If you grew up in the boomer era, you know that dancing wasn’t just about moving to the music—it was about showing off. From wild arm flailing to intricate footwork that required actual skill, the dance floors of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s were packed with moves that, looking back, seem completely outlandish. These weren’t just casual sways or polite waltzes—these were full-body experiences that could leave you breathless, tangled up, or flat on your back if you weren’t careful. But for a time, they were the coolest thing you could do at a party. Let’s take a look at 12 outlandish boomer dance moves that were surprisingly popular.
1. The Twist
When Chubby Checker brought “The Twist” to the masses in 1960, it changed everything. Before this, dancing usually involved a partner, but The Twist let you dance solo, giving people the freedom to cut loose without worrying about fancy footwork. It was simple—you just bent your knees and swiveled your hips like you were stubbing out a cigarette with your feet.
It sounds easy, but once people got into it, things got out of control. The wilder you twisted, the cooler you looked—until someone lost their balance and tumbled into a table full of drinks. The best part? It was so popular that even parents and grandparents got in on the action, making it one of the few dance crazes that everyone could participate in without looking completely ridiculous.
2. The Mashed Potato
If you could move your feet fast enough, you could dominate the dance floor with The Mashed Potato. Made famous by Dee Dee Sharp’s 1962 hit Mashed Potato Time, this move involved lifting your heels up and down quickly while keeping your toes planted. The end result was a fast, shuffling motion that looked completely absurd but somehow worked with the right song.
It wasn’t just a leg workout—it was an endurance test. If you weren’t in decent shape, you’d find yourself gasping for breath after just one song. And heaven help you if you tried to mix in arm movements—it was easy to get way too enthusiastic and knock into whoever was dancing next to you.
3. The Jerk
Yes, this dance was actually called The Jerk. And that’s exactly what it looked like—wild, erratic arm and leg movements that made dancers look like they were being electrocuted. It was all about quick, exaggerated jolts of movement in time with the music, and somehow, the more uncoordinated you looked, the better.
It became popular in the mid-‘60s and even had its own theme song, The Jerk by The Larks. But the truth is, not everyone could pull it off without looking like they were in serious distress. The key was to keep it cool—something that became nearly impossible once you realized how ridiculous you looked in a mirror.
4. The Hitchhiker
The Hitchhiker was exactly what it sounds like—a dance that involved sticking out your thumb like you were trying to catch a ride and moving it side to side in rhythm with the music. It was easy, it was goofy, and it was everywhere in the ‘60s, thanks to songs like Vanity Fare’s Hitchin’ a Ride.
The problem? If you weren’t careful, you could end up accidentally smacking someone in the face with your wildly enthusiastic thumbs. And if you went overboard with the hitchhiking motion, you risked looking like you were desperately trying to escape the dance floor rather than own it.
5. The Watusi
Inspired by an actual African tribal dance (though completely unrelated to it), The Watusi was a full-body workout that required serious shoulder action. The goal was to shimmy your shoulders up and down while keeping your arms stiff and pumping them in opposite directions.
It sounds easy enough, but in reality, people got carried away. If you moved too aggressively, you could throw your back out or end up looking like one of those wacky inflatable tube men outside a car dealership. Still, it was a guaranteed way to stand out—because no one could ignore the person convulsing on the dance floor.
6. The Monkey
As if The Watusi wasn’t wild enough, The Monkey took things up a notch. This dance involved hunching over slightly, curling your hands like monkey paws, and bouncing up and down while swinging your arms. It looked completely absurd, but that was part of the charm.
It didn’t take long before people started incorporating exaggerated facial expressions, making it even more ridiculous. The Monkey was fun, sure, but it also made you look completely unhinged if you didn’t commit to the bit. No wonder it didn’t last much beyond the ‘60s.
7. The Funky Chicken
If you’ve ever seen someone flapping their arms, bobbing their head, and looking like a chicken in distress, congratulations—you’ve witnessed The Funky Chicken. Inspired by the 1970 song Do the Funky Chicken by Rufus Thomas, this dance was pure chaos.
The problem? It was impossible to do this dance and look cool at the same time. It was one thing to be confident in your dance moves, but watching a room full of adults clucking and flapping was enough to make anyone rethink the trend.
8. The Boogaloo
The Boogaloo was all about fluid movements, sharp turns, and rolling your shoulders in a way that looked almost robotic. It was one of the earliest funk dance styles and later influenced breakdancing, but in its original form, it looked like a bunch of people trying to shake something out of their jackets.
If done right, The Boogaloo was smooth and stylish. But for most people, it just turned into an awkward series of jerky twitches that made it look like they were malfunctioning.
9. The Swim
If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like if a bunch of people decided to pretend they were swimming on dry land, The Swim was the answer. Popular in the ‘60s, this dance involved mimicking different swimming strokes—breaststroke, backstroke, and even the dog paddle—while grooving to the music.
It was fun, sure, but also deeply embarrassing if you got too into it. There’s something about flailing your arms like you’re drowning in thin air that just doesn’t translate to a cool dance move.
10. The Robot
The Robot is probably the only dance on this list that still survives today, but when it first appeared in the late ‘60s, it was just plain weird. Moving in stiff, mechanical motions while keeping a completely expressionless face made dancers look like they were glitching in real life.
It eventually became iconic in the ‘70s with pop-locking and breakdancing, but in its early days, most people just looked like they were struggling to function.
11. The Pogo
The Pogo was a ‘70s punk rock dance that was as simple as it was ridiculous—all you had to do was jump up and down in place like you were on a human trampoline.
While it looked fun, it also led to a lot of bruises and accidental collisions. If you weren’t careful, you’d end up bouncing right into someone else, and suddenly, the dance floor turned into a mosh pit.
12. The Hustle
No list would be complete without The Hustle—the disco dance that took over in the mid-‘70s. The problem? It involved so many coordinated steps, spins, and arm movements that one wrong move could send you crashing into the nearest table.
It was elegant when done right, but a disaster for anyone who didn’t practice. That didn’t stop everyone from trying, though, and for a while, if you weren’t doing The Hustle, were you even dancing?
Boomers had some of the wildest dance moves in history, and while some have survived, others are best left in the past. But hey—at least they got people moving, even if they looked a little ridiculous doing it!
