Ep 6. Shakespeare to the Harlem Shake

Six Degrees of Everything is a comedic television series that explores the interconnectedness of everything in the world. Each episode takes a broad topic and showcases how it is connected to seemingly unrelated things.

In season 1 episode 6, titled “Shakespeare to the Harlem Shake,” hosts Benny and Rafi Fine delve into the world of theater and dance to discover the connections between the works of William Shakespeare and the Harlem Shake.

The episode begins with Benny and Rafi traveling to Stratford-upon-Avon, England, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. They visit his childhood home, the church where he was baptized, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Through interviews with actors and experts, they learn about the impact of Shakespeare’s plays on the world of theater and literature.

Benny and Rafi then travel to New York City to explore the history of the Harlem Renaissance. They visit the Apollo Theater and speak with historians about the cultural impact of the Harlem Shake, a popular dance that originated in the Harlem neighborhood in the 1980s.

As they uncover connections between Shakespeare and the Harlem Shake, Benny and Rafi enlist the help of a dance crew to create a Shakespearean-style Harlem Shake routine. They also interview famous actors and dancers, including Matthew Broderick, who shares his experiences performing in Shakespearean productions on Broadway.

Throughout the episode, Benny and Rafi use humor and wit to showcase the way seemingly unrelated topics can be connected through history and culture. They also highlight the way the arts have the power to bring people together and transcend time and place.

In the end, viewers will be left with a newfound appreciation for the power of culture and history to bring people together, and a deeper understanding of the connections between things that may have seemed unrelated.