# Best dance routine in a music video **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 9, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380 "2015-01-09T09:27:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/1 "2015-01-09T09:27:12Z")
I saw the thread about Sia’s new video for Elastic Heart which of course reminded me of Chandelier from last year, both featuring great dance routines by Maddie Ziegler. But I have to say that even over a year later, I can still watch Arcade Fire’s video for [Afterlife](http://youtu.be/tBTTd0gfkn0) on repeat and not tire of it. It’s not a music video per se because it’s a live performance, but you’d be hard pressed to tell either way. A great song by a talented band featuring an enchanting actress (Greta Gerwig) and directed by a creative director (Spike Jonze) makes it all come together, IMO. So, if we were to have a music video dance-off, which one would you put up as your contender? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/2 "2015-01-09T13:14:12Z")
My absolute favorite is [“Miss You Much”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVF0zcqr9Dg) by Janet Jackson. Daft Punk’s [Around the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MszVE7aR4) is also pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![RiCu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RiCu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiCu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/3 "2015-01-09T13:23:21Z")
To get to the third post and not have a mention of MJ’s Thriller seems remiss. Utah Saints video for Something Good is excellent and well worth checking out, not just a great routine but a factual account of the origin of The Running Man. Can’t link as on phone, sorry. Although probably not a great bit of dancing OK Go’s dance on the video for Here I Go Again deserves a mention for having the band dance on treadmills. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/4 "2015-01-09T13:28:25Z")
Maybe not what you are looking for, but I’ve always enjoyed Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim [Weapon Of Choice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ7z57qrZU8). ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/5 "2015-01-09T18:00:36Z")
> [@Saturn\_Dreams](#): > > I saw the thread about Sia’s new video for Elastic Heart which of course reminded me of Chandelier from last year, both featuring great dance routines by Maddie Ziegler. But I have to say that even over a year later, I can still watch Arcade Fire’s video for [Afterlife](http://youtu.be/tBTTd0gfkn0) on repeat and not tire of it. It’s not a music video per se because it’s a live performance, but you’d be hard pressed to tell either way. A great song by a talented band featuring an enchanting actress (Greta Gerwig) and directed by a creative director (Spike Jonze) makes it all come together, IMO. > > So, if we were to have a music video dance-off, which one would you put up as your contender? Are we including K-pop? Gotta be “Growl” by EXO or “I’ve Got A Boy” by Girls Generation, though I know many would argue “Catch Me” by TVXQ. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/6 "2015-01-09T18:56:58Z")
Not sure if this meets your qualifications, but I get mesmerized watching [World Order](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ua64HbsBUo) do their thing. And of course, I’d be remiss not to mention [Jaan Pehechaan Ho](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgeuUAzThto). ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/7 "2015-01-09T20:07:29Z")
I vote for Benny Lava. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/sdyC1BrQd6g/hqdefault.jpg "Benny Lava...(WITH LYRICS) Hilarious") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdyC1BrQd6g) ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/8 "2015-01-11T18:25:16Z")
Paula Abdul - [Cold Hearted](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7aShcmEksw) is just a great dance video. More recent, Pink - [Try](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/9 "2015-01-11T18:29:12Z")
> [@RiCu](#): > > To get to the third post and not have a mention of MJ’s Thriller seems remiss. I’d add his [Smooth Criminal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_D3VFfhvs4) to the list. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/10 "2015-01-11T18:33:12Z")
[Not what you’re looking for, but it _is_ dancing, there\* is \*music, and it _is_ on video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/11 "2015-01-11T20:15:49Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Maybe not what you are looking for, but I’ve always enjoyed Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim [Weapon Of Choice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ7z57qrZU8). I came here to say that. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/12 "2015-01-11T20:43:51Z")
> [@campp](#): > > Maybe not what you are looking for, but I’ve always enjoyed Christopher Walken and Fatboy Slim [Weapon Of Choice](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ7z57qrZU8). That was the first to pop into my mind, too. I also liked [Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et9b7LWfnxQ), though, yeah, maybe gimmicky. It REALLY helps that I like both songs. ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/13 "2015-01-12T02:28:26Z")
Great suggestions, some classics and some unconventional. I wasn’t thinking of Bollywood movie clips when I made this thread but Benny Lava was pretty cool, even without the translated “lyrics”. ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/14 "2015-01-12T02:44:53Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > [Not what you’re looking for, but it _is_ dancing, there\* is \*music, and it _is_ on video.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM) Gosh, I could name so many that are great and innovative… but really, can anyone outdo the Nicholas Brothers in that clip? Good Golly!! ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/15 "2015-01-12T18:03:11Z")
I like most of the videos posted. Paula Abdul always had fun choreography. Here’s two favorites of mine that are live performances but \*\*should \*\*be official videos: [Wrecking Orchestra dancers doing a Tron thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rot9uaVO8s) [Yulia and Riccardo–Hello Baby](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btfjUTSrXOk) The latter were my idols back when I was teaching ballroom dance and doing some choreography. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/16 "2015-01-12T18:40:05Z")
I’ve always loved the bad-ass choreography in Janet Jackson’s video for “[Rhythm Nation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAwaNWGLM0c).” > [@Elemenopy](#): > > I like most of the videos posted. Paula Abdul always had fun choreography. That she did. She choreographed most of the videos from Janet Jackson’s album _Control_. Her own videos were fun to watch too, my favorite being “Straight Up.” ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/17 "2015-01-12T20:07:55Z")
Okay I have a question about the “Smooth Criminal” dance. I know that they put nails in the floor and the dancer’s shoes have little v’s cut in them to slide onto the nail to facilitate that _lean_ that they do. My question is: how do the dancers not trip or snag on the nails in the floor otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![Cara\_mel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@Cara\_mel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cara_mel)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/18 "2015-01-12T22:08:48Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > Okay I have a question about the “Smooth Criminal” dance. I know that they put nails in the floor and the dancer’s shoes have little v’s cut in them to slide onto the nail to facilitate that _lean_ that they do. My question is: how do the dancers not trip or snag on the nails in the floor otherwise? My understanding is that the lean was performed with cables in the video. On stage however, you’ll see that the lean is performed over to the side of the stage, which is blacked out first (while one guy dances with the old-fashioned bomb). As Michael and his dancers get set up, the lights come on, they do the lean, then dance away from that area. According to the patent, the bolts rise out of the stage platform, which is then retracted to become flush with the stage floor. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/19 "2015-01-12T22:18:49Z")
[Gotta love the running man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7MC8Lw5e9Q) ---
**Author:** ![RiCu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19adc/32.png) [@RiCu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiCu)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380/20 "2015-01-12T22:54:27Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > [Gotta love the running man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7MC8Lw5e9Q) Beat you to it in post 3 / thanks for posting the link. > [@RiCu](#): > > Utah Saints video for Something Good is excellent and well worth checking out, not just a great routine but a factual account of the origin of The Running Man. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-dance-routine-in-a-music-video/709380.md?page=2)