Dancing is good for both body and soul – and isn’t it just so much fun?

There have been numerous dance moves through the decades originating from several countries, evolving and transforming into dancing we know today.

Did you know that the earliest archeological proof of dancing dates back 9,000 years ago in cave paintings in India? Dance has evolved and changed a lot throughout the centuries but certain things remain the same: it’s fun, engaging, and healthy!

1910s: Foxtrot

The birth of couple dancing, mainly through animal dances such as the famous Grizzly Bear.

• Fun Fact: The dancers would yell out “It’s a bear!” as they imitated the movements of a dancing bear.

1920s: Charleston

Maybe the most famous dance of the 1920s, the Charleston can be danced either solo or with a partner.

• Fun Fact: The Flappers, young women with bobbed hair and shorter dresses, took up the Charleston and helped spread its popularity.

1930s: The Lindy Hop

This style of Swing dancing is likely to have evolved from the Texas Rommy, the Breakaway, the Hop, and the Charleston.

• Fun Fact: The music of the 1930s led the way to dance marathons, with people wanting a distraction from the Depression.

1940s: The Jitterbug

Associated with the East Coast Swing, Jive, and the Lindy Hop, the term Jitterbug encompasses different Swing dances.

• Fun Fact: The term originated from how similar swing dancers looked compared to the jitters of alcoholics, seeming out of control.

1950s: The Hand Jive

Made famous due to Grease, the Hand Jive usually involves a simple jazz square foot movement with hand motions like the hitch hike move.

• Fun Fact: The Hand Jive is typically associated with rhythm and blues and it was invented due to a crowded dancing space.

1960s: The Twist

The 1960s saw solo dancing reach a new level with the Twist. Without any standardised steps and with no hold, it’s simple and allows for individuality.

• Fun Fact: Inspired by Rock ‘n’ Roll, it opened the way for dances like the Mashed Potato, the Funky Chicken, and the Pony.

1970s: The Hustle

This term refers to several Disco dances, becoming popular due to John Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever (1977).

• Fun Fact: The early Hustle was invented by Puerto Rican teenagers, as Puerto Rican Elders objected to the grinding slow dance called 500.

1980s: The Moonwalk

This Popping move became popular when Michael Jackson included it in Billie Jean. It includes moving backward while seeming to walk forwards.

• Fun Fact: The Moonwalk can be traced back to 1932 with Cab Calloway, who said the move used to be called The Buzz.

1990s: The Macarena

Created by Los Del Río for their 1993 album A mí me gusta, it’s still a very popular dance move in weddings and similar events.

• Fun Fact: The song got its name from the “quarter” in Seville, Spain of the same name.

2000s: Krump

Popular in the early 2000s, Krumping is a street dance with three main moves: armswings, stomps, and chestpops.

• Fun Fact: According to Dave Chapelle’s documentary Rize, this dance was a great way for many to escape gang lives and to express themselves in a nonviolent way.

2010s: Gangnam Style

Made popular in 2012 by K-pop musician Psy, Gangnam Style is a Korean neologism referring to lifestyle in the Gangnam District of Seoul.

• Fun Fact: This single was the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube.