Run, Twist, Stomp Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mexican Hat Dance

The Mexican Hat Dance, or Jarabe Tapatio, is based on a Mexican folk dance depicting a courtship ritual. It was banned in the 19th century because of its sexual nature (which I never noticed when I learned to dance it at ballroom dancing classes as a ten-year-old).

As well as being considered virtually the national dance of Mexico, it is very popular at Australian bush dances, where it is often performed as a progressive dance, with couples changing partners after each bout of swinging.

Answer: Bunny Hop

The Bunny Hop was apparently invented at a San Francisco high school in 1952, and spread like wildfire, partly due to the recording of the most commonly used tune by Ray Anthony's big band. (The flip side of this single featured another novelty dance, the Hokey Pokey.) Once the line has formed, dancers move in unison, tapping their left feet twice, then their right feet twice; this is followed by a hop forwards, a hop backwards, and three hops forwards.

The lead dancer guides the line around the floor as they go.

Answer: Limbo

The Limbo originated in Trinidad in the 1950s, and is usually performed to Caribbean (or Caribbean-influenced) music. Chubby Checker recorded a song called "Limbo Rock" in 1962 which is a popular accompaniment, but almost any song with a clave rhythm can be readily used. Each dancer must bend backwards and slide under the pole without touching it, or letting any part of their body other than their feet touch the floor, or they are eliminated.

After all have made their attempt, the bar is lowered for the next round.

The winner is the last dancer standing (or leaning).

Answer: The Twist

The Twist was the first big dance craze of the 1960s, and led to the development of many spin-offs, such as the Jerk, the Monkey, and many more. Does anyone remember the Freddy, as performed by Freddy and the Dreamers? The twist basically involves rotating your legs, hips and torso while standing on the balls of your feet, and keeping your shoulders stationary.

While learning, it used to be recommended that you imagined you were holding a towel in your two hands, and swiveling your hips so as to dry them on the towel.

There was a long string of Twist-titled hit songs in the early 60s, before its successors took over the limelight.

Answer: Moonwalk

The moonwalk is usually associated with Michael Jackson, who performed it while presenting "Billie Jean" on a television special in 1983. However, he did not create it - Cab Calloway had performed a similar move back in the 1930s, which he referred to as "The Buzz".

It is also very similar to Marcel Marceau's "Walking Against the Wind" routine. The list of performers who have incorporated this dance movement into their work is lengthy.

Answer: Nutbush

The Nutbush was most often performed in the 1970s to the Tina Turner song "Nutbush City Limits" (a reference to her birthplace, Nutbush TN). The actual steps, however, are older than that. If you've never danced it, you can either sit out the first verse while you watch, or memorise this:

Right foot out and in twice, left foot out and in twice; right foot back and forward twice, left foot back and forward twice; right knee to left hip twice,left knee to right hip twice; right leg kick across body, left leg kick across body, turn clockwise a quarter turn, pause and clap. Now you're ready to do it all over again!

Answer: Running Man

This move has been performed by many, including MC Hammer, Milli Vanilli, Vanilla Ice and Will Smith (as Fresh Prince). It produces the illusion of running in place, by starting with a forward jump step, followed by a single or double backwards hop on the same foot; repeat on the other side.

This move is often incorporated into the dance style known as Melbourne Shuffle (at least, that is what it's called here in Melbourne).

Answer: The Pony

What little girl didn't want a pony? This 1960s dance was performed as a couples dance, but did not involve physical contact - partners faced each other as they jumped around, raising their arms overhead as they ponied left, lowering them as they ponied right. Most commonly, the accompanying music was Chubby Checker's "Pony Time". (That man has a lot to answer for.)

Answer: Macarena

Los del Rio's recording of "Macarena", released in 1994, produced one of the major dance crazes of the 1990s. You couldn't go to a high school dance without seeing everyone on their feet waving their arms sensuously to this quintessential one-hit-wonder.

If you are interested, and don't remember, here are the steps, one beat of the music at a time:

Place right arm straight out in front of you at shoulder height, palm facing down
Place left arm straight out in front of you at shoulder height, palm facing down
Turn right hand so palm is facing up
Turn left hand so palm is facing up
Right hand grasps left elbow
Left hand grasps right elbow
Place right hand behind neck
Place left hand behind neck
Place right hand on left front hip
Place left hand on right front hip
Place right hand on right back buttock
Place left hand on left back buttock
Swing your hips to the left
Swing your hips to the right
Swing your hips to the left
Clap your hands and jump in the air, turning 90 degrees to the right

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Answer: Chicken Dance

"Der Ententanz" ("The Duck Dance") was written in the 1950s by a Swiss accordion player named Werner Thomas. Over the years it has been known by a variety of bird-related names. In 1981 a German band trying to introduce the song and dance to the American audience wanted to perform in duck costumes, but there were none at hand, so they used some chicken costumes offered for their use, and the Chicken Dance was born.

All together now, make chicken-beak squawking movements with your hands, then tuck your hands under your armpits and flap your wings; make the shape of a chicken's wings with your arms, and wiggle downwards to a squat; clap as you rise backup; repeat ad nauseum.