excitement going and address the initial confusion over the correct pronunciation of Walz (“Walls,” not “Waltz”).
She reached out to Robert E. Blackmon whose TikTok video with the infamous song, “Get Low” from Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz helped clarify for the masses, how to properly pronounce Walz’s name.
A lifestyle specialist-turned-social media personality with millions of followers on
TikTok, Blackmon teaches simple solutions to everyday situations.
“It was the first thing that popped into my mind,” said Blackmon. “When they said Tim Walz
was the Democratic vice presidential pick, I thought of the lyrics from the Lil Jon song, ‘from the windows to the walls.’ I put everything down and ran into that stairway where I shoot a lot of my videos and there’s a window up above. I pointed to that and then pointed off-camera to the wall. The video was eight seconds long. I posted it and then minded my own business, or so I thought.”
More than 116,000 TikTok views later, Blackmon’s video had become a sensation and inspired Brundidge to want to make up a dance and turn it into a flash mob at the Minnesota State Fair.
When it came to choreography for the Walz Wiggle, Brundidge reached out to Lynn Card, who has created more than 100 original line dances.
“I got a Facebook message at 10:30 on a Wednesday night from Sheletta. She wanted me to
choreograph the dance,” said Card.
Turns out Card and Brundidge both live in Woodbury, just six miles apart; the two met up and put the Walz Wiggle together in Brundidge’s living room.
“The stop and wiggle is her favorite part,” Card noted.
The dance is a catchy, wiggly number that will move Minnesotans at the State Fair and get everyone in line when pronouncing Tim Walz’s name.
“We’re just giving folks a little song and dance to help get this right,” said Brundidge.
Here are details about how to join “The Walz Wiggle” flash mob at the Minnesota State Fair— everyone is invited!
Saturday, August 24th
2 pm during The Sheletta Show on WCCO Radio
WCCO Radio State Fair Booth
On Carnes Avenue Near Underwood Street
(Next to Sweet Marthas)