Middle-aged dad dance crew goes viral
- 7 months ago
A group of middle-aged dads who formed a dance crew to embarrass their kids have become unlikely social media stars with over 300k followers - and even Hugh Jackman is a fan.
The Outta Puff Daddys first came together in 2012 in Brighton, Sussex, for a surprise performance at their children's annual dance show.
Now their home-made viral TikToks and Instagram Reels of their synchronised boogies have built them a six-figure online following - and their kids are not embarrassed in the slightest.
The dads - who had never danced professionally before and range in age from 42 to 60 - were taught by their kids’ street dancing teacher for the surprise performance and received such a good reception they decided to carry on permanently.
Paul Jukes, 48, the group’s leader and artistic director, says dancing together has helped the members through bereavement, unemployment and depression.
Paul, a branding consultant and personal trainer by day who goes by the crew name jukebox, said: “The irony is that even though I’m the leader, artistic director and choreographer of the group, I’m not normally the most confident dancer.
“Most of the crew are the same as me.
"If we’re in a party situation we’re off at the side but when we’re together those inhibitions are lost, and we just embrace life to the max.
“For a bit of fun, back in 2012 the word was put out that for our kids’ next annual showcase it would be good to put together a dads’ crew as a surprise performance.
“We got together and rehearsed in secret. Our partners knew but the children didn’t. My kids knew I was going dancing but didn’t know why.
“The response was incredible.
"We performed at the Brighton Dome which seats 2,000 people so for your first live dance performance it was quite something. We literally took the roof off."
After their debut performance, the group decided to continue dancing.
The Outta Puff Daddys first came together in 2012 in Brighton, Sussex, for a surprise performance at their children's annual dance show.
Now their home-made viral TikToks and Instagram Reels of their synchronised boogies have built them a six-figure online following - and their kids are not embarrassed in the slightest.
The dads - who had never danced professionally before and range in age from 42 to 60 - were taught by their kids’ street dancing teacher for the surprise performance and received such a good reception they decided to carry on permanently.
Paul Jukes, 48, the group’s leader and artistic director, says dancing together has helped the members through bereavement, unemployment and depression.
Paul, a branding consultant and personal trainer by day who goes by the crew name jukebox, said: “The irony is that even though I’m the leader, artistic director and choreographer of the group, I’m not normally the most confident dancer.
“Most of the crew are the same as me.
"If we’re in a party situation we’re off at the side but when we’re together those inhibitions are lost, and we just embrace life to the max.
“For a bit of fun, back in 2012 the word was put out that for our kids’ next annual showcase it would be good to put together a dads’ crew as a surprise performance.
“We got together and rehearsed in secret. Our partners knew but the children didn’t. My kids knew I was going dancing but didn’t know why.
“The response was incredible.
"We performed at the Brighton Dome which seats 2,000 people so for your first live dance performance it was quite something. We literally took the roof off."
After their debut performance, the group decided to continue dancing.