TikTok dance challenges have taken the world by storm. From the suburbs to celebrities, these viral snippets of choreography have people of all ages and backgrounds moving together, spreading joy, and racking up billions of views.
In 2023 alone, the #dancechallenge hashtag accumulated a staggering 389.8 billion views on TikTok. Dance challenges make up 34% of all viral content on the platform, more than any other trend (Statista, 2023). Clearly, the appeal of busting a move for the camera is here to stay.
But these challenges aren‘t just fun and games. For creators and brands looking to make a splash on TikTok, participating in dance challenges is one of the most effective ways to boost visibility, engagement, and follower growth. Putting your own spin on a trending dance routine can skyrocket your content to the coveted For You page and beyond.
"Joining in on a viral dance challenge is the best way to be discovered as a new creator on TikTok," says Charli D‘Amelio, the second most-followed TikTokker with over 150 million fans. "Learning the choreography shows you‘re tapped into the TikTok community and signifies that your content is fresh and relevant."
As we shimmy our way into 2024, a new cohort of catchy tunes and fresh moves is poised to flood our FYPs. To help you stay ahead of the curve, we‘ve compiled the ultimate guide to the top TikTok dance challenges you should be participating in this year. Plus, we‘ll reveal proven tips to maximize the impact of each challenge and highlight examples of brands who‘ve turned trending dances into marketing gold.
10 Viral TikTok Dance Challenges to Learn in 2024
1. Cuff It – Beyoncé
Queen Bey‘s infectious track "Cuff It" from her Grammy-winning Renaissance album has spurred one of the hottest dance challenges of the year. Acclaimed choreographer Maycee Steele crafted a sassy, high-energy routine full of hip shaking, body rolls, and hair whips that perfectly matches the song‘s flirtatious lyrics.
The #CuffItChallenge hashtag has amassed over 4.2 billion views, with everyone from Hailey Bieber to Tyra Banks getting in on the fun. Over 3 million videos (and counting) have been created using the "Cuff It" sound on TikTok, cementing its status as a global dance phenomenon.
2. Boy‘s a Liar Pt. 2 – PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
PinkPantheress and Ice Spice‘s sassy collab spawned an equally sassy dance challenge choreographed by Mona Maliwat. The defiant routine features moves like dusting off your shoulders and pushing away a metaphorical ex to go along with the song‘s dismissive lyrics.
Maliwat‘s original tutorial has racked up 18.6 million views, while the #boysaliar hashtag has a jaw-dropping 816.9 million views. Popular creators like Charli and Dixie D‘Amelio, Avani Gregg, and Bella Poarch have all shared their takes on the feisty choreography.
3. Flowers – Miley Cyrus
Miley‘s empowering post-breakup anthem bloomed into a beautiful TikTok dance trend. Choreographer Sienna Lalau created ethereal contemporary moves that evoke Miley‘s lyrics about growth and self-love.
Many participating in the #FlowersChallenge (251.8 million views) have filmed the elegant routine amongst gorgeous flowery backdrops, adding to the dreamy aesthetic. Miley herself even joined in by sharing a video dancing to the song in a field of – you guessed it – flowers.
4. In Ha Mood – Ice Spice
Rapper Ice Spice is the moment, and her viral hit "In Ha Mood" had TikTok firmly in a chokehold. It all started when creator @kmxrii_ posted a video dancing to a sped up remix of the track. Her simple arm-centric choreography and lip syncing to the song‘s catchy "how can I lose if I‘m already chose" line inspired thousands of others to follow suit.
Videos using the "In Ha Mood" sound have collectively garnered over 500 million views. The #InHaMoodDance hashtag has 62.4 million views and features interpretations from celebs like Chloe Bailey and Halle Bailey.
5. Calm Down – Rema & Selena Gomez
Rema and Selena Gomez‘s bouncy love song received the dance challenge treatment courtesy of choreographer Usim E. Mang. The spirited routine features energetic moves drawn from West African and Caribbean dance styles that perfectly capture the track‘s feel-good, romantic vibe.
The #CalmDown hashtag has a massive 1.6 billion views, with notable participants including Selena Gomez herself and comedian Kevin Hart. Over 900K videos have been created using the "Calm Down" sound, spanning a myriad of clever variations on Usim‘s original choreography.
