The Hippo Hop and the Seismic Shuffle Dance Video Contest

Guidelines

• 1. Must have fun.
• 2. There is no Hippo Hop dance, so you will have to make up the moves to it.
• 3. Be original.
• 4. Open to any ages, from kids to seniors (but we love the thought of kids involved or doing the dance.)
• 5. Open to any group, sports teams, dance troupes, girl scout troops, gymnastic teams, kids in the neighborhood, families, friends, schools, etc.
• 6. Absolutely no vulgar, sexual, or inappropriate dance moves or gestures allowed.
• 7. Video the choreographed, or interpretive, or spontaneous children, dancing to the song The Hippo Hop and the Seismic Shuffle.
• 8. Use as many takes as you need to get your best Hippo Hop dance video.
• 9. Submit your video or link to hippohopdance@gmail.com 
• 10. Entries must be submitted by midnight Sunday February 1, 2026.

ADDITIONAL RULES

• 1. No purchase is required to win. There are no fees to enter the contest
• 2. One entry per group, team, but you can splinter off into a seperate group and submit a new video.
• 3. Any video submission acknowledges agreement to the Hippo Hop Guidelines.
• 4. Depending on the volume of entries, if we have less than 300 video entries, the winner will be announced on Wednesdy April 1, 2026. We reserve the right to move the contest award date should the volume of entries far exceed 300 into sometime in 2026.
• 5. The winner will be selected by the song’s cowriters. 
• 6. The winner be be proclaimed the official Hippo Hop Dance and recieve $500.00 cash prize.

Songwriter Bob Driggers, and John Sebby, a lyricist, are part of a songwriter’s group that gives weekly prompts and challenged to write a song about it. The Tuesday songwriter’s prompt for May 27, 2025, was “Dance.” John wrote the lyrics to The Hippo Hop in about thirty minutes.

Talented songwriter Bob Driggers, a part of the Tuesday American Singwriter prompt group, loved the lyrics and asked John if he could put it to music. Bob adjusted the lyrics to fit the melody and recorded the song. 

When the song was finished, we both agreed it must have a video, with kids dancing The Hippo Hop. Neither Bob nor John are dancers or know how to choreograph. Then the idea of a dance video contest hit.

Bio's

 Bob Driggers is a  songwriter/lyricist writing in multiple genres. His music is best classified as Southern eclectic. Most of his tunes are related to by country boys. Think a little more plowboy than cowboy. 

John Sebby is an accidental lyricist with creative and original lyrics mirroring his varied taste in music. With lyrics for Country, Blues, Christian, Rock, pop, and crossover songs. With diverse lyrics that are fun, fragile and a few unforgettable.

THE HURRICANE FALLS IN LOVE is John Sebby’s debut novel that tells the coming of age tale of a young man, meeting the love of his life. Teens and adults will love the comedic prose and heartwarming story.

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