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the Mule Walk above well so you get the groove before advancing
onto the Mule. Get into that straightening and bending groove
when lifting the legs/knees with its strong accents. These accents
lamely portray a mule walking.
To make the above into 'The Mule' you would start to turn, Kick
your feet, and flap your hands like a Mule (see pic) and generally
do whatever you felt like, keeping the above rhythm going which
at times could get difficult to do. (more pics at bottom)
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James P. Johnson's “Mule Walk” song is in a stride
style of music, which is similar to ragtime. Johnson is said to
have composed it based on a number of country and square dances
he was doing while working at The Jungles Casino around 1913,
he later published it in 1938.
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