Would you like to be the person who knows all of the best dance moves names and can execute all of them? At first, learning these steps may seem complex, even unattainable. In reality, almost everyone can learn to dance. It’s simply a matter of breaking each dance into individual steps and practicing until you get it right.
Most of us have watched in awe as an amazing dancer showed off their skills at a party. Have you also noticed that these dancers aren’t always the suavest or most athletic folks? Instead, they are often just normal people who enjoy dancing and having fun.
How do you gain the same skills and confidence? Take the first step by reading through this list of dance moves names and steps.
Why Learn How to Dance?
Dancing is a popular social activity that allows people to enjoy events and connect with others. When you can execute cool dance moves, not only will you have a great time. People around you will enjoy themselves as well. Of course, dancing is also an excellent tool for making romantic connections.
Here are some other benefits of learning dance moves names and their steps:
- Great physical activity
- Parties and events are more enjoyable
- It’s a healthy and productive hobby
- You can share dancing with friends or loved ones
- Learning to dance teaches you about other cultures
Think of dancing like playing a musical instrument. Start slowly and simply. Many of the most popular dance moves are easy enough to be done by a novice.
Ready to Start Dancing?
Here is a list of dance moves you can start practicing today. Some of these cool dance moves names are popular classics. Others have just begun to trend.
The list mixes some dance steps that are designed to impress and others that are just for fun and nostalgia. Choose a few you’d like to start practicing today. You’ll enjoy the physical activity and impress your friends.
1. The Moonwalk
You can’t list dance moves names without mentioning the moonwalk.
To execute this move, start with your feet aligned. Then slide your right foot back until it is directly behind your left, ending with only the ball of your right foot touching the floor. Now, slide your left foot back, but keep it flat on the floor. As you do this, shift your weight to your right foot. This approach allows your left foot to glide across the floor.
As soon as your left foot is behind your right, snap your left heel up and drop your right heel down.
2. The Floss
The floss is one the most popular dance moves of the last few years. It was featured on Saturday Night Live and the game Fortnite.
Start this stationary dance with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms at your sides, and hands in fists. Bend your knees slightly.
First, move both your arms together to the left. Your right arm should be in front of your body, and the left behind. As you do this, swing your hips to the right. Now, sweep both arms in front of your body and back to the right. This move will reorient your body to repeat the first move in the opposite direction.
3. The Dougie
The great thing about cool dance moves is you can personalize them. That’s what makes the Dougie so popular.
Start by simply swaying side to side with the beat. Step down alternately with your right and left foot as you sway. Feel free to tap or double tap on the third beat.
Now, add in your arm movements. Run your fingers through your hair, or pretend as if you are. Change hands and slightly shift your upper body as you sway from one side to the other.
4. Two-Step
This simple move works with any song. Keep this in your list of popular dance moves names when you are trying to dance to music you don’t know.
Start with your legs together and step to the right with your right leg. Then step your left leg to the right, so your feet are together again. Repeat the move to the opposite side. Stay in rhythm with the music. Feel free to add arm moves like rolls, snaps, or claps.
5. Swing Dancing
One of the most popular dance steps names is swing. Swing dancing is full of acrobatics, leaps, and throws. However, you can get started with a few basic moves. Swing is a great dance to learn for wedding receptions and parties.
Begin with you and your partner holding hands. Now, let go of one hand and step apart. One partner will step with their right foot, and the other with their left.
Raise your hands that are still together. The leading partner can use their hand as leverage to spin their partner to the inside or outside. When the turn is complete, step back together and clasp hands.
6. Body Roll
When you think of dance moves names that are simple and a bit sexy, remember the body roll. This movement is popular in hip-hop dancing, Zumba, and club dance.
Start by looking up. Then, move your head, so you are looking at your chest. Pop your chest as you do this. Next, collapse your chest as you simultaneously push your hips forward. Now, bend your knees, and push your booty back.
