Okay, so that video is not the best example of how it's really done, but you can't negate the power of the Chicken Dance. I haven't been to a Wisconsin wedding without hearing that classic polka and flapping my arms along with it. I've never been entirely sure why I love it so much, but I realize now it's because its creator is also from Milwaukee. He's enough of an icon there that the story of his death was on the front page last night of the recent-Pulitzer Prize award-winning Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

I love the Chicken Dance so much, it became a bone of contention during my wedding plans. My husband (who is, apparently, a commumnist) HATES the Chicken Dance. He prefers the less-charismatic Electric Slide, which I LOATHE. For every bit of excitement and enthusiasm I have for the Chicken Dance, he has an ounce or two more for the Electric Slide. He runs out to the front of the crowd to help "lead" the dance at every wedding we've ever been to. So, as we planned the playlist for our wedding, we had a tough decision to make: which cheesy group dance should we allow? That decision was a tough one and, ultimately, was the first compromise of our wedding, made just hours after we said our vows. We did both. I Chicken Danced my heart out and he proudly led the crowd on the Electric Slide. I didn't take the floor for that. I was too tired from the Chicken Dance.

So, rest in peace Mr. Kames. I hope you find a chorus of accordians waiting for you in heaven. You can rest easy, knowing I'll carry on your tradition on your behalf.