Frug (dance)

The Frug (pronounced "froog") was a dance craze from the 1960s that evolved from another dance of the era, The Chicken. The Chicken, which featured lateral body movements, was used primarily as a change of pace step while doing The Twist. As young dancers grew more tired they would do less work, moving only their hips while standing in place. They then started making up arm movements for the dance, which prompted the birth of The Swim, The Monkey, The Dog, The Watusi, and The Jerk. The Frug is sometimes referred to as The Surf, Big Bea and The Thunderbird.

"The Frug" is also the title of a song by the band Rilo Kiley, and it appeared on both their debut album, The Initial Friend E.P., and on the soundtrack to the movie Desert Blue.

A good example of a frug is to be found in the movie Sweet Charity, which contains a number called "The Rich Man's Frug", a wildly energetic dance number comprising three "movements" ("The Aloof", "The Heavyweight" and "The Big Finish") that showcases director Bob Fosse's distinctive choreography style, particularly his creative use of unusual poses, gestures and arm movements.