TikTok dances that go viral and spread rapidly across the platform are a major part of the app’s culture. As defined by TikTok Rewards, a viral dance on TikTok reaches widespread popularity when huge numbers of users create their own version of the dance. dances like the Renegade, Say So, and WAP choreographies have amassed billions of views on TikTok.
These viral dances have an enormous impact, shaping trends and pop culture. Their popularity explodes as more and more users film themselves performing the moves, reacting to them in duets and stitches, and incorporating them into their own content.
People learn viral dances on TikTok by watching dance tutorials, practicing the moves, filming themselves dancing, sharing their own versions, and collaborating with friends. The goal is to participate in the latest dance craze sweeping the app.
Find Trending/Viral Dances
One of the easiest ways to find the latest viral dances on TikTok is to browse the app’s curated list of trending and popular dances. TikTok has a dedicated page that highlights the top dance challenges gaining traction at any given moment. This page can be found by going to “Popular” in the sidebar menu and selecting “Dances” under the “Popular” tab (source). The dances are conveniently sorted by how recently they have gone viral, making it simple to identify the latest dance crazes.
You can also look for trending dance hashtags like #dance, #trendingdance, or #viraldance. Searching these tags will surface videos using the latest popular dance challenges and choreographies. The hashtags are a great way to see the dance trends organically catching on amongst the TikTok community. Checking both the curated dance page and popular hashtags is the best way to ensure you find dances that are truly going viral across TikTok.
Watch Tutorials
When learning a viral TikTok dance, one of the best places to start is by searching for tutorial videos on YouTube or TikTok. Many popular TikTok creators will make tutorial videos breaking down the dance move by move after their initial viral videos take off. These tutorial videos allow you to watch the dance multiple times from different angles and really see how each move flows into the next.
The key is finding a high quality tutorial that teaches the dance well. Look for tutorials from the dance’s original creator or other experienced dancers. Avoid tutorials that only show the dance at full speed without any instruction. The best tutorials will break down each move slowly, from multiple angles, providing step-by-step instructions. This allows you to grasp the mechanics of each dance move and how they connect before trying to dance at full speed.
Dedicate time to studying these tutorials, watching certain moves over and over again. Absorb how the creators explain proper technique, weight shifts, arm movements etc. Many dances use similar foundational hip hop moves so pay close attention to moves you’re unfamiliar with. With focused viewing, tutorials enable learning dances accurately and quickly.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdrZ0VouhUM79y4wMABnW7hxfwZ7_NH8y
Practice the Moves
One of the most important parts of learning a viral dance is to start by practicing the moves slowly, focusing on nailing each step one-by-one. As this TikTok tutorial advises, try watching short video clips that break down each move in the routine. Master the footwork and arm motions for each segment before moving on.
Once you feel comfortable with the individual steps, start trying to connect them together at a slow and steady pace. Don’t rush through the transitions. It’s better to build up consistency slowly rather than trying to dance full speed right away. As you gradually get the hang of the complete sequence, you can begin speeding up the tempo.
The key is to be patient and keep rehearsing until the moves feel natural to your body. With regular practice, you’ll gain both muscle memory and confidence to perform the viral choreography seamlessly at full speed.
Film Yourself
Once you feel you’ve gotten the basic moves down, it’s time to record yourself doing the full dance to check your form. Filming yourself dancing allows you to review areas where you may be struggling and identify mistakes in your execution. Start by filming just a short section of the dance first, watching it back, and making adjustments. Then try filming your entire run-through. Viewing yourself dancing provides an objective eye, so you can pinpoint moves to smooth out or body angles to adjust. Pay attention to details like arm placement, hip motion, and facial expressions. Making adjustments based on reviewing your own video will greatly accelerate the learning process. Keep filming yourself periodically as you continue practicing. Each time you’ll likely see improvements in your form. Filming yourself dancing and studying the footage enables you to learn viral TikTok dances with precision.
Duet with Tutorials
One effective way to learn and practice TikTok dances is to duet the tutorial videos, placing your attempt at the dance side-by-side with the original tutorial. This allows you to directly compare your dancing and timing to the instructor’s. According to an article by USA Today, you can duet a TikTok video by clicking the “Duet” button on a video, recording your side of the duet while the tutorial video plays, and then posting the combined duet video. Dueting tutorial videos helps you get the dance moves and timing down accurately before trying to film your final solo take.
Collaborate with Friends
One effective way to motivate yourself and have fun learning TikTok dances is to collaborate with friends, either in-person or over video chat. Learning together makes the process more engaging. You can encourage each other to keep practicing as you break down the moves. Invite some friends over to learn a dance together. Clear some space in your home and take turns filming each other practicing. Give each other feedback on how to improve the moves. Learning together helps you stay consistent. Set aside specific days and times each week to meet up with your friends and run through the routines. You’ll improve much faster by working as a team. Seeing the dance come together boosts your confidence. Once you’ve all mastered the moves, you can start working on filming the final videos together. Collaborating with friends adds accountability and excitement to the learning process.
Vary Speed and Angles
Filming yourself from different angles while dancing can help ensure that all sides of your routine look good. Focus on getting each move from the front, back and sides
(source). Try setting your camera or phone up on a tripod and moving around it as you dance. You can also ask a friend to film you from different angles. Make sure your movements look smooth not just from the front but also from behind and the sides.
In addition to changing camera angles, it’s helpful to vary the speed at which you perform the dance
(source). Practice the moves slowly, focusing on nailing each step. Then gradually build up to full speed. Going fast too soon can result in sloppy technique. Try both slower and faster speeds than the original to become proficient at every tempo. Mastering a wide speed range will let you keep up as trends evolve.
Share Your Videos
Once you’ve practiced and recorded several takes of a viral dance, it’s time to share your videos with others! Post your dance videos on TikTok or other social platforms to get feedback from your followers. Using relevant hashtags for the specific dance can help expose your video to others interested in that trend. For example, if you are doing a dance to Doja Cat’s “Say So,” using hashtags like #SaySoChallenge or #SaySoDance will categorize your video with other TikToks doing that routine. Getting feedback and likes on your dance videos motivates you to keep practicing and improving. As your skills progress, your videos may start going viral too!
Here are some examples of using hashtags when sharing dance videos:
- “Tried the #Renegade dance! Still need more practice #tiktokdance #fyp” (Source: https://www.tiktok.com/@imtiredbeyondbelief/video/7266086290712530219)
- “#dontjudgechallenge part 2! #fyp #dance” (Source: https://www.tiktok.com/@imtiredbeyondbelief/video/7271281413545119022)
Conclusion
In summary, the main steps for learning a viral TikTok dance are finding trending dances, watching tutorials, practicing the moves, filming yourself, collaborating with friends, and sharing your videos. By following these steps, you can quickly pick up the latest viral dances.
Learning TikTok dances provides many benefits beyond just having fun. Dancing along to viral trends is an enjoyable way to stay active and get your heart pumping. As a low-impact cardio workout, regularly dancing to TikTok videos can boost your cardiovascular health. Socially, learning viral dances gives you something in common with friends and the TikTok community. Collaborating on dance videos is a creative way to strengthen relationships. Overall, learning the latest dance crazes keeps you engaged with current culture and helps you feel part of the zeitgeist.