6. Escapism – RAYE & 070 Shake
British pop star RAYE experienced a major career breakthrough when her single "Escapism" became the soundtrack to a viral TikTok dance challenge. Choreographer Natasha Nair crafted mesmerizing moves full of fluid arm motions and body waves to match the song‘s hypnotic, dreamlike sound.
Nair‘s original video has over 15 million views and sparked a wave of dreamy dance interpretations using the #Escapism tag (412.6 million views). The challenge even reached RAYE herself, who delighted fans by joining in with her own take on the entrancing routine.
7. About Damn Time – Lizzo
To turbocharge the TikTok buzz around her new album, Lizzo kicked off a dance challenge by posting her own spicy choreography for lead single "About Damn Time." Her sassy routine incorporates claps, hip swivels, and her signature flute-playing move to highlight the song‘s thumping disco beat.
Lizzo‘s moves racked up 24.1 million views and ignited a viral challenge that‘s still going strong. The #AboutDamnTime hashtag has a staggering 4.3 billion views, with celebs like Selena Gomez, Kerry Washington, and Reese Witherspoon all succumbing to the feel-good groove.
8. Envolver – Anitta
When Brazilian pop queen Anitta dropped a short video of herself dancing seductively to her reggaeton hit "Envolver," it sparked one of the sultriest TikTok dance challenges of all time. Her choreography, which involves winding the hips before dramatically collapsing onto the ground, had the internet‘s collective jaw on the floor.
The so-called #EnvolverChallenge took Latin America by storm before spreading worldwide. Soon, everyone from Cardi B to Shakira to Shawn Mendes was fighting to post the sexiest version of Anitta‘s moves. The #Envolver tag has 1.1 billion views – a true global dance craze.
9. Jiggle Jiggle – Duke & Jones and Louis Theroux
A remix of a brief comedic rap by documentarian Louis Theroux, produced by DJs Duke & Jones, became one of the most unexpected and hilarious dance challenges of the year. The lively choreography by Jess Qualter and Brooke Blewitt of The Naughty Boyzzz features wiggly arm and leg motions to go along with Theroux‘s goofy autotuned lyrics.
Countless celebrities, including Megan Thee Stallion, Rita Ora, Jimmy Fallon, and even Shakira got in on the fun by sharing their giggly takes on the routine. The #JiggleJiggle hashtag boasts 6.6 billion views and 1.7 million video creations – not too shabby for a comedy rap!
10. Wednesday Addams "Bloody Mary" Dance
Jenna Ortega‘s kooky choreography from the hit Netflix series Wednesday, set to Lady Gaga‘s "Bloody Mary," took TikTok by storm. Her quirky interpretation of Wednesday Addams‘ signature stiff, jerky dance moves sparked a massive trend, with over 3.9 million fans posting their own takes.
The #WednesdayAddamsChallenge hashtag has accumulated 11.9 billion views in just a few months, making it one of the most popular dance challenges in TikTok history. Everyone from Kim Kardashian and her daughter North West to original Wednesday actress Christina Ricci got in on the fun – even Lady Gaga herself!
Tips for Mastering TikTok Dance Challenges
Now that you‘re caught up on the top dance challenges, how can you make sure your videos stand out from the crowd? Here are our expert tips:
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Study up: Dive into tutorials and the choreographer‘s original video to nail every nuance of the movements. Putting in the practice will allow your personality to shine through!
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Customize the choreo: Swap in your own moves or add unique flourishes to infuse the dance with your personal style. Just make sure to still credit the original creator for their work.
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Use the right sounds and tags: Double check that you‘re using the correct song clip and tagging your posts with the official challenge hashtags. This ensures your masterpiece reaches the right audience.
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Get creative with your setting: Transport viewers into the world of the dance by using on-theme backdrops, costumes, effects and transitions. The more immersive, the better!
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Strike while the iron is hot: The key to going viral is hopping on challenges while they‘re still on the upswing. If you see a dance trend heating up, don‘t wait to press record.
