Top 10 Disney Channel Dances We Still Remember
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Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Disney Channel Dances We Still Remember. For this list, we’ll be looking at some moves from several live-action series that bring you right back to your childhood. If we left out any of your favorite choreography, bust a move on over to the comments!
Even when things go awry - as they often do at the Tipton - the show must go on! Zack and Cody enter a ballroom dance competition with hopes of one of them taking the title…but when ego leads their respective partners to stray, the twins team up. The dazzling sequin jackets pulled us in, but the rose passed between gritted teeth absolutely engrained this number in our brains. Once the power struggle for lead has faded, the twins’ routine really starts to shine. The final lift may have been technically sound, but unfortunately disqualifies the unlikely pair from the competition. If we could, we’d definitely award them points for quick-thinking and pizzazz!
When you’re young, you’ll do anything for your friends - or with your friends. With the possibility of Tawny leaving for the school of arts, Louis finds a way to follow her. Naturally, he enlists his bestie to assist with the audition. Louis and Twitty look like they’ve just changed for gym class and forgot about being partnered for a presentation. The way they happily flail about to spoken word and banjo-playing never fails to make us laugh. It’s the true embodiment of adolescent shenanigans, while also highlighting the importance of friendships and group dynamics.
If there’s one thing a Disney kid can’t resist, it’s a challenge. Austin shows where his loyalties lie when he fires a backup dancer that breaks his friend’s heart. But, in true tween TV fashion, they decide to gamble his spot on the team with a dance-off. The drama pulls us in as if we don’t already know that the hero always comes out on top. Even knowing the outcome, it never makes it any less exciting to watch a dance competition, especially when the boys are doing all sorts of flips and tricks for the number one spot. Go Austin!
Gen Z may be tech-savvy and building careers on influencing…but Millennials had the privilege of living through the Krumping craze! The aggressive and expressive style of dance soared in popularity in the early 2000s, appearing frequently in mainstream media. While the hype may have died down a bit, “Jessie” took the opportunity to playfully jab the dance. It’s hokey and exaggerated in the way that all Disney Channel shows are, but that’s actually what makes this particular scene sort of endearing. It captures the generational divide perfectly while the younger kids watch with disdain as Jessie and Bertram form unlikely dance partners. It’s surprisingly entertaining and Bertram can really bust a move!
Even in the future, siblings get on each others’ nerves. In a ploy to get Phil and Pim to understand one another better, their dad makes them switch bodies. However, Pim uses the opportunity to embarrass her big brother. Phil’s body is thrust in front of his classmates for an impromptu performance. An emotional quatrain is followed by some jazzy steps around the class. If those moves weren’t memorable enough, don’t worry - because his classmates made sure to take plenty of photos! (Ah, the good old flip phone camera quality.) To be perfectly honest, this seems like a pretty satisfying revenge from a younger sibling scorned.
Back in the day, music videos were everything. Each chart-topping hit had a specific visual to go alongside it. Most of those videos had dancers who were handpicked to perform. Like many teenage girls, Raven and Chelsea took a shot at auditioning for their favorite artist, Pressure. Competition is fierce and the routine is, well…unique, to say the least! Many of us could do this routine to this day, but it’s too funny not to get distracted by Raven and Chelsea’s off-beat approach. We might just have to break this combo out for next wedding season.
It must have been a requirement at Disney Channel auditions to be a triple-threat. Nobody embodies that talent more than the cast of “Shake It Up”. The performance of the single “Overtime” is nothing short of grand. Rows of dancers clad in construction gear keep our eyes darting across the stage, while the synchronized steps are hilariously mimicked off-stage by the late Leslie Jordan. Even with all the commotion and flashing lights, CeCe and Rocky take full control of the performance. We can’t help but think that maybe this was the inspiration behind Fifth Harmony’s “Work From Home” video?
Even pop-stars have to pass biology! If you grew up in the early aughts, there's a good chance Hannah Montana taught you what a patella is. While many series spouted out the importance of an education in an “after-school special” type of fashion, Disney managed to hide its educational purposes with a smash hit. Miley cleverly uses the melody of “Nobody’s Perfect” in place of a pneumonic device to study for class. Although her teacher is originally against this method of learning, it clearly worked both on and off the show. According to a study from Harvard University, music can play a big role in memorization and nostalgia.
We always wondered if Keira Knightley ever caught wind of her role in this iconic friendship song. It’s short, sweet and simple enough to catch on just after one watch…and also to remember more than fifteen years later! It took something as mundane as headwear and turned it into its own little inside joke for kids watching the show. If you happened to show up to school wearing something atop your head, there was a good chance you’d be subjected to the full ten-second routine. Even if you didn’t watch the show, your friends probably performed it enough to sear it into your memory. Alex and Harper made us all want to grab our best friends to create a ditty of our own…just as long as hats were not a part of the costume.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Crazy legs!” You may need a second to let that massive wave of nostalgia wash over you. If there’s one singular dance move that early aughts kids collectively knew and loved, it was this one. Maybe it’s the timbre in Phil Lewis’ voice, or the chaotic swinging of his knees that makes this so iconic. It’s always fun to see a series regular completely break character. From the very start of the routine, Mr. Moseby puts his whole being into these chaotic steps. It’s almost as if he’s been waiting on this moment and finally lets loose. You may not remember all the steps, but as long as you have crazy legs, you’ve captured the essence of the number.
#10: Two to Tango
“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08)Even when things go awry - as they often do at the Tipton - the show must go on! Zack and Cody enter a ballroom dance competition with hopes of one of them taking the title…but when ego leads their respective partners to stray, the twins team up. The dazzling sequin jackets pulled us in, but the rose passed between gritted teeth absolutely engrained this number in our brains. Once the power struggle for lead has faded, the twins’ routine really starts to shine. The final lift may have been technically sound, but unfortunately disqualifies the unlikely pair from the competition. If we could, we’d definitely award them points for quick-thinking and pizzazz!
#9: Interpretive Dance
“Even Stevens” (2000-03)When you’re young, you’ll do anything for your friends - or with your friends. With the possibility of Tawny leaving for the school of arts, Louