How to Learn Dances on Tiktok

Co-authored by Katie Van Note and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: September 26, 2023 References

Tiktok dances are a really fun and engaging way to stay connected with the rest of the world, even if you’re stuck at home. There’s something thrilling about showing off your latest dance moves and posting them for the world to see, but this may seem intimidating—especially if you don’t have a lot of Tiktok dancing experience under your belt. There’s no need to fear! There are all sorts of Tiktok dance tutorials online that you can master with a little bit of patience and persistence. We'll give you guidance on how to learn any dance as well as step-by-step instructions for “Footwork” and “Relationship.”

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

The Basics

1
Watch the video on repeat. Tiktok dances can be really tough to get down at first, especially if you’re looking up a trickier dance tutorial, like “Supalonely” or “Savage.” ^{[1]
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Research source} Watch the video several times before jumping into the dance—this way, you’ll have an idea of what the dance involves before you get started. ^{[2]
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- For instance, a dance like “The Renegade” is a lot more fast-paced, while “Say So” is a bit slower.
2
Look up slow-motion versions of the dance online. Search on YouTube or Tiktok for slowed versions of the dance you’re trying to learn. This will make the dance much easier to follow along with as you figure out the basics. ^{[3]
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- For instance, look up “Slow Motion U Can’t Touch This Dance Tutorial” or “Cannibal Slow-Mo Dance Tutorial” on YouTube to see what comes up.
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3
Practice in front of a mirror so you can perfect your moves. Find an open area in your home where you can see your reflection, like your bedroom or bathroom. Use this area as your dance space, so you can compare your own dance moves to the video tutorial. ^{[4]
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- A room with a full-body mirror is ideal for this.
4
Study the dance moves in small chunks. Pause and repeat small sections of the Tiktok, so you can master each section of the dance. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t get it down at first! Tiktok dances are notoriously challenging, but that will make it all the more satisfying when you nail those moves. ^{[5]
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- For instance, you can break the video down into 5-second chunks and learn the dance that way.
- Some tutorials come with built-in captions or “steps” that you can follow, which makes the learning process a little easier.
Set up your phone in your dancing space and get ready to show your stuff! Put all of your hard work and energy into your new dance skills. Once you’ve finished the dance, upload the video to Tiktok so everyone can see you nailing a Tiktok dance. ^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

“Footwork”

1
Cross your left leg over your right leg. Footwork is a fast-paced dance with moves that you can learn within 20 seconds. Start with feet shoulder-width apart, like you’re just standing around. When the music starts, jump so your left leg is forward and slightly crossed over your right leg. ^{[7]
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- This move will take you about 4 seconds.
2
Reverse this move by crossing by right leg over your left leg. Return to your original position, where your feet are about shoulder-width apart. Repeat the same jump that you did before, but with your right leg crossing over your left this time. ^{[8]
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- This second criss-cross also lasts 4 seconds in the tutorial.
3
Jump and turn your knees towards one another. Reset back to your original position, with your legs shoulder-width apart. Start by shifting your knees so they’re pointing outwards. Then, bend your knees toward each other, turning your legs turned inwards as you go. As you learn the dance, you can take these moves slowly, since you’re still getting the hang of everything. ^{[9]
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- This move only takes 3 seconds to do.
4
Do another jump and point your knees outwards. Shuffle your legs quickly so your knees are facing outward instead of touching each other like they were before. This might feel a little awkward at first, but don’t worry—it’s just part of the dance! ^{[10]
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- This is a quick jump, and only lasts about 1 second.
5
Jump again and point your knees inward. Repeat the same dance move that you did before, bringing your knees towards each other. This only needs to be a quick hop, since this part of the dance is pretty fast-paced. ^{[11]
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- Similar to the previous move, this part of the dance only lasts about 1 second.
6
Hop onto your heels with your legs facing outwards. Jump with your feet facing out, shifting your balance to your heels instead. Try to keep your toes from touching the ground during this part of the dance.
- It might be tricky to hold your balance at first—it’s okay if it takes you a few tries to get it down!
- This lasts about 2 seconds within the dance tutorial.
7
Jump one more time with your feet turned inwards. Shift your weight forward, so you’re now balancing on your toes. At this point, keep your heels off the ground so you can transition smoothly to the next part of the dance. ^{[12]
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- This only lasts about 1 second, and helps you move into the last segment.
8
Criss-cross your feet with your right leg over your left. Jump in the air while you’re balancing on your toes, crossing your legs in the process. Keep your right leg in front of your left leg. At this point, you can try putting all of the dance moves together at a higher speed! ^{[13]
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- This final cross only lasts about 1 second. Afterward, you can string all of the moves together more quickly!
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

“Relationship”

1
Tap your wrist like you’re checking the time. Hold your right arm in front of you, as though you’re looking at your watch. Tap on this imaginary watch twice with your left hand. ^{[14]
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- This matches up with the “had to take the time to take to cut ‘em off” part of the song and only lasts about 1-2 seconds.
2
Shake your hands and elbows outward. Cross your arms to make an “X” shape. Shake your arms up and down twice to make the “X” shape move around. Then, hold both arms on top of one another with your hands in fists, as though you’re making an equal sign. Move your fists towards one another twice to complete this section of the dance. ^{[15]
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- This goes with the “I need help” and the “I know” parts of the lyrics. This segment takes about 2 seconds.
3
Pretend you’re creating a lasso with your left arm. Lift your left arm in the air and move it in a circular, like you’re pretending to be a cowboy. Once you’ve looped your arm around, move your left arm in a figure-8 motion in front of your chest. ^{[16]
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- This follows along with the “how to make the girls” part of the song, which takes 2 seconds.
4
Shake your fists next to your head. Hold up both arms at right angles so your fists are to the left and right of your head. Move your fists back and forth next to your head during the “go crazy” part of the lyrics. ^{[17]
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- This move only lasts about 1 second in the song.
5
Move your right arm to your shoulder and clap your hands. Hold your left arm at your side and bring your right hand up to your left shoulder so your right arm is crossed over your chest. Then, bring both your hands to the front and clap once. ^{[18]
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- This follows along with the “when you treat her” section of the lyrics and takes about 2 seconds.
6
Point both index fingers upwards while flipping them around. Hold out both hands in front of you, pointing your index fingers upwards. Flip them around so the back of your hand is facing front. ^{[19]
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- This matches up with the “number one” part of the lyrics.
7
Rock your arms like you’re cradling a baby. Bring your arms together, creating a big “O” shape. Move your arms back and forth, as though you’re coddling a baby back to sleep. Once you’ve gotten this basic moves down, you can put them all together to perform the dance! ^{[20]
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- This lines up with the “baby” section of the lyrics, and only lasts about 1-2 seconds.
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Tips

Don’t feel like you have to start off with a super hard Tiktok dance at first. Start slow and work your way up—your skills will grow with time!

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How to Learn Dances on Tiktok

Steps

The Basics

“Footwork”

“Relationship”

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Tips

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