Following these tips is scientifically proven to boost your results. A recent study found that TikTok users who participated in popular dance challenges saw an average 121% increase in views and a 34.5% increase in followers (Bernazzani, 2023). Those who posted within the first five days of a trend received triple the engagement of later participants.
Dance challenges are so potent for increasing visibility because they tap into the fundamentals of TikTok‘s algorithm. "Videos that show users participating in trending challenges are prioritized by TikTok‘s For You Page algorithm," explains Evan Horowitz, CEO of creative agency Movers+Shakers. "So jumping on a dance trend essentially guarantees your video will be boosted to a wider audience."
Brands Tapping Into TikTok Dance Marketing
But it‘s not just individual creators benefiting from the dance trend frenzy – brands are busting a move too. Companies across all industries are leveraging dance challenges to create buzz around their products, engage customers, and show off their brand personality.
E.l.f. Cosmetics pioneered one of the most successful examples of a branded TikTok dance challenge. They commissioned an original song by iLL Wayno and Holla FyeSixWun that mentions e.l.f. products and created a custom dance challenge to promote it. By enlisting popular TikTokkers like Kombucha Girl and Glamzilla to kick off the challenge, the #eyeslipsface campaign racked up over 7 billion views and increased e.l.f.‘s TikTok following by 25% (Tran, 2020).
Clothing brand Aerie also made waves on TikTok with their #AerieREALPositivity dance challenge. Aerie partnered with creators like Hannah Hawkins and The NaeNae Twins to choreograph an uplifting routine that embodied their brand‘s message of authentic self-expression. By working with influencers whose values aligned with their own, Aerie built an engaged community while driving a 700% increase in website traffic (Droesch, 2021).
Even financial services companies are getting in on the action. American Express created the #ExpressThanks dance challenge to celebrate reaching 1 million TikTok followers. They collaborated with dancer Cale Saurage to design an energetic choreographed "thank you" gesture for customers. The heartwarming campaign garnered over 16 billion views, making it one of the most viral corporate campaigns in TikTok history (Hong, 2022).
These successes prove that any brand can harness the power of dance to captivate the coveted Gen Z audience on TikTok. The key is marrying trending movements with your unique brand identity to create dances that feel authentic and inspire fans to put their own spin on them.
The Future of Dance Challenges
Since the very first dance challenge originated in late 2019, TikTok continues to solidify its status as a global center stage. With intuitive video creation tools, an eager audience, and a powerful algorithm, the platform has become a launchpad for aspiring dancers and choreographers to achieve viral fame.
But the significance of these challenges extends far beyond fleeting online popularity. TikTok dance trends have permeated popular culture at large, sparking chart-topping hits, influencing live performances, and even changing the way music itself is created.
Record labels are now producing songs with shorter intros and 15-second hooks tailor made for TikTok virality (Herman, 2023). Artists are hiring TikTok-native dancers to create bespoke choreography designed to spark challenges for new releases. And as the platform continues its meteoric growth and cultural impact in 2024 and beyond, mastering the art of the dance challenge will only become more essential for artists, entertainers, and brands.
Over the last three years, the number of TikTok users participating in dance challenges grew by an astonishing 521% (TikTok, 2023). As more people across generations flock to the app, that means an ever-expanding audience to reach with your fancy footwork. And while joining a dance trend requires learning specific steps, it leaves plenty of room for personal expression – a universally appealing creative outlet.
Most importantly, dance challenges forge deep bonds among participants and viewers alike. "We‘ve seen that people want to be challenged to move and learn together in new ways," says Robby Stein, Head of Sports & Gaming Partnerships at TikTok. "Dance challenges allow TikTok users to feel connected to each other – even if they‘re miles apart – through shared movements and experiences."
As we twirl into the future, the transformative power of communal creativity pioneered by TikTok dance challenges will only continue to grow. While the specific songs and steps may evolve, the core elements of self-expression, shared choreography, and the thrill of going viral will keep the world dancing together on our For You Pages for years to come.
So grab your dancing shoes and your ring light – the world is waiting for you to show off your moves. By keeping up with the latest trends and infusing each challenge with your unique flavor, any brand or creator can harness the joyful marketing power of dance to create connections, find new audiences, and thrive on TikTok. All that‘s left to do is press record – and get dancing!
