Indie, foxtrot Indie’s answer to Strictly Come Dancing: the movers and shakers of music

Let us be honest with ourselves here for a second - the vision of Peace as slick, coordinated boogiers, clad in pristine white, came as something of a surprise in the video for ‘Lost On Me’. The premise - making fun of polished boybands - might be entirely ironic, but to their credit, Harry Koisser and co. throw themselves into the entire endeavour with abandon that knows few limits. A couple of marks must be docked for their prompter, who is displaying their next move on a sign. All the same, though, credit to Peace. With a steely, unforgiving air, and clearly full with potential for more technical things, this is a finely executed routine.

Marks: Seven!

Much like Peace, Haim opt for the sheen of a flawlessly coordinated group routine, and in the ‘If I Could Change Your Mind’ video, they single-handedly make line-dancing look like the greatest thing since oreos and milk. Haim’s name is there in glowing lights, and whoever is in charge of the light switch really goes for it when it comes to amping up the melodrama. Not to mention that the heel-turns on display are outstanding, along with all that dynamic movement around the floor. The clappy thing Haim do when they get into a circle is particularly impressive. Very nifty indeed.

Marks: Nine!

Fair play, this one is incredibly accomplished, and giving it anything less than full marks would be a bit mean. The thought of witnessing Gengahr or Rat Boy trying to emulate Maddie Ziegler’s contemporary routine - which won MTV’s award for Best Choreography - complete with endless pirouettes, is unshakable, though.

Marks: A perfect ten!

The great outdoors can sometimes make people get a bit silly. Romping around the heath breathing in the wholesome rural air has clearly had a profound effect on Wild Beasts, who host their own impromptu festival in their ‘A Simple Beautiful Truth’ video. Complete with the ritual of prancing around what appears to be a neon-lit clothes line, the band’s tautness and synchronicity as an outfit might leave a little to be desired, but the performance as a whole is unforgettable.

Marks: Six!

The Big Moon’s ribbon dancing has already been assessed by a panel of judges once before, and to be entirely blunt here for one second, those water-sipping phonies who held up score signs reading 2, 1 and 1 respectively don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about. As an isolated activity with no outside distractions, ribbon twirling is tricky enough. While leaping around in intricate formation, and singing ‘Nothing Without You’ at the same time, though?! Those judges are preposterous. Consider this justice being well and truly served, with a dollop of reality-check on the side. The Big Moon were jilted. They are incredible dancers.

Marks: A well-deserved ten out of ten

Another aspiring dancer whose hopes and dreams are almost trampled, Ellie Rowsell turns up alone at a dance competition in the ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ video, only to be pushed away by packs of hate-filled dance troupes. Suddenly, in sweep a mysterious gang, who have apparently pillaged every item from Swim Deep’s wardrobe. Taking Ellie under their glittery, tassel adorned wings, and stealing the show at the village hall, their victory is delicious, and this video’s overarching narrative is sweeter still. With a dramatic arc to rival that of Billy Elliot or Flashdance, Wolf Alice do themselves proud, here.

Marks: Nine!

Attention might be firmly on Drake right now for his spectacular solo performance in his ‘Hotline Bling’ video, but Thom Yorke was well ahead of the curve. Few band members can legitimately claim that their dancing triggered an entire meme, but in the years following ‘Lotus Flower’s 2011 release, the Dancing Thom Yorke still continues to go strong. The sparse setting, the suspiciously phone-like hand shapes Yorke throws at times during the video; could it be possible that Drake gave Yorkey a quick hotline bling before filming for a bit of last minute encouragement? It’s not improbable.

Marks: Eight!

Tags: Peace, Features