How to Make a TikTok Dance

Creating a TikTok dance that catches on is less about professional training and more about understanding what makes people want to join in. It’s a mix of a killer sound, simple-but-memorable moves, and smart promotion. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step-by-step, to choreograph, film, and launch a dance with viral potential.

Understanding the DNA of a Great TikTok Dance

Before you start a single move, it helps to know why some dances explode while others fade away. Viral TikTok dances almost always have three things in common: they’re catchy, easy to learn, and perfectly synced to the music. The goal isn’t to create a complex masterpiece, it’s to create something fun that a huge range of people can replicate in their living rooms.

1. The Moves are Simple and Repetitive

The most successful dances rely on simple, repetitive movements. Think of hand gestures, miming actions, or basic footwork. The original 'Renegade' dance, while fast, is mostly upper-body moves that are easy to mirror. The 'Savage' dance had its iconic hip-sway moment, but the surrounding moves were straightforward and easy to copy. The golden rule is: If someone has to watch it more than three or four times to figure out a move, it’s probably too complicated. The barrier to entry needs to be low for an entire community to adopt it.

2. They're Relatable, Not Expert-Level

You don't need a dance degree! Content designed for the masses works best. The dance should feel achievable for the average person who has never taken a dance class. Focus on moves people already do - pointing, waving, shrugging, acting out lyrics, even silly facial expressions. The funnier or more relatable the move is, the more likely someone is to try it. It’s about creating a moment of shared fun, not a dance recital.

3. It's Intensely Musical

A viral dance isn't just performed to the music, it becomes one with the music. Every popular dance has moments that hit exactly on a lyric or a big beat drop. Listen for those standout moments in a song - a specific word, a bass hit, a cool synth sound - and build a move around it. This is what makes a dance feel satisfying to both perform and watch. When a move perfectly matches the sound, it creates a powerful a-ha moment for the viewer.

Step 1: Finding the Perfect Sound

The audio you choose is half the battle. A great sound with a clear beat, recognizable hooks, and an infectious melody gives you a perfect foundation to build on. A dance choreographed to a boring or confusing song just won't land with the same impact.

Where to Hunt for Trending Sounds

Your "For You Page" (FYP) is your best research tool. If you start hearing the same song clip over and over again, that's your sign. Here’s a breakdown of where to look:

• Your FYP: Scroll mindfully. When a sound grabs your attention, save it. Notice which sounds are being used by creators of all sizes - not just the huge ones. Early adoption is good.
• The TikTok Sound Library: Tap the "+" to create a new video, then tap "Add Sound" at the top. TikTok practically hands you its trending charts, with sections like "TikTok Viral," "New Music," and playlists curated for right now.
• Spotify &, Apple Music's Viral Charts: Check out playlists like Spotify’s “Viral 50.” These often contain songs that are blowing up on TikTok before they hit the mainstream radio. Finding something just as it’s about to pop gives you a first-mover advantage.

What to Listen For in an Audio Clip

Once you start collecting sounds, you need to know what makes one a good dance candidate. Not every trending song works. Look for these qualities:

• A Solid Beat or Rhythm: It should be easy to count to. You need a rhythm that people can instinctively lock into, even with headphones on.
• Obvious “Moments”: Are there clear beat drops? Weird sound effects? Big a cappella singing moments? Pauses in the music? These are the audio cues you’ll hook your key dance moves onto.
• Concise Length: Most TikTok dances use a sound bite that’s between 15 and 30 seconds. A shorter, punchier clip is easier to choreograph and learn, and it encourages people to rewatch for completion, which boosts your video in the algorithm.

Step 2: How to Choreograph Your Moves (Simplicity is Genius)

Okay, this is the fun part. You have your sound. Now, put your phone away, stand up, and play the song clip on a loop. Don't think - just feel the rhythm and see what movements come naturally. The first ideas are often the right ones because they’re usually the most instinctive and simple. Don't edit yourself yet. Just move.

Break the Song into Small Chunks

It’s easier to choreograph an 8-count at a time than an entire 30-second clip. Find the natural sections in the music. Typically, this might be two or three sections of 8 full counts. For example:

• First 8-count: Introduce a simple opening move. Maybe a step-touch with some arm movement.
• Second 8-count: This is where you put your “hook” or signature move. What’s the one part everyone will remember? Let it land here, often on a major lyric or beat drop.
• Third 8-count: Bring it home with a finishing move that repeats or complements the first part. This makes the dance feel complete and look great on a loop.

