Have you ever stepped into a party scene and felt a little “behind the times”? Don’t worry if this is you! This list will allow you to catch up and be a hit at any party in no time!
In my lifetime thus far, I’ve watched many dance and song fads come and go – but some have stood through the trials of time, and remain a hit at almost every social gathering! So whether you’re preparing for prom, homecoming, a wedding, a friend’s house party, or dancing alone in your room, use this list to help guide you!
*Updated November 21, 2017
The List (part 1)
*organized by most commonly heard/seen to least common
Cupid Shuffle by Cupid
This has been around for about 8 years now, but is still played all the time!
Cha-cha Slide by DJ Casper
This is one of the first line dance songs I ever learned, and I still hear it at almost every dance event!
Wobble by V.I.C
I’ve seen a few slightly different versions of this dance, but this video is the closest to what I see most frequently (note: skip to 2:06 in the video). If you are going to a country venue, I recommend searching for a more country version.
Wop by J Dash
This is one of my personal favs and it’s super easy! Basically to “wop” you’re just moving your arms up and down while pumping your chest outwards. When they speak of money, you can just toss those imaginary dollaz in your hands. Also, do what the song tells you and prepare your best “play dead” and model (“strike a pose”) moves! This is one of the closest versions I found online, but just go crazy and have fun with it and you’ll be fine!
Copperhead Road
This is a line dance usually done in more of a country setting, but it’s pretty popular! It begins slow, but speeds up towards the end. This video is a great example of how to do it.
Bikers Shuffle by Big Mucci
I personally haven’t seen this one very much, but it’s a fun one to learn (though a little more difficult than some of the others, in my opinion)! Big Mucci even provides a tutorial for this line dance!
Same Ole 2 Step by thegoneapp.comrikt
-Added to list November 21, 2017: This is one of the newer line dances I’ve noticed in the country scene (even though it’s around 6 years old), and is really easy to learn! Click HERE for a good video that shows some variations in the dance that I’ve seen. The only variation I would add is when you “step back”, you can go faster with your feet (Like a “1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8” count instead of “1-2-3-4”) – kind of like the fox in this video, but less dramatic.
Whip & Nae Nae (and more) by Silentó
This music video is all about dancing, and actually includes about 6 various, simple dances.
Stanky Legg by GS Boyz
One of the worst dance moves of our time, yet still performed frequently. You basically just lean down and drag one leg inwardly. Then you can switch legs as you please. I usually see it a bit more wobbly and slow than in this video, but you get the idea. This dance move is also in the song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”!
Bernie
This is a dance inspired by the 1993 comedy Weekend at Bernies II, in which a corpse is animated. It’s done by leaning back and basically flailing your arms madly. The idea for this dance was created by the rapper Tre-Doh in 2009. Here’s the link to the song by ISA. I don’t see this one as often.
Dougie
This one is pretty simple and often done many different ways. It mostly involves moving your feet: right, left, right, right — then: left, right, left, left . This video shows a step-by-step approach to this.
Dab
This is the newest dance on the list, and can be done to any song with the word “dab” in it. Some popular songs include: “Look at my Dab” by Migos, “Dabb on Em” by Big Will, “Get Ugly” by Jason Derulo, and “Hit that Bit 4 the Gram” by Mighty Mike.
Gangnam Style by Psy
With over 2 billion views on his music video since 2012, this is a widely-known song that I still occasionally hear when at events (including a Carrie Underwood concert!).
Single Ladies by Beyoncé
I don’t see this as frequently as I did around 2009, but when it plays make sure you at least know the “put a ring on it” dance move, since that’s probably the only Beyoncé move most of us common-folk can attempt.
Twerk
This move is best suited for the club scene (let’s keep it there) and has basically been around forever, but was popularized by Miley Cyrus after the 2013 MTV VMAs.
All I Do is Win by DJ Khaled
This isn’t really a dance, but it is a song I often hear at parties, clubs, and dances. The only part of the song that you need to know is when he sings, “Every time I step up in the building everybody’s hands go UP, and they stay there (x3) — up, down (x3)”.
So now that you know all of those dances, I’m gonna make a list of even more for you! Some of these dances are just as well-known but performed less often, depending on where they are performed.
The List (part 2)
Family Events and/or the Country Scene
- Electric Slide (AKA Electric Boogie) by Marcia Griffiths
- Cotton-Eyed Joe by Rednex
- Thriller by Michael Jackson
- Footloose by Kenny Loggins
- Boot Scootin’ Boogie by Brooks and Dunn
- Country 2-step
- Twist and Shout
- The Twist
- Chicken Dance
- Hokey Pokey
- Macarena by Los del Río
- YMCA by Village People
- The Hustle by Van McCoy
- Hoedown Throwdown by Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
- Jai Ho by A.R. Ramen and The Pussy Cat Dolls
- Caramelldansen by Caramella Girls
- Verge by Owl City (National School Choice Week Dance 2016)
If you were born in the 80s/90s:
- Jump on It by The Sugarhill Gang
- Soulja Boy
- Pop-Lock-and-Drop-it by Huey
- Bye Bye Bye by NSYNC
- Tootsie Roll by 69 Boyz
*Bonus — some songs to know:
- “Yeah” by Usher (a classic, right?)
- “Get Low” by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz (played at almost every dance)
- “Lean Wit it, Rock Wit it” by Dem Franchize Boyz
- “Lean Back” by Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy
- “Walk it Out” by Unk
- “1,2 Step” by Ciara ft. Missy Elliott
- “Whine Up” by Kat DeLuna
- “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee
FAQ:
Q1. What were some popular dance names in 2016?
A1. Some popular dance names in 2016 included “dabbing,” “juju on that beat,” “the mannequin challenge,” “whip/nae nae,” and “running man challenge.”
Q2. What is the dabbing dance move?
A2. The dabbing dance move involves tucking your head into your elbow while raising your other arm out to the side.
Q3. What is the juju on that beat dance?
A3. The juju on that beat dance is a hip-hop dance that involves a series of steps and arm movements set to the beat of the song “Juju on That Beat.”
Q4. What is the mannequin challenge?
A4. The mannequin challenge is a viral internet trend that involves people freezing in place while a camera moves around them.
Q5. What is the whip/nae nae dance?
A5. The whip/nae nae dance is a hip-hop dance that involves a whipping motion with one arm and a side-to-side motion with the other arm.
There are so many dances and songs out there, but I hope these lists will help prepare you for your next party event! Just remember to have fun, and don’t worry about what other people think — life is too short to let that stop you from letting loose and enjoying life!
