Top 7 viral dance videos……..Before I list, let me define my messy criteria: a dance video that everyone saw, or tried to recreate, or forwarded to 10 people, or turned into memes, or made its song blow up. The kind you can’t unsee.
It usually has a hook: a catchy beat, a signature move (or two), something simple enough to imitate (or fail at), and shareability. Also: visual oomph. You know when someone sends you, “Look at this, you gotta see it,” — that’s a “broke the internet” video.
Also: I’ve got a soft spot for ones that made me try (and flop). There’s shame and joy in that combo.
1. “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” — The OG Move That Put Everybody in Motion
I gotta start here. This isn’t just a dance video — it’s a blueprint for modern viral dance mania. Silentó dropped Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) years ago, but its video got insane on YouTube, and the dance moves exploded across TikTok, Instagram, and even random school hallways. Wikipedia
What made it legendary:
- The moves are named in the song. (“You already know who it is… Now watch me whip, now watch me nae nae.”) So you don’t have to guess what to do.
- It’s simple enough that most people (myself included) feel like “yeah, I can try that.”
- It turned into group videos, mashups, parody covers, duets, etc.
I remember trying it once in my living room after too much coffee. My wife walked in halfway, paused, said “You look ridiculous,” and left. But you bet I sent that video to my friends.
2. The “Harlem Shake” Meme Videos — Mass Chaos in 30 Seconds
If you were online in 2013, you know the Harlem Shake phenomenon. It’s basically a formula: one person dancing alone for ~15 seconds, everyone else oblivious or calm, then BAM, cut to everyone going wild in costumes, weird props, flailing limbs. Wikipedia
It “broke the internet” because:
- It was replicable and flexible. You didn’t need to be a dancer — you just needed the will to be ridiculous.
- It was short, punchy, and perfect for memes.
- It was contagious. You’d see a Harlem Shake video, then do one yourself, then tag your coworkers, etc.
I remember in college we made one in our dorm lounge. It was probably the worst choreography in history, but damn if we weren’t proud.
3. Cebu Prisoners Dancing “Thriller”
This one might hit you in the “holy crap” zone. In the Philippines, a prison (CPDRC in Cebu) had its inmates perform Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in choreographed synchronized dance. It wasn’t for fun — it was part of their routine, rehabilitation idea — but the video went viral globally. Wikipedia
Reasons it broke through:
- The scale: dozens or hundreds of inmates moving in sync is visually powerful.
- The surprise: people don’t expect a prison yard to turn into a dance stage.
- Nostalgia + spectacle: MJ’s Thriller is iconic, and seeing it in this context was mind-blowing.
I once showed that video to someone who said, “Wait, are those prisoners?” The look on their face when I said yes — priceless.
4. Where the Hell Is Matt? — The Dance that Went Global
This isn’t a dance performance per se, but it is a dance video that resonated across borders. Matt Harding (aka “Dancing Matt”) made videos traveling the world, doing a goofy little jig in every country he visited. The simple, joyful dance + global montage = people felt like they were part of it. Wikipedia
Why it broke:
- Inclusivity. Anyone, anywhere could see a version of that dance in their country.
- Emotion. It felt human, vulnerable, and connected.
- It became an idea more than a video. You wanted to be a part of it.
I’ve rewatched these on bad days — it reminds me there’s joy even in tiny moves, even when you’re exhausted.
5. Pikki Pikki Dance (Korea’s Cheer → Viral Flash)
This one is newer (2024-2025) and has this odd mix: a cheerleading routine turned inside joke turned viral. The “Pikki Pikki dance” started with Korean baseball cheerleaders (Kia Tigers). A clip showed one performing the dance — moving her thumbs up and down — and it blew up. Wikipedia
What’s wild:
- She transitions from normal moments (fixing makeup, etc.) into the dance — and back — with a deadpan face. That pivot is part of the charm.
- It’s minimalist, which makes it easier to mimic.
- Because it comes from sports culture, it got picked up by fans, non-fans, meme pages, etc.
I saw an American blogger try it in her bathroom mirror. She lost balance and fell. I died laughing and forwarded it.
6. “Nasty” Soca / Dance Meme That Spread Like Wildfire
This one’s interesting because it’s music + dance + meme. A dancer (Nate Di Winer) did a wild motion, lip bites, hip gyrations to “Bind” remixed (known as “Nasty”) and it exploded on TikTok / social media. Tinashe remixed with it. Artists jumped in. Wikipedia
Why it’s powerful:
- It’s raw and a little provocative — wrong in a teasing way, but visually gripping.
- It’s remixable. People layer the dance on different contexts.
- It’s short, specific, meme-ready.
I tried mimicking a bit in the mirror — ended up with weird hip cramps. Worth it.
7. Any “Got Talent / Audition Dance Act that Bends Reality”
This is more of a category than one single video, but some audition dance acts have literally broken the internet. I’m talking viral “dancers auditioning for talent shows” where judges and audiences go WHAT.
You can find compilations like “VIRAL Dance Acts: 10 Auditions That BROKE the Internet!” on YouTube. YouTube
Some standouts from memory:
- A kid who does contortion + dance, ending with a gravity-defying pose.
- An older adult (70s+) breaking it down in hip hop (you can see the judges’ jaws drop).
- A dance troupe doing flips, but in the middle they pause for drama, then explode back into movement.
These act videos break the internet because:
- They defy expectations. You don’t see a grandma doing moonwalk + handstand on America’s Got Talent and not be stunned.
- Emotional arcs. The video builds suspense: Are they going to mess up? What’s next?
- Shareability. You send “OMG watch this,” people watch, react, send to someone else.
I remember showing one audition to my mom. She watched, gasped, asked “Who choreographed this? Are they real?” That’s the viral spark.
What Makes about Top 7 viral dance videos Stick Around
Now that we’ve run through seven legends, some patterns emerge (and maybe lessons for your next attempt).
- Signature “moment” or hook move. Something you can pin your finger to. The move you replay.
- Simplicity + flair combo. Not so simple you’re bored; not so complex you can’t follow.
- Visual contrast or surprise. A mundane setting, sudden transition, weird costume, scale — something jolting.
- Emotional or identity connection. Nostalgia, cultural flavor, movement that speaks to belonging.
- Short enough to digest, flexible enough to remix. Under 3-4 minutes, or at least chunked.
- Shareable energy. The urge to say “You have to see this.”
Also: one viral dance inspires hundreds of offshoots — remixes, covers, memes. That helps it stay alive.
My Personal Fails, Stumbles & Lessons: Top 7 viral dance videos
Since I enjoy spilling my embarrassing parts, here are some of my attempts:
- Tried Watch Me with full energy in my living room. Ended up stepping on the cat (sorry, Mr. Whiskers).
- I recorded myself doing the Pikki Pikki thumb moves. My thumbs got stuck.
- Once during a dinner party, I attempted a Harlem Shake-style burst. Neighbors called (I think to check if there was a fire).
- I tried to film a “travel jig” in my Queens street (à la Where the Hell is Matt). Got honked at by a taxi.
But I rewatched them, laughed, shared them, and that’s sorta the point — the attempt is part of the fun.
