Dancing Through the Decades: The Best Dance Moves of All Time

Dance is an art form that will always be evolving and changing. Since the beginning of time, people have used dance as a social tool for various reasons. From the classic '20s Charleston to the latest TikTok sensations, our blog post is your ticket to a whirlwind tour of dance history with iconic moves, fun facts, and a whole lot of dance-floor nostalgia. Let’s take a look at how this timeless art keeps on grooving through the ages!

1920s - The Roaring Twenties: Swing into Action!

The 1920s kicked off with the Swing dance craze. Think wild spins, flips, and the carefree Charleston, Jitterbug, and Lindy Hop. Swing was all about letting loose, and it spread like wildfire, even catching the Prince of Wales' eye. So yeah, it transcended social barriers big time.

Fun Fact: The Charleston was born on Broadway in a show called "Runnin' Wild." It was such a hit that it kept on running wild in the dance world.

1930s - The Smooth Moves of the Moonwalk

Don't let Michael Jackson fool you; the Moonwalk didn't start with him. Cab Calloway was the original moonwalk maestro back in the '30s. Imagine smooth glides that make you question gravity. Mike did make it legendary in the '80s, though.

Fun Fact: The Moonwalk was a partner dance at first, with one person moonwalking and the other doing smooth glides. Michael turned it into a solo sensation.

1940s - Mambo Mania: Heating Up the Dance Floor

The '40s introduced the Mambo, a fiery dance synced to Cuban music. Complex steps and passionate moves defined this era. Perez Prado's Mambo music was the driving force, and it was a real show-stopper.

Fun Fact: Mambo was so influential that it played a role in shaping Latin dance styles like Salsa and Cha Cha Cha.

1950s - Creative Hand Jive Fun

The Hand Jive rocked the '50s, where fast and creative hand moves met rhythm and blues music. It was the answer to dancing in tight spaces, making it super fun and engaging.

Think: Iconic dance scene from Grease!

1960s - The Robot, Popping, and Locking

The '60s had us grooving with The Robot, Popping, and Locking. The Robot was all about getting mechanical and rigid. Popping was about sudden, jerky moves that looked like you were popping or locking joints. Sounds awesome, right?

Did you know? Popping and Locking became a crucial part of the hip-hop movement a bit later on.

1970s - Disco Fever: Get Down on It!

Ah, the disco era of the '70s, where glitz and glamour met groovy moves. The Hustle and line dancing were all the rage, and John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever" became an iconic dance moment.

Fun Fact: "Saturday Night Fever" put disco on the map big time, and it's still part of our cultural DNA.

1980s - Rock, The Running Man, and More

The '80s were a mix of dance styles. Rock and Roll made a comeback. Janet Jackson introduced us to The Running Man. Plus, old favorites like the Moonwalk returned, giving us dance variety galore.

Fun Fact: Here is where Michael Jackson's Moonwalk comes back into the scene with the awe-inspiring move that captivates people to this day.

1990s - Macarena and The Hammer Dance

The '90s brought us the infectious "Macarena," and the unforgettable Hammer Dance from MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This." Both will live rent free in my brain for eternity.

Did you know? The Macarena involves 16 moves that were easy for everyone to pick up (We know a thing or two about breaking down a dance move into it’s basic components!)

2000s - The Hip-Hop Evolution

The 2000s brought an evolution of hip-hop dances, from breakdancing to krumping. Movies like "Step Up" and shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" made these styles famous.

Fun Fact: Just in case you haven’t seen them, here are our favorite dance movies of all time.

2010-20s - The TikTok Dance Explosion

Even if you hadn’t heard of TikTok until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, dancers had been showcasing their moves well before that on the social media mogul. The 2010s (and early 20s!) were all about viral dance challenges on TikTok. "#SavageChallenge," "The Renegade," and "The Woah" took social media by storm, making dance a part of our every day content.

Does this make you want to dance?! Come join us at a beginner, cardio dance class.