The History of "The Baltimore" (aka "The New Jersey Strut") Whose Moves Are Used For The "Wild Wild West" Line Dance

iamkennyj, Dec 5, 2007

Kenny J teaching for Let's Dance TV.  Original owners of Let's Dance TV: Terry Cowan, Yolanda Sample, Lisa Williams and Kenny J
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total # of YouTube views as of August 24, 2025 at 11:06 AM EDT= 252,862

total # of YouTube comments as of August 24, 2025 at 11:07 AM EDT= 61

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about The Wild Wild West" (African American) line dance.

This post presents information about "The Baltimore" (also known as "The New Jersey Strut") whose dance moves are used for the "Wild Wild West" (Soul line dance; i.e. African American line dance).  

This post also showcases three YouTube videos of  "The Baltimore" (also known as "The New Jersey Strut") as well as two videos of "The Wild Wild West" (Soul line dance).  

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/wild-wild-west-african-american-line.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about Abbott Elementary (television series) that included a scene of The Wild Wild West (African American) line dance. This pancocojams post also includes information about  "The Wild Wild West" (African American) line dance. 

That pancocojams  post also showcases a YouTube video of Abbott Elementary S4 E2 (title: "Ringworm") that includes a brief clip of parents and teachers doing the "Wild Wild West" line dance during a PTA meeting. Brief information about Abbott Elementary (television series) is also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to the creators of "The Baltimore" (aka The New Jersey Strut". Thanks to R&B singer Chaka Khan whose 1992 song "I Want" was used for "The Baltimore" (aka The New Jersey Strut" line dance. Thanks also to the choreographers of "The "Wild Wild West" (Soul line dance. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"African American line dances" are also known as "soul line dances". These referents differentiate those line dances from other American line dances (country line dances, rock line dances etc.). American line dances may have the same names, but have different moves.

For example, click 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/141581296026095/posts/2873272906190240/ for a May 30, 2025 article about the American rock )music) "Wild Wild West" line dances. These dances were choreographed in 1988 by Chris Hookie, the writer of that article.

Also, click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2P9CRbsXi8fo for a YouTube video of Chris Hookie's American rock (music) line dance "Wild Wild West Cha Cha - 2 Wall & Contra Line Dance"

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE BALTIMORE (aka THE NEW JERSEY STRUT") LINE DANCE
Excerpt #1 
From https://linedancepassion.com/2016/02/10/the-baltimore-aka-new-jersey-strut-line-dance/ "The Baltimore aka New Jersey Strut line dance" published by Line dance passion, February 10, 2016
"Dance: The Baltimore also known as the New Jersey Strut

Count: 32 count

Wall: 4

Level: Beginner

Choreographer: Unknown

Song: I Want

Artist: Chaka Khan

Step Sheets:https://www.copperknob.co.uk/stepsheets/the-baltimore-ID83830.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQlDfL0AwOE The instructional above is Kenny J teaching for Let’s Dance TV.

So apparently this dance has a bit of a split personality. The story goes that someone from Baltimore went to New Jersey, learned this dance came back and said it was called New Jersey Strut. Someone from New Jersey went to Baltimore, and came back with a new dance called The Baltimore."...
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Chaka Khan's R&B song "I Want" was released in 1992. "The Baltimore" (aka "The New Jersey Strut") was choreographed around that same time. 
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Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zXKtfKnfT8 at for the official YouTube music video   "Will Smith - Wild Wild West ft. Dru Hill, Kool Mo Dee", published by Will Smith on Mar 27, 2011. "The Wild Wild West" line dance moves begin around 2:59 in this video. Marva Black was the choreographer of that dance scene. (Watch the "Wild Wild West" line dance videos below that were also choreographed by Marva Black.)

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Excerpt #2

AI Overview [from results to my Google search about this line dance on August 23, 2025]
" "The "Baltimore Strut" or "Park Heights Strut" evolved from a simple neighborhood two-step dance in Baltimore over 20 to 30 years ago, developing into a viral phenomenon due to social media. It's not the "New Jersey Strut"; the naming confusion arises because the dance is popular in both areas and has been adapted by groups like the Top Tier Shiners and Rodney "Bunkey" Snead Jr., often called the "Strut King".

