Get in the mood to attend your first dance lesson at Fred Astaire Dance Studios by checking out some of the top viral dances over the last decade as the time people spend sharing on social media continues to climb.

In today’s society, our mobile phones are never far from our reach. The time Americans spent on mobile devices surged last year as people stayed home to help flatten the curve. Americans spent 4.2 hours on Android mobile devices in 2020, up 20 percent from the prior year, App Annie, a mobile data and analytics company, revealed. At least seven out of 10 Americans regularly use social media, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of 1,502 adults in the United States conducted earlier this year. A majority of Americans use YouTube and Facebook. Apps like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are more popular with people under the age of 30. While Facebook’s growth is leveling off, at least 69 percent of Americans use the social media platform, and at least 49 percent of people visit it daily.

Dancing is helping fuel the rising social media trajectory. Americans found solace and levity watching and sharing fun dance videos to help lighten the weight of teleworking, remote schooling, and isolation last year. A new trend developed to create TikTok dance videos. Making the videos allowed families to destress and have fun together during this difficult season.

The history of dance is full of examples of new moves that take center stage. Dance floors were filled with people doing the Twist in the 1960s or the Lindy Hop in the 1930s. Here is Fred Astaire Dance Studios’ list of the top viral dances of the past decade. Sit back, relax, and feel free to bop your head as you watch these performances.

1. Dougie. Characterized by moving your body in a shimmy style and passing a hand through your hair, the Dougie originated in Texas and mimicked the moves of a rapper, Doug E. Fresh. Check out John Wall from the Washington Wizards basketball team performing the Dougie after a successful play.
   
2. Gangnam Style. South Korean music sensation Psy became a household name worldwide when he choreographed a fun, easy-to-learn dance to his catchy tune “Gangnam Style.” The song is a parody of the Gangnam district in Seoul, which is characterized by trendy hipsters. Psy’s music video was released in 2012 and earned the distinction as the most-watched YouTube video in history, the BBC reported. Here’s a five-year-old getting groovy on “Kids Got Talent,” a dance variety show in Spain.
   
3. Whip Nae Nae. The Whip Nae Nae is a dance performed to rapper Silentó’s debut hit, “Watch Me.” The dance mimics twirling a whip. Take a look at actor Matt Damon entertaining viewers on “The Ellen Show” with his amateur performance of the Whip Nae Nae.
   
4. The Floss. Popularized by the videogame “Fortnite,” the Floss is a dance performed by swinging arms in the opposite direction of your hips. It was first danced by 16-year-old Russell Horning, an Instagram sensation known as The Backpack Kid. In this clip, Horning performs on “Saturday Night Live” with singer Katy Perry.
   
5. Old Town Road. The official dance for “Old Town Road,” written by American rapper Lil Nas X, includes some country-style line dancing. One popular version of the song features a remix with Lil Nas X and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. This clip is a compilation of performances of the dance on TikTok.
   

Learn to Dance at FADS

Fred Astaire Dance Studios applauds dancers who hop on the trend of one of the top viral dances. Our certified dance instructors teach the time-honored tradition of ballroom dancing at more than 140 studios worldwide. Ballroom dancing is a low-impact, fun way to reduce stress, improve mood, and get your blood pumping. In our classes, you will learn smooth ballroom dances like the foxtrot, tango, and waltz, as well as rhythm dances such as salsa, cha-cha, and swing. All of our instructors complete the Fred Astaire Dance Curriculum, a proven teaching method developed by dancing legend Fred Astaire, and unique to our organization.

In addition to group or private lessons, our studios offer practice sessions to put your new dance skills into action. At practice sessions, we dim the lights, supply the music, and have a fabulous time in a party-type atmosphere. We encourage students to attend practice sessions to have fun, learn, and dance.

Contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios location to schedule a lesson or visit our Online Lesson Platform to stream a dance lesson at home.