If you’ve ever been to a wedding, or even danced in a barroom, chances are you’ve done the Cha-Cha Slide. This dance fad, first popularized by DJ Casper’s song in 2000, has become a fixture at weddings, birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, and workout classes. The dance is easy to learn and involves circular strut-walking, simple hand gestures, and a goofy, hopping motion that makes it look like you’re riding a horse.
Swing dance became popular in the ’20s, thanks to Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. The Lindy Hop, a freewheeling swing dance that incorporates lifts, spins, and flips, was developed in Harlem, New York, but it took off in the ’30s when African American dancer Cab Calloway incorporated it into his act at the Cotton Club.
The 1940s saw the rise of the Mambo, a popular Cuban dance characterized by fast and creative hand movements. This style of dancing is often paired with rhythm and blues music.
During the ’60s, the Jerk was a major dance craze. Though the name is misleading, the dance primarily involves loose arm and leg flapping, which is why it was so popular among flappers. It also earned a reputation as a sexually explicit dance, which might explain why it was paired with sexy songs by Little Eva and the Miracles.
In the ’70s, Disco became one of the most popular dance styles. It’s still a favorite at weddings and is a staple of movies like Saturday Night Fever. The Macarena, Voguing, and the Hammer Dance were all popular in this era as well.