Origins and Evolution

Neighborhood Roots: The dance began as a basic two-step in Baltimore.

Development of the Strut: Over time, dancers like Rodney "Bunkey" Snead Jr. added a slide and other freestyle moves, transforming it into the "Bunkey Jr. Strut".

Social Media's Role: Groups like the Top Tier Shiners and the TSU Dance Crew helped popularize the dance on social media, bringing it to a global audience.

The Naming Controversy

Local vs. Global Name: While many outside Baltimore call it the "Baltimore Strut," residents often know it as the "Park Heights Strut".

No Connection to New Jersey: The dance does not originate from New Jersey. The "New Jersey Strut" may refer to the dance spreading to New Jersey and getting a local name, or it could be a misunderstanding."

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Excerpt #3
From https://www.wmar2news.com/local/evolution-of-the-park-heights-strut "Evolution of the Park Heights Strut: Viral Strut uniting Baltimore’s Dance scene
By: Randall Newsome, Feb 24, 2023
"BALTIMORE — It’s the strut that captured the world. The fancy footwork that got its first steps in Charm City. It’s most widely known as the “Park Heights Strut” but since the neighborhood two-step started more than two decades ago, it’s been called a few names.

Childhood friends and Baltimore dance group, the “Top Tier Shiners” are a big reason why the dance skyrocketed on social media along with Rodney “Bunkey” Snead Jr. and the “TSU Dance Crew.”

When Bunkey Jr. thinks about how far the dance has come from decades ago, he can’t help but feel a sense of pride for his hometown and specifically his neighborhood.

“Everybody always talks about the bad things [but] we got something good to talk about for life,” Bunkey said. “This is legendary. They'll never forget."

Domonic “Lor Donnie” Blue, Avery “Ave” Walker, Gerald “Geeski” Gardner III and Anthony “TTS Moe” Dias of the Top Tier Shiners remember the moments before the dance blew up.

“One day we're coming out of a party and then something just said, ‘let's do a TikTok,” Donnie said. “The first time we do a TikTok it goes viral. Before the TTS crew took it viral on TikTok, many around the city associated the dance with Bunkey Jr. who had become known as “The Strut King.” He added a few moves to put his own twist on it and then it became the “Bunkey Jr. Strut.”

Then TTS added some moves of their own, including the idea of tagging people in, so groups of people could do the dance together.

Since then, people all around the world have picked up on the dance.

Despite people throughout the city debating who should get the credit for the now world-famous strut,

Two different styles, but both putting a spotlight on the Baltimore dance that allowed the dance to keep trending on social media. Meanwhile, Bunkey and TTS have reassured people that both styles should just be celebrated instead of debated."...

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF "THE BALTIMORE" (aka "THE NEW JERSEY STRUT")

SHOWCASE VIDEO #1
This video is given at the top of this pancocojams post.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - The Baltimore_NJ Strut

D2BDladichel, Jan 20, 2012

Ra'Chel teaching The Baltimore/NJ Strut

Music: Chaka Khan - I Want

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3 - The Baltimore aka The NJ Strut (song change)

And 5678 Soul Line Dance Class, Feb 20, 2024

Choreographer:  ??

Song: Got to Give It Up

Artist: Marvin Gaye

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS OF "THE WILD WILD WEST" (AFRICAN AMERICAN) LINE DANCE

SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - ★WILD WILD WEST★ by Marva Black Country Strutters Line Dance

soulsisterify, Feb 26, 2016

Song/Artist: The Wild Wild West by Will Smith.

Event: Sweet Hearts Dance hosted by Jackie Dance four Fun four life  02/21/16.  Video by RazzI

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #1 - Wild Wild West Line Dance

And 5678 Soul Line Dance Class, Jul 9, 2022

Line Dance: Wild Wild West

Choreographer: Marva

Song: Wild Wild West

Artist: Will Smith

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