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“I went from depression to euphoria — and this is a lot better.”
If you’ve been to a street fair anywhere on Long Island lately, chances are you’ve seen him — the guy twisting his wrists in time to the music, smiling ear to ear as the crowd cheers him on.
He’s Mr. Twisty Hands, the viral dance sensation who’s become a fan favorite at festivals across the Island — and on your social feed.
But this isn’t some overnight TikTok fame story. Mr. Twisty Hands, whose real name is Jeff (he didn’t provide a last name), says he’s been perfecting his signature arm-flailing routine for over a decade.
“I love ’70s, ’80s and ’90s music. I go where the best music is,” he told Greater Long Island during the recent Wantagh Fall Fest on Railroad Avenue.
See him in action
@greaterlongisland Mr Twisty Hands in Farmingdale 🕺
♬ original sound – GLI | Long Island News
The festival on Sunday, Oct. 19, had its usual mix of food vendors and live music — until Jeff took the floor. Within moments, a crowd gathered, twisting their hands in sync with his. The energy shifted. The party was on.
Jeff, a real estate attorney, grew up in The Bronx and now splits his time between Long Beach, Queens, and Florida. When he’s not dancing, he works in accounting and insurance.
His journey to becoming a local icon started from a darker place.
“I was depressed before I started doing this,” he said. “I went from depression to euphoria — and this is a lot better.”
The trademark “twisty” routine, he explained, actually began as morning exercise.
“I used to walk the boardwalk with eight- to ten-pound weights in my hands and twist them while listening to Spotify,” Jeff said. “That’s how it became my dance move.”
Now, it’s his calling card — and his joy.
“I love the attention,” he admitted with a grin. “I never thought it would become so popular. Attention is addictive.”
As for what’s next? “I’ll go wherever the music takes me.”
Top: Jeff, aka ‘Mr. Twisty Hands’ at a street Festival in Farmingdale this summer. (Credit: Andrew Rappaport/GLI file photo)