7. Voguing
Start the vogue with your walk. The easiest move here is the catwalk. It’s simply a strut to the music on the balls of your feet. Now, add hands. Begin with simple face-framing movements and arm extensions.
8. The Robot
The robot, one of the most well-known dance moves names, is all about body isolation. Move one part of your body at a time, focusing on your upper body and head. Make each move sharp and precise, like a robot. Add a wobble after each motion to create the machinelike effect.
9. The Hustle
One of the iconic dance steps names, the hustle, is best learned through a video that breaks down the dance into easy to memorize steps. You can also look for a great dance instructor to walk you through things.
10. Popping and Locking
To learn to pop and lock, you should start by understanding what these dance moves names mean. Popping is a sharp move that you execute by tightening and relaxing your muscles as you move your body. Locking is stopping a movement abruptly then completing it.
11. Whip/Nae Nae
The whip begins with raising the left knee, forming a loose fist with the left hand, then punching forward. Now, pull your hand back and open it. It should be above your head to the side. Finally, step from your left to right foot while waving. Switch sides and repeat.
12. The Monastery
Start with your feet apart. Turn your knee in while twisting on the ball of your foot. Repeat with the other leg. Now, bounce down with each turn. As you do this, move your arms, so they accentuate each hip movement.
13. The Box Step
One of the fun and fitting dance moves names is the box step. This dance is the basic step for partner dancing. To lead, step forward with your left foot. Then step out with your right. Third, move your left foot so that it closes the distance between your feet.
Next, step back with your right. Then out with your left, and close the box you’ve drawn with your feet by bringing your right foot back in close. Followers start by moving their right foot back and mirroring the leader.
14. The Woah
Start this unique group of dance moves names with your hands in front of you, making alternating circles (counterclockwise and clockwise). Now turn to the side and make fists. Move your left hand down, and act as if you are grabbing a gear shift and downshifting. Form a fist with your right, twist back, and pull your fist down.
15. The Billy Bounce
Start the Billy Bounce with your feet apart, knees bent. Open and close your knees simultaneously. Once you get that, pick up each foot on alternating beats.
16. The Humpty Dance
One of the funniest dance moves names is the Humpty dance. Start the Humpty with a small jump as you crisscross your legs, then repeat. When your legs are apart, drop your butt down. Repeat the drop move several times before returning to the crisscross. Add in side-to-side arm waves.
17. The Prep
Start by turning your upper body to the side and rocking your shoulders back while slightly bending your knees. Now, turn on your heels, so you are facing the other side. The arm moves are palms up and raised just above your head level. Finally, push and pull your arms to and away from your body in an upward diagonal motion.
18. Outside Partner Step
The outside partner step is one of the popular dance moves names for couples. It begins with your and your partner’s upper bodies in close contact, but each turned to the left. Now, each partner steps their right foot forward and crosses it in front of their left. At the end of the step, the partners should have stepped to the outside of the other.
19. The Basic Cha-Cha
The basic cha-cha is easy to learn. It is two slow forward steps followed by three fast steps. With a partner, one person does the same steps, only backward.
20. The Bust Down
The bust down is one of the recent easy, and popular dance moves from the rap and hip-hop genres. Grab the front of your waistband with one hand. Take your other hand and hold it over your head off to the side. As you wave that hand, bounce, swivel, and rotate your hips.
21. The Hype
Turn to the side and lift your outside knee to just below waist level. Now kick that foot forward in time to the beat. As you do this, lift the arm on the same side up and do an upward fist pump in time with your kicks.
22. The Booty Pop
This step is one of many dance moves names that has a lot of feminine energy. Start by bending both knees. Twist your upper body to one side, and grab your upper leg with both hands. As you twist, pop your opposite hip.
23. The Something New
The something new tops lists of TikTok popular dance moves names. Begin by putting one arm in front of your chest, elbow facing outward. Now, move like you are elbowing the person next to you. Drop that arm, and repeat with your other arm. Finish with a shoulder shimmy.