Popular dances from 1920 to 2020

It’s time to groove, or is it swing? Or to jive? Dancing is an art, something very important in our culture. Throughout dancing, we can express many things like emotions, ideas, or maybe we dance just to feel happy. Sometimes we bond and communicate with other people just by dancing.

Dancing has evolved over time, and there have been many styles of dance throughout the decades, from slow, careful steps to lively, careless moves. There have been a lot of movement in popular dance over the last 100 years of popular dances, so let’s take a look.

1920s: During the roaring twenties, Swing was one of the most popular dances. Swing dance involves lifts, spins, and flips. Swing dancing originated in Harlem, New York, and it spread quickly in the United States. Since then, there have been many variations and branches of the dance, like the Jitterbug, Charleston, and Lindy Hop.

1930s: The Moonwalk was the most popular dance at the time. And yes, we know about this dance because of Michael Jackson, but it existed long before that. Cab Calloway was the creator of the Moonwalk, which was originally called The Buzz. It was a big hit during the ‘30s, but resurfaced in the ‘80s because of Jackson’s iconic presentation. It, too, originated in Harlem, New York and was a favorite at the Cotton Club.

1940s: During the ‘40s, the Mambo was one of the most popular dances. The Mambo was associated with the increasing popularity of Cuban music, first performed by Perez Prado. But Mambo has changed over the years, and isn’t the same as Prado’s. When it first became popular in the US, it included more complicated steps like jazz and tap variations.

1950s: The Hand Jive was one of the most popular dances of this decade. It was originally created for crowded places, and it consists of fast and creative hand movements. It is often associated with rhythm and blues. The Hand Jive was invented by freelancer Ken Russel, when he recorded a group of teenagers hand jiving.

1960s: There were three popular dance moves in the decade: The Robot, Popping, and Locking. The Robot consisted of dancing, but imitating how a robot would move, in a mechanical and rigid way,  very similar to popping. Locking on the other hand, is a concept of locking movements, freezing from a fast movement, then “locking” in a position. The Robot was popularized by Michael Jackson, the Popping dance came from California, and the Locking was created by Don Campbell.

1970s: One of the most iconic dances of all time, and one of my favorites, is Disco. Even after the years have passed, Disco is one of the most popular and representative dance styles of the ‘70s. The Hustle and line dancing were very popular in this era, as well. During the time, there were many disco clubs, where people went to dance at night. One of the most memorable movies where disco dancing was featured is Saturday Night Fever.

1980s: Rock and Roll, The Running Man, Walk like an Egyptian, and the Moonwalk once againwere the ways to move during this decade. Rock and Roll was invented in the ‘50s, but gained popularity in the ‘80s because of all of the rock groups that became popular. This dance is very similar to Swing dancing, which is very lively and requires a lot of energy and stamina. The Running Man was first popularized in Janet Jackson’s music video Rhythm Nation and became popular from there.

1990s: During this decade, The Macarena, Voguing, and The Hammer Dance were very popular. The Macarena became a thing, when Los Rios released their music video in 1993, which featured this dance, and became a success. Voguing became popular because of Madonna’s music video Vogue, released in 1990, but it was actually created in Harlem, within the LGBTQ+ community in the ‘60s. And finally the Hammer Dance came from MC Hammer’s signature song, U Can’t Touch This, a hit in the 90s.

2000s: Electro Dance was on the rise in this decade as electronic dance music, or EDM, gained popularity. This style of dance combined Hip Hop, Vogue, Disco, all into one. Glow sticks and freehand dance were also representative of dance in the 2000s.

2010s: During this decade, there have been music videos that have been released, which have been some major hits. Many dances have been influenced by the music, and from previous styles of dancing in the previous decades. But some of the most famous dances are Single Ladies and Gangam Style.

2020: This decade has already featured a mix of many different styles of dancing, from ballet, ballroom, contemporary to hip hop, jazz, and tap dance. There are a variety of dance styles, but the more the better. Who knows what the decade will be known for, as history is still being written. How will you contribute to a style’s popularity that will become iconic and a memory of your years in high school and college?

Maybe these dance styles will keep being popular the next few decades, or a new dance might be invented, we’ll have to see. If you don’t know how to dance, and are interested in a specific dance style, don’t be afraid to try out something new. Who knows, you might become a professional dancer one day!