Your Choreography Toolbox: Easy Moves That Always Work

You don't need years of classical training to put moves together. Leaning on a few simple concepts can make your choreography clean, clear, and easy to copy:

• Literal Interpretation (Miming): This is the easiest and most effective trick. If the song says "call me," bring a pretend phone to your ear. If it says "look at me," point at your eyes. This connects the dance directly to the sound in a way anyone can understand immediately.
• Repetitive Arm Movements: Choreography for TikTok is often filmed on a phone screen, which means upper-body or "arm-ography" is very visually effective. Hand waves, pointing patterns, punches, claps, and arm circles don't take up a lot of space and are easy to follow on a small screen.
• Simple Footwork: Keep it clean. A simple two-step, a rock side-to-side, a front-and-back weight shift, or a kick is all you need. Wild leg movements are hard to see and even harder for amateurs to copy in a confined space.
• Direction Changes: Add variety simply by changing which way you’re facing. Maybe you do the first 8-count facing forward, then turn to the side for the hook move. It adds dynamic flair without being complex.

Practice your sequence until it's smooth. It shouldn't just be a string of moves, but a flowing set of actions. Record it on your phone and watch it back. Does it look too hard? Is it clunky? Tweak and simplify until it feels just right.

Step 3: Film and Edit for a Professional Feel

How you shoot your video matters just as much as the dance itself. A poorly lit, shaky video can make even the best dance look amateur. A clean, bright video is inviting and makes the moves easy to see and learn.

Filming Best Practices

• Find Great Lighting: Natural light is your best friend. Stand facing a window to get soft, even light on your face and body. Avoid having the window behind you, which will turn you into a silhouette. If natural light isn't an option, a simple ring light works wonders.
• A Steady Camera is Non-Negotiable: Nothing kills a video faster than shaky cam. Use a tripod. If you don't have one, prop your phone up securely on a stack of books, a shelf, or a windowsill. Make sure it's at eye level or slightly above.
• Choose a Clean Background: You are the star of the show, not the pile of laundry in the corner. Film against a plain wall, a neat part of your room, or somewhere outdoors with an interesting but not-too-busy backdrop. The focus should be entirely on your movements.
• Get the Framing Right: Make sure your whole body - head to feet - is in the shot. People need to see your footwork. Step back to give yourself enough room to move without hitting things or dipping out of the frame.

Smart In-App Editing

TikTok’s built-in editor has everything you need to polish your video. A few small touches can make a big difference.

• Trim with Precision: Trim the start and end of your video so the action begins immediately and the loop is seamless. Cut out the moments where you’re walking to or from the camera to press record.
• Use On-Screen Text Strategically: Adding a simple text overlay can signal what you want people to do. Start the video with text like "New Dance Alert!" or end it with "Duet This!" This directs viewers and encourages participation.
• Add Captions/Subtitles: Making your content accessible helps a wider audience engage. You can add automated captions to highlight lyrics or to provide visual cues.

Step 4: Launch and Promote Your Dance Challenge

Hitting "post" isn't the finish line, it's the starting gun. Now you need to give your dance the best possible chance to spread.

Craft an Effective Caption and Hashtag Strategy

Your caption tells the story behind your video and directs users on what to do next. Your hashtags get your video in front of the right eyeballs.

• Your Caption: Keep it short and create a call to action. Add "DC: me" or "DC: @yourusername" to take credit for the dance creation. A simple, "Hopping on this sound with my own dance! DC me if you try it! 🤗" works perfectly.
• Your Hashtags: Use a mix of general and specific hashtags.
  • Broad dance tags: #dancechallenge, #dancetutorial, #newdance
  • Sound-specific tags: If the song is "Sunshine Day," use #sunshinedaydance. This helps people find your dance when they search for the sound.
  • Audience tags: Use tags like #foryou as a classic signal to the algorithm.
  • Create your own dance hashtag: If you give your dance a name, like The Sunshine Slide, use #TheSunshineSlide consistently.

Engage, Engage, Engage

The first few hours after you post are critical. After launching, stick around and interact with the people who engage with your content. This shows the algorithm that your content is creating conversation.

• Reply to All Comments: When someone takes the time to comment, reply to them. It builds community and gives your video extra interaction juice right out of the gate.
• Amplify Early Adopters: If someone does your dance, you need to elevate them. Duet their video or Stitch it to show you saw it and appreciate it. This encourages more people to participate, as they see they might get a shoutout from the original creator. This creates a feedback loop that fuels the trend.

Final Thoughts

Making a successful TikTok dance is an awesome recipe of simple moves, a great song choice, and smart promotion. Focus on creating something fun and accessible that anyone can try, and remember to engage with everyone who joins in to help build momentum from the ground up.

Creating content is the first step, but having a solid plan to schedule and promote it helps so much. Once you have a batch of content filmed - whether it’s your new dance, a BTS of you practicing, or a tutorial - we built Postbase to make a big difference. It was built from the start for short-form video, so you can upload your Reels and TikToks in one place, schedule them out on a visual content calendar, and manage all your comments without having to frantically switch between apps.