The Happiest Dance Crazes Throughout Time

So you’ve made a Harlem Shake video, and your dad knows how to Gangam Style, but do you remember the dance-crazes of yesteryear? GEICO does! So let’s take a boogie down memory lane and reminisce about all the delightful fads. It’ll make you happier than Carlton Banks doing the Carlton.

1. The Electric Slide

The Electric Slide was created in 1976 by choreographer Ric Silver for Marcia Griffiths’ song “Electric Boogie.” Soon after, children in middle school dances grooved to this song after awkwardly slow-dancing to Elton John.

2. The Moonwalk

This difficult dance move was popularized by Michael Jackson, but it was used as early as 1932 by Cab Calloway. It is uncertain whether Neil Armstrong perfected this dance move or not.

3. The Loco-Motion

Fun Fact: The Locomotion has appeared on the American Top 5 three times, and each time in a different decade.

4. The YMCA

This dance is the Village People’s greatest gift to the earth. Thanks to their hit single, you can spell out YMCA at sporting events, at your middle school dance, and at your Aunt Mable’s wedding.

5. The Cabbage Patch

The Cabbage Patch dance was popularized by the Gucci Crew II, Dr. Dre, and DJ Yella, and not by the animatronic versions of the popular line of dolls from the ’80s.

6. The Macarena

The Macarena is one of the most iconic dances of the ’90s. It became an international hit in 1995, and a Bar/Bat Mitzvah staple too.

7. The Chicken Dance

And now The Chicken Dance Song is stuck in your head. Don’t try to fight it.

8. The Running Man

The Running Man gained popularity in 1986 by Janet Jackson’s video “Rhythm Nation.” Fun Fact: Scarlett Johansson has stated that she “do[es] a great Running Man.”

9. The Cha Cha Slide

The Cha Cha slide song comes with instructions on how to dance. INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DANCE. How could you mess this up at your Junior Prom?

10. The Humpty Dance

The Humpty Dance was a hugely popular song by Digital Underground and was sung by Shock G’s alter ego, “Humpty Hump.” Fun Fact: Tupac is in the music video of this song.

11. Voguing

Voguing was made mainstream by Madonna, but the dance originated by the choreographers Jose and Luis Xtravaganza. This dance is great for people who like posing.

12. Crank That (Superman Dance)

So, how self-aware was Soulja Boi’s embrace of “Crank That?” So much so that the song’s music video featured other people watching remixes of the dance on YouTube before it broke fad status.

13. The Dougie

The dougie is named after 1980s rapper Doug E. Fresh. Lil’ Wayne taught the dance to the members of Cali Swag District, and they recorded the song “Teach Me How To Dougie.” The rest is history.

14. Gangnam Style

Of course you know about Gangnam style. The YouTube video has over a million views and counting. It’s all thanks to Psy, the latest sensation from South Korea.

15. Harlem Shake (2013)

Have you been living under a rock? No? Then you’ve seen the Harlem Shake videos on YouTube. One person is dancing by themselves, and then everybody else joins in with erratic dancing. You can thank DJ Baauer for this ear worm of a song.

16. Not to be confused with the Harlem Shake (1981)

Harlem Shake purists will scoff at the new Harlem Shake videos, because they remember the original Harlem Shake introduced by “Al B.” This dance became viral through the original YouTube— real life.

17. Remembering all these dances make us happier than Dikembe Mutombo blocking a shot.

Check out more articles on!