Doing Classic Jazz on Our Way Home So We Don’t Get Kidnapped
A few days ago I came across the Instagram meme “Doing jazz on our way home so we don’t get kidnapped” which I’m a bit late to.
I first saw it when a post by Australian hurdler and Olympian Liz Clay (@lizclay_) appeared on my time line of her and a friend doing silly jazz moves to Michael Sembello’s Maniac, a 1983 hit from the Flashdance soundtrack, and one of my favourite songs.
It made me laugh and after watching it several times, similar videos started to appear in my feed of others doing their versions of jazz moves on their way home to avoid getting kidnapped, and realised it’s a meme. After a bit of searching I learned this whole thing began in the summer, started by Adrienne Taylor (@adriennettaylor), a dancer and realtor from Toronto.
Whilst I don’t walk home in Dubai because we all basically drive or get driven from point A to B, the video does make a point how so many women still have to be extra alert when walking alone, especially at night. It’s only during my travels when I feel I have to be more cautious when I walk at night.
Miller Daurey (@backtogreat), an ex dancer and host of Hey, Dancer! podcast posted his version of doing jazz on solo hikes to avoid eaten by a bear. Cracked me up.
Since these memes just live on Instagram (and/or TikTok) and not accessible if you don’t have the app, I decided to save the posts by Adrienne Taylor, Liz Clay and Miller Daurey here, to share with anyone who isn’t on Instagram.
@adriennettaylorr on July 31, 2026
just 2 girls who made it home safely 👯🏽♀️
#jazzdance #girlsnight #torontolife
@backtogreat on August 24, 2026
If this doesn’t make the bears scurry, NOTHING WILL.
#jazz #jazzdance #dance #comedy
@adriennettaylorr on August 13, 2026
me & my emergency contact 👩🏽🐰👩🏿 @_marleeyoung
#jazzdance #girlsnight #torontolife
@lizclay_ on September 25, 2026
all those lessons finally came in handy @maddyjohnston 💃 🪩 inspo @adriennettaylorr