Do the Dougie, Dougie

We know how much she loves to dance, but who knew that the First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama, knew how to 'Do the Dougie'! Here's what you need to know about the retro dance style that has Mrs Obama workin' it

Team Obama is on a roll. Even as US President Barack Obama derided real estate moghul and reality TV host Donald Trump in his White House speech, and supposedly took down the world's most dreaded terrorist, the American First Lady was making headlines of her own, performing some spiffy dance moves with school kids.

Michelle Obama, dressed in a neon silk top, paid a surprise visit to a school in Washington DC, as part of the promotions for her nationwide campaign against childhood obesity: 'Let's Move'. At the Alice Deal Middle School, tweens were in for a surprise as the First Lady, while promoting her new flash workout video 'Move Your Body' (scored and choreographed by Beyonce), accompanied school kids by throwing in some 'Dougie' dance moves of her own.

Dougie what?
The Dougie dance made its way into public consciousness with the hit Cali Swag District song 'Teach Me How to Dougie' that pays homage to the dance moves of Hip-Hop legend Doug E Fresh. Doug, who became big as a rapper and beatboxer in the 1980s, used dance moves that included a lot of shimmying and gliding one's hand over one's head.

As Beyonce's song blared from the loudspeakers, students replicated the steps at the school earlier this month. Mrs O soon went from clapping at the sidelines to performing the Dougie, and The Running Man: a street dance style from the late '80s and our personal favourite!

Taking off from the dance fad, Mrs Obama appears to be running on-the-spot, clicking her hands in mid-air, moving to the sides, holding an imaginary skipping rope and rotating her wrists by her sides. Phew! The 'action' also included 'freezes' for a few seconds.

You could add your signature moves, or even a little Cha Cha, Dancehall, Rumba and Salsa to the Dougie, and get set to have fun whilst burning calories. PS: Don't forget the Obama-style beaming smile!

The Dougie in three easy steps

Step 1: Emulate a runner, except that you do so by continuing to stand on one place. Lift legs higher for a more intense workout.
Step 2: Place hands by your side and rotate wrists like you are skipping rope.
Step 3: Lift you hands in the air, click your fingers and move your shoulders and body to either side. Add a clap for effect! Illustration/ Satish Acharya