Social Media Provides Welcome Boost as Interest in Dancing Explodes Online 05/06/2020

These days you can’t go on social media without seeing somebody dancing.

Beginners are doing it, competitive athletes are doing it, young people, old people and everybody in between – even health care workers have been getting in on the act during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And let’s not forget celebrities. Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande have always been known to bust a move or two, but one look at the video for their latest No. 1 hit Stuck with You, and it’s easy to see what a massive “thing” dancing in front of your cellphone has become around the world.

And that, of course, can only be good news for DanceSport, which includes a number of competitive dance disciplines.

“It’s definitely way more popular than ever,” says Moy Rivas, aka b-boy Moy. “I think all social media platforms have been a great form of connectivity and engagement for the world. People are coming across content, especially Breaking cultural content, they’re familiarizing themselves with dance. And people want to do it. It’s intriguing. All social media platforms combined -- not just TikTok and Instagram, you know, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube -- have definitely been a motivating boost, especially with the younger demographic of people who are interested in art.”

Rivas should know. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Athletes’ Commission Member and Athlete Role Model at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 says he has seen a major uptick in interest in his dance studios in Houston and Kansas City, so much so that there are plans under way to open another half dozen locations in 2020 and another 15 to 20 locations in 2021.

During the pandemic, Rivas says, his main focus has been to sustain the momentum Breaking had before social-distancing restrictions meant that people couldn’t physically visit his studios anymore.

Enter the internet.

“As of March, we have been offering online classes to our current student body of over 300 students and are now expanding registration to people nationally and globally,” he says, adding that he also organized a six-day online event that featured 192 international b-boys and b-girls and was watched live in 315 different cities across 75 different countries. It proved so successful that a second online event is scheduled for 9 to 13 July.

Other DanceSport disciplines have also been finding appreciative audiences online recently. World Rock’n’Roll Confederation (WRRC) President and WDSF Presidium Member Miriam Kerpan Izak, for example, claims that while COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on the global competition calendar, social media has been a shining beacon for Rock’n’Roll dancers during what has otherwise been a fairly dismal couple of months.

“Social media has proved to be really positive, because people have been restricted to their homes, while online they have been able to feel part of a bigger group,” says Kerpan Izak, who recently held a live Q&A of her own on Facebook. “Our top athletes have been sharing their knowledge online, and we noticed that it started with some local training in different countries, then [videoconferencing platform] Zoom took off and suddenly all our member countries and clubs – everyone – had their own online training going on.”

“I have never seen so many videos, so much activity online, as I have during this period,” she adds.

The WDSF has enjoyed a certain amount of success online during the pandemic as well, with literally hundreds of dancers of all skill levels eagerly taking part in our #dontstopdancing campaign. On Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok and in countries from Australia to the United States, people took to the campaign in the most creative ways imaginable, which helped lift spirits and inspire us all to continue dancing for the pure joy of it.

For one of the most tech-savvy Latin couples on the scene today, Kristina Moshenskaya and Marius-Andrei Balan, their increased presence on social media has allowed them to forge a deeper connection with their fans and students while also giving them a platform to encourage people of all ages to lead healthier lifestyles -- another major benefit of so much physical activity on social media platforms.

“I see that many people are dancing on social media, even older people. And I appreciate that,” says Moshenskaya. “Some people say ‘TikTok is too childish’ and so on but as long as people remain positive and keep moving, I think it’s important. As long as people are moving and doing something healthy and receiving some pleasure from it, I think it’s totally great.”

In addition to physical health benefits, dancing can also have a positive impact on mental health, in particular during uncertain times like that brought about by COVID-19. The mental boost is a collateral bonus for many people taking their first forays into dance, according to Roger Cunningham, a former soloist with the Boston Ballet and Béjart Ballet who now runs two dance schools in Switzerland.

“Over the past three or four years I do think dance is coming back, not only into the lives of kids and teens but also a lot of adults who are getting back into different styles of dance classes,” Cunningham says. “I think for a lot of people who like moving, fitness, stretching, etc., they are finding that in most dance classes you have not only a great physical workout but also a great mental challenge.”

Cunningham credits social media for playing a key role in the growing interest in all forms of dance, and in getting more and more people of all ages, sizes and abilities shuffling their feet.

“Social media has given a lot of people the confidence to return to dance classes and not think that dance is only for a certain body type or look. This for me has to be one of the greatest results of social media,” he says. “Adults today are back in dance classes. It’s not just about becoming a professional dancer but also about finding your dance, changes to the body, development of children, elegance, posture, and being disciplined in everything we do in life.”

………

Should you wish to have a go at some of the trendiest dance steps of 2020, here are the 19 most viral dances on TikTok, from the ‘Renegade’ to ‘TOES.’ Upload your results and don’t forget to tag us #WDSF #DontStopDancing. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.

#DontStopDancing, everyone!