10 Dance Crazes That Are (Thankfully) Over and Done With

Every year, it seems as though a new dance trend is taking the world by storm and slowly replacing the throwbacks that you secretly love doing, like “The Electric Slide” or the “YMCA.” Thanks to the power of television and social media, these modern-day fads are really awesome for a short while, but quickly become inescapable.

While they started off strong, here are 10 dance crazes that we momentarily loved but are (thankfully) over and done with.


Shuffling

Shuffling has been a go-to favorite for rave kids since the '80s, but the EDM explosion of the late-2000s brought the movement to the forefront of the dance scene. Let’s be honest — when one person does it, the dance sort of looks like a slightly cooler version of the running man. However, when you get a group of people doing it together — as demonstrated in LMFAO’s video for “Party Rock Anthem” — it gives off more of an awkward, middle school dance sort of vibe. Throw in faux-fur boots and colorful LED gloves, and you’ve got yourself a multi-sensory disaster.


Crank That

Before the popularity of makeup tutorials and paid vloggers, folks were flocking to YouTube during its infancy to learn what was to become the biggest dance sensation since the '90s, the Soulja Boy. The instructional video for “Crank That,” the debut single from Atlanta-based rapper Soulja Boy Tell’em, had children and adults alike learning to jump, lean and Superman with ease, regardless of skill level. In less than one year, the tutorial garnered more than 27 million views, marking the start of a decade of uncoordinated arm flailing and one-syllable shouts.


Macarena

It’s easy to understand why Los del Rio’s “Macarena” was so popular in the early ‘90s, but the continued success of the Spanish-language track and relatively boring dance spanning over a decade is mindblowing. For a dance that’s meant to be in celebration of a woman letting go and having some fun, the masses have managed to turn it into a robotic, step-by-step series of body spasms. Here’s hoping that the two old guys who created it retired rich and somewhere far away from all wedding venues.


Whip/Nae Nae

Watch you what? Originating in Atlanta in 2013, it took a few years for the Whip and Nae Nae to catch on and become one of the silliest combination of ways to cut a rug. Although rapper Silentó can’t take credit for inventing the two moves, his 2015 song “Watch Me” brought them to heights of popularity never before seen, thanks to YouTube and celebrity toddler, Riley Curry. If only the rest of the song’s lyrics were as entertaining as the dancing.



Voguing

Emerging during the ballroom dance scene of the ‘80s, voguing was a hit among the gay community and underground clubgoers. Inspired by the photographs in pages of the iconic fashion magazine, the dance is meant to be a fluid interpretation of music with poses being struck throughout, as though the dancer were modeling. Madonna popularized the moves with her 1990 hit “Vogue,” but the only people still doing it present day seem to be Lady Gaga’s backup dancers. It’s probably best that we leave it to the professionals.


Cha Cha Slide

It was never determined whether DJ Casper intended for the “Cha Cha Slide” to become the new anthem for all wedding receptions and group events, but the flash mob-style line dance made its way into all territory formerly belonging to the Electric Slide and refused to budge. With unrelated commands being shouted in succession, such as “To the left / Take it back now y'all / One hop this time,” it’s easy to understand why it’s never been performed flawlessly and without someone turning the wrong direction, all while showcasing everyone’s inability to do the Cha Cha. The most difficult level of Dance Dance Revolution is probably just this routine.


Jerkin'

If inspiration comes from everywhere, then “jerkin’” must’ve originated from someone walking up an escalator while facing the wrong direction. In combination with other freestyle moves, the Los Angeles street dance looks pretty rad, but on its own more closely resembles a failed attempt at moonwalking. Regardless, California duo New Boyz threw some skinny jeans over it, featured it in their hit “You’re a Jerk,” and the move became the sensation of 2009.


Gangnam Style

Imagine walking down the street and seeing someone galloping towards you as though they were riding an imaginary horse and twirling a lasso. Can you see it? That’s because it actually happened. Korean musician PSY bestowed his song “Gangnam Style” upon the world and the accompanying dance then took the world by storm, becoming the first YouTube video to ever reach 1 billion views. A video cameo and subsequent remix from K-Pop Queen Hyuna wasn’t enough to make the dance any less ridiculous, especially with world leaders like former POTUS Barack Obama having a go at it. FYI: the tune is actually a love song.


Hit the Quan

iLoveMemphis wasn’t kidding when he instructed, “Please watch your step ‘cause I’m feelin’ myself.” For a dance that starts out lazily, it quickly turns into deliberate, fast-paced shimmying, arm waving and jogging in place. “Hit the Quan” and the rhythmic workout of the same name was made in honor of fellow rapper, Rich Homie Quan, who first popularized the steps. With all of the peculiar movements, it’s no wonder why many people document their attempts outdoors and away from fragile objects.


Mannequin Challenge

Though not exactly a dance, the Mannequin Challenge did what no other craze was able to do:  It spanned from ordinary people to some of the biggest celebrities like Paul McCartney, The Rock and Hillary Clinton — even entire New York Giants football team got in on it. The levels of creativity put into the videos were astounding, ranging from classroom participation to entire concert audiences to red carpet events. Typically set to Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles,” it was only right that the duo eventually performed their own take on the challenge. That being said, when you top all other versions by getting TSA and airport personnel involved while people are waiting in line to check in for their flights, you’ve officially gone too far.