15 School Dance Trends from the ’80s and ’90s
Relive the magic of ‘80s and ‘90s school dances, where iconic moves, over-the-top fashion, and unforgettable songs turned every gymnasium into a time capsule of pure nostalgia!
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Teen school dances during the ’80s and ’90s were an exhilarating blend of legendary dance crazes, irrepressible music, and in-your-face fashion that set the tone for teenage culture. From breakdancing battles and neon leg warmers to boy band-choreographed group dances and over-the-top promposals, each dance floor was transformed into a stage of self-expression and enjoyment. Whether practicing the Moonwalk, directing the Macarena, or simply slow dancing awkwardly to a power ballad, these fads made memories that still bring a smile to our faces today.
1. Breakdancing Battles
Image from Forbes
In imitation of hip-hop’s popularity, students would gather in circles around breakdancers performing their most impressive windmills, headspins, and freezes. These informal battles created a jolt of electricity at school dances, sometimes producing friendly competition. Cardboard or linoleum was occasionally wheeled in for a better surface to spin upon.
2. The Moonwalk Frenzy
Image from France 24
Michael Jackson’s iconic 1983 appearance of the moonwalk dance on Motown 25 made this dance move a required school dance move. Everyone tried to learn to glide backward like they were cheating, even when they only succeeded in dragging along the floor. The cool kids mastered it; others just used socks and slippery floors for a slight advantage.
3. Neon and Leg Warmers
Image from Intermezzo
Due to Flashdance (1983) and the aerobics phenomenon, neon hues, leg warmers, and off-the-shoulder sweatshirts were the de facto school dance dress code. The fashion was as much about being comfortable as visible under the dance floor’s bright lights. Girls wore teased hair, and guys wore pastel-colored suits and high-top shoes.
4. Slow Dancing to Power Ballads
Image from Brides
No ’80s dance didn’t involve a choreographed slow dance to Every Rose Has Its Thorn or Open Arms. Couples danced awkwardly with their arms clutched tightly around each other’s waists, leaving enough room for only a chaperone-approved amount of space between them. A few upped the ante by dramatic lip-syncing to the lyrics, emphasizing the drama.
5. The Robot Revival
Image from Howcast
Although The Robot was born during the ’70s, in the ’80s, it boomed again, thanks to electronic music and some of the initial hip-hop moves. Dancers would lock their arms and pop them in mechanized movements to the rhythm of songs such as Rockit by Herbie Hancock. Even you, with your two left feet, could muster a simple form, making it the move to master.
6. The Running Man
Image from Howcast
This dance was an overnight sensation following Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation days and MC Hammer’s U Can’t Touch This. The step involved running in place by stepping in place and pushing one foot back, giving the impression of running in place. Anyone who learned it immediately became the focal point.
7. Prom-Themed Masquerade Balls
Image from Prom Nite
Themed proms became popular in the ’80s, with masquerade balls being one of the most popular options. Students donned fancy masks with their tuxedos and prom gowns, giving them an aura of mystery and sophistication. Most attempted to execute a dramatic mask reveal during a slow dance, only to realize sweaty faces and hairspray didn’t blend well.
8. The Sprinkler & The Shopping Cart
Image from YouTube
These silly dance steps resulted from sheer fun and a lack of serious dancing abilities. The Sprinkler was done by swinging one arm in the motion of a rotating sprinkler head while the other hand simulated turning a knob. The Shopping Cart saw dancers simulating pushing a cart as they took off picks from shelves, ideal for anyone who didn’t care much about looking serious.
9. The Macarena Madness
Image from Instructables
By the middle of the ’90s, Macarena by Los Del Rio was an unstoppable dance craze at all school events. Its easy, monotonous arm waves made it simple for even the most uncoordinated students to dance along. DJs were sure that as soon as the first beats were played, the whole dance floor would be in complete synchrony.
10. Boy Band-Inspired Dance Crews
Image from Tatler Asia
Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees were the names on everyone’s lips, and their iconic choreographed routines landed on dance floors. Friend groups would copy out synchronized moves from Everybody (Backstreet’s Back) or Bye Bye Bye and make every school dance a mini-pop concert. A few bold ones even tried to pull off Justin Timberlake’s signature turns, with some success.
11. Glow Stick Raving
Image from Mixing A Band
With the rise of electronic dance music in the late ’90s, students began adding glow sticks to their dance moves. School dances were infected with rave culture, as students spun glow sticks on strings or created elaborate hand gestures. The blacker the room, the more hypnotic the effect—until someone was bound to get hit in the face.
12. The Cabbage Patch & The Roger Rabbit
Image from YouTube
These ’90s hip-hop dance steps were dance floor favorites, whether you were blessed with rhythm or not. The Cabbage Patch was rotating your arms in circles while dancing side to side, and The Roger Rabbit was pretending to run in reverse. You could find these moves at any dance, accompanied by oversized JNCO pants and bucket hats.
13. The Cha Cha Slide & Electric Slide Takeover
Image from YouTube
School dances owed their popularity to line dances brought on by DJ Casper’s Cha Cha Slide and the universally loved Electric Slide. The straightforward step patterns enabled even the most hesitant students to join without self-consciousness. “Everybody clap your hands!” was the one signal to have an entire room dance as a unit.
14. Jock Jams Pump-Up Anthems
Image from Wikipedia
No ’90s school dance would be complete without a pumped-up session fueled by Jock Jams hits such as Pump Up the Jam and Whoomp! (There It Is). These anthems had masses in motion, tending to create zealous mosh-pit-style energy. The DJ would thump up the bass, and students would make the dance floor their own high-energy sporting event.
15. Over-the-Top Promposals
Image from Argus Leader
By the late ’90s, the basic “Will you go to prom with me?” became over-the-top promposals. Teens went all out with decorated lockers, flash mobs choreographed to music, and even prom proposals written out in rose petals. This marked the beginning of the over-the-top promposals of the 2000s, as a simple ask was no longer sufficient.