Mastering the Art of Shuffle: An Interview with Paddy

By: Coral Barnes

Shuffle dance is a unique and creative dance style that showcases quick heel-to-toe movements often performed in many different styles of electronic dance music (EDM), such as house, trance, dubstep, and more. This makes this dance style stand out among many of the dance styles we see in the dance community.

Shuffle dance is often highly improvisational. With the use of basic steps and upper body movements, the individual dancer can create expressive combinations that make their routine their own. Dancers can experience a culture that is unlike anything else.

Today, I chatted with Paddÿ, the Beginner Shuffle Instructor at Elemental Studios, to learn more about him and explore how this style has impacted his dance journey.

Let’s Learn about him, shall we?

Paddÿ has always appreciated dance and movement from a young age, but discovered shuffling four years ago while living in North Carolina and being active duty in the military. Since that moment, his passions became dance-focused. What began as a creative outlet quickly evolved into a deep love, not just for the movement, but for the music, the culture, and the community that surrounds it. Though he’s been teaching shuffle since 2021, Paddÿ considers himself first and foremost a lifelong student of the dance, always learning, evolving, and pushing his own boundaries.

Shuffling, A footwork-driven street dance rooted in electronic music, became more than just a style to him. It became his freedom, his flow, and his way of connecting to music on a soul level.

After moving to Colorado, Paddÿ stepped into the local dance scene with a mission: to foster connection, creativity, and confidence through the art of shuffle. He began organizing events, hosting workshops, and found leadership roles in the local shuffle community, always with the goal of building an inclusive space where all levels and backgrounds are welcome. This passion eventually led him to start his own shuffle collective, “Shuffle Curious”, where dancers and music lovers alike could come together to express themselves, train, and grow alongside one another during classes and shuffle meetups.

Today, he’s proud to be the resident shuffle instructor at Elemental Studios, where he brings his energy, passion, and love for the dance into every class.

Here is our Interview!

What is your favorite thing about being a teacher at Elemental Studios?

Paddy: “Hands down, it’s the people. Ever since I started instructing at Elemental, I’ve met some truly amazing folks. From the staff to all the students in my classes, and even the students I’ve danced beside when I take other instructors’ classes. The vibes at the studio are just immaculate, and it fits the energy I love to bring into my shuffle classes.”

What is a fun fact about yourself that you would love for us to know?

Paddy: “Before moving to Colorado, I served in the Marine Corps and actually started my dance journey while I was still active duty. Even though that chapter has closed, I’m still very much a proud Marine.”

When you started your Shuffle dance journey, what initially drew you to that style?

Paddy: “Shuffling kind of happened by accident. I had broken my ankle during PT in the Marine Corps, and during the later months of recovery, I was looking for gentle ways to start putting weight back on it. I remembered seeing people shuffle during COVID and thought it looked pretty cool. I started slow with YouTube tutorials and found that shuffling could be as gentle or intense as I needed it to be. That floaty, free illusion that shuffling gives off really pulled me in and still keeps me curious and inspired to keep learning.”

Since you teach Beginner Shuffle, what do you think are the most important foundational moves that students should learn to start developing their own Shuffle style?

Paddy: “Easy! If you know me, I’m always preaching the importance of the Running Man and T-Steps. You can never be too good at either–they’re essential. Each of these movements has so many layers, and if you continually work on them, your shuffling will naturally become cleaner and more dynamic.”

What advice do you have for new dancers who want to try out Shuffle dance but don’t know where to start?

Paddy: “Mindset first! Ask yourself why you want to shuffle, and keep that in mind throughout your journey—especially during the first few weeks or months, which can be tough. Your body might resist these new movements, but having a solid “why” will help you push through. If you’re local, come catch one of my beginner series or take a private with me–-or I can recommend other amazing shuffle instructors in Denver. If you prefer to learn solo, like I did at first, there are tons of great tutorials online I’d be happy to share. You can always DM me on Instagram at @paddycreates, and I’ll help you find the best starting point.”

Other than dance, we know you are also an electronic dance DJ as a part of the DJ Duo “Smoothie Boys”, and are very involved in the EDM community. Can you talk about how that inspired you to bring your dance style and music to a bigger stage?

Paddy: “Being a DJ in Denver—both with my solo project, “Paddÿ”, and with my duo “Smoothie Boys” —has been super rewarding. Shuffling brings such a contagious energy to the dance floor, whether we’re in the club, at a pop-up, or at an after party. When people see someone going off and having fun, it gives them permission to do the same, and that ripple effect is so powerful. While we’re out DJing, we’re not just behind the decks–we’re on the dance floor hyping up friends and other DJs too. We’ve even had shuffle dancers perform during our sets, and we want to keep doing that. As my music career progresses, I want more shufflers involved—dancing to my music or on stage with me. I want my musical success to also be a win for the shuffle community.”

How do you help students in your class stay motivated when they feel like they are stuck or don’t understand how to do the move?

Paddy: “I always reflect after class to see how I can improve. First, I try to set expectations upfront.. there might be challenging moves, but we’ll break things down piece by piece before going full speed. If I notice confused faces, I pause and ask if we need to repeat, slow down, or explain differently. One of my go-to-tools is the TimePitch app, it lets us slow the music down so we can build that mind-body connection at a more manageable pace. These little tweaks have helped a lot, and I keep learning from student feedback each week.”

8. Are there any local Shuffle communities, meetups, or battles you recommend that people attend to better understand the Shuffle dance culture?

Paddy: “Shuffle dance culture is way bigger than most people think. There are national and international communities that are super active. I’ve been lucky to connect with shufflers from all over the world. Locally, if you’re in Denver and looking to get more involved, my collective “Shuffle Curious” hosts meetups and classes. It’s a great way to deepen your practice, meet people, and really plug into the community.”

9. How long does it typically take you to make a choreo for class?

Paddy: “Loaded question! I’ve never seen myself as a naturally gifted choreographer, but teaching consistently has definitely pushed me to grow. Sometimes choreo comes to me in a burst of inspiration, and I’ll have it ready in 10 minutes and just need to polish it. Other times, I’m stuck in front of the mirror for hours trying to put something together that I’m happy with. That happens less and now, but it’s definitely part of the process.”

10. What are some things you like to do outside of dance?

Paddy: “I’m a huge music lover. I make music, dig for new tracks, and love DJing even if it’s just solo or with a couple of friends. I’m also big into health and fitness. I spend a lot of time training and focusing on nutrition, especially as I prep for a couple of fitness competitions this summer. Above all, I value people–time is our most precious resource, and I try to spend as much of it as I can with the ones I love.”

Thanks to Paddy for taking the time to interview with me. I enjoyed learning so much about you and your passion for shuffle dance. If you ever get a chance to, make sure to try out Paddy’s Beginner Shuffle Class on Wednesdays at 5:15 pm-6:15 pm at Elemental Studios, and also make sure to stream his music on all streaming platforms under his name “Paddÿ”, especially his debut single “Alive”! Make sure to follow him on his Instagram, @paddycreates, for his personal and his music, make sure to follow @paddy_music_ and @smoothieboys.