NYT Crossword January 3, 2021 (Busting Moves)

 A wonderful Sunday puzzle from the NYT by one of the youngest constructors (as I found out on Twitter). 

January 3, 2021

Time: 14:30

First things first, this is the first themed puzzle of the year for me. The theme is all about busting moves, which can only mean dancing! And not just dancing, but "busting" them up into two sections. With both circles and shades, we can more easily see both the theme and the nice mini-meta-message hidden in the clues.

• 23A Title for Iran's Ali Khamenei: "SUPREME LEADER". The dance is "REEL", a Scottish style. The shaded letter was "M"
• 25A Tailored blouse style: "SHIRTWAIST". The dance is "TWIST", popularized in the film Pulp Fiction. The shaded letter was "A".
• 43A Subject of some teen gossip sessions: "BOY PROBLEMS". The dance is "BOP", though thankfully not of the Kidz variety. The shaded letter was "Y".
• 47A Sure-footed alpine climber: "MOUNTAIN GOAT". The dance is "TANGO", of which it takes at least two. The shaded letter was "I".
• 68A Bakery item that's often messy: "CRUMB CAKE". The dance is "RUMBA", not the vacuum. The shaded letter was "C".
• 88A Caribbean capital: "PORT AU PRINCE". The dance is "TAP", which I'm aware of as a huge Dule Hill fan. The shaded letter was "U".
• 91A Kind of test question: "SHORT ANSWER". The dance is "HORA", the wonderful Jewish wedding dance. The shaded letter was "T".
• 114A Proceeds breezily: "SAILS ALONG". The dance is "SALSA", the source of this great Ben Stiller scene. The shaded letter was "I".
• 117A What a spike goes over: "VOLLEYBALL NET". The dance is "BALLET", as in the Joffrey. The shaded letter was "N".

When you put the shaded letters together, you get the message "MAY I CUT IN", both fitting for a dance and for the overall theme of a letter breaking up a dance. The idea is brilliant and comes with an amazing payoff with the mini-message. Some other clues of note:

• 6D Title nickname in a 1984 sports movie: "KARATE KID". Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence are back in Cobra Kai, but you really can't beat a classic.
• 50D Breaking or entering, say: "GERUND". Where my grammar nerds at?

Overall I give it a 5, a 6, a 5, 6, 7, 8 steps out of 8.