Dance Moves: 17 Classic Dances That Changed Our Lives

Where do classic dance steps come from?

They can derive from a one hit wonder or some awesome pop cultural sect…from a group of kids goofing around in the streets of the Bronx during the 1970s– creating modern break dancing.

Wherever the dance steps come from, they’re always a fun form of self-expression. We’ve listed our favorite dance steps of all time. Watch to see which ones made the cut (be prepared to learn and laugh from some of these videos):

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

The Bogle

The Caribbean-based dance was created by dance hall star, Gerald Levy aka Bogle Dancer. Although he passed away, his dance techniques are shown off during every West Indian occasion.

The Running Man

Will Smith adds his own je ne sais quoi to the urban dance.

Crank Dat Soulja Boy ‘Superman’

The dance was named after the first major single from the  Atlanta rapper, Soulja Boy: an artist signed after gaining popularity on YouTube.

Cha Cha Slide

The Cha Cha Slide is one of the many forms of Chicago line dancing. Created by DJ Casper, the instructional song/dance is pretty simple to get down.

Crip Walking

What looks like thugs playing ‘skip it’ is actually a West coast Crip gang-created dance. See? There are some things from Compton that aren’t completely violent.

Jerkin’

From the New Boyz, the dance was short lived and didn’t go that far out of California. We enjoyed it while it lasted though.

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

Krumpin’

Although the dance originated in Southern California, Virginia-bred singer Chris Brown is known for his amazing skills with the dance.

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

Jersey Shore Fist Pump

Yes, you have to hear the cast of Jersey Shore talk their foolishness before seeing the dance steps, but it’s completely worth waiting until the end of this video for.

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

The Snake

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

The Electric Slide

Also thought of as the ‘universal black wedding dance’ the electric slide is often done with the song, “Electric Boogie” by reggae singer Marcia Griffiths. Funny enough the dance was created by white choreographer, Richard Silver in 1976, who filed for copyright of the dance. Today the dance is done at weddings, family reunions and even in the office. Watch until the end of this video… it’s hilarious how random co-workers jump in.

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

Stanky Leg

Another YouTube sensation, this dance/song left as quick as it came it.

The Cupid Shuffle

New Orleans is the home of so many amazing cultural treasures. Po’ boys, craw-fish, étouffer and of course, the “Cupid Shuffle.” OK, so it’s Elmo doing the dance, but he gets busy while clearly demonstrating the steps of the dance. Dance, Elmo, dance!

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

Two-Step

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

Macarena

Like a cancer, this song came out of nowhere and spread. Every television show, movie and radio station played it. We think it was because it was so darn easy to do! Please don’t watch this if it took the remainder of the ’90s for you to get this song out of your head.

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

Cabbage Patch

SEE ALSO

• Protected: The Sound Of Movement: Ledisi Reflects On The Power Of Protest Music And Self-Love In ‘The Crown’
• Celebrity Hairstylist Dee Michelle Talks Hair Health & Her Invisible K-Tip Method
• Terrence Howard Bashed For Rejecting Marvin Gaye Biopic Over Gay Kiss Scene
• Boop, There It Is! Tony Nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers Is Making History As Broadway’s First Black Betty Boop — And She’s Just Getting Started [Exclusive]
• Gym Etiquette 101: 10 Rules Every Respectful Member Should Follow

The Moonwalk

Also one of television’s greatest moments in history, Michael Jackson popularized the moonwalk in the 1983 ABC Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special. Although similar forms of the moonwalk had been done before by choreographer Jeffrey Daniel, James Brown and Cab Calloway, MJ’s signature look and style made it his own.