Trends Throughout the Decade: Viral Dances
With the evolution of technology within the past decade, pop culture has encountered a new development through social media – viral content. Many of the videos that became overnight successes, with tens of millions of views, included dance challenges. Growing up in America, you would constantly see kids and celebrities alike participating in these challenges, whether at school or via videos shared online. Here are some of the most common ones that have become an integral part of the childhood of Gen Z.
The Dougie (explicit)
Although this dance move was first created in Dallas, Texas, it didn’t become popular nationwide until the release of a music video, “Teach Me How to Dougie,” from Cali Swag District.
2011
Cat Daddy (explicit)
“Cat Daddy” was a hit hip hop song created by the group The Rej3cts that showcased the dance move that fellow group member Sam Awelope had invented.
2012
With 3.7 billion views on youtube, “Gangnam Style”’s unique music video and catchy dance took the world by storm in 2012, earning the title of the most viewed video on Youtube until it was dethroned in 2017.
2013
The “Harlem Shake” became a large trend and “internet meme” in 2013 where groups of people recorded themselves “dancing” (more like squiggling) to a clip of the song “Harlem Shake,” often while dressed in costumes or otherwise unconventional outfits.
2015 (yes, I skipped 2014)
Released as a debut single by Silentó, the song, “Watch Me”, quickly skyrocketed ]to fame in 2015 and became more well-known as simply the “whip and nae nae” due to the striking dance move highlighted in the music video.
The dab may not technically be classified as a “dance move,” however given its popularity, I felt it appropriate to be included in this list.
Honorary mention:
2016
Juju on the Beat can probably be attributed as the first “TikTok” dance similar to the ones that have grown to be so prominent in 2020, back when the app was still named “musical.ly.”
2017
Made famous by the “backpack kid,” Russell Horning first posted a video of him doing “the Floss” on Instagram in 2016 and was then invited to perform the move on Saturday Night Live, which is where he gained national attention.
2018
In My Feelings (Kiki) (explicit)
The “Kiki, do you love me challenge” was no ordinary internet dance challenge. In these videos, people would step out of their cars and dance while the phone that was recording them sat inside the car leisurely driving aside the person.
Fortnite Dances (Shoot/Hype, Orange Justice, Hootenanny, Best Mates, Take the L)
Not only did Fortnite become everyone’s favorite video game in 2018, but it also brought along with it multiple iconic and somewhat silly dance moves that made its way from character animation to reality.
2019 & 2020
TikTok dances:
Renegade (explicit)
Savage (explicit)
When musical.ly was first popularized, content creators focused on lip syncing to songs and choreographing motions that coordinate with the lyrics while moving their devices around for visual effects. However, when it took off again in 2019, influencers such as Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae gained massive amounts of fans and started a new era of TikTok dances.
A simple yet captivating move, the woah has now developed many variations, including a circular woah (og woah), clock woah, crossed woah (one arm in front of the other), up and down woah (TikTok woah), and more.
Classic Dances:
These dances are not trends from this decade; however, they are classics that everyone knows and loves. These songs are often played at social events such as school dances and weddings.
YMCA (1978)
Macarena (1993)
Cha-Cha Slide (1998)
Cupid Shuffle (2006)
We’re All in This Together (2006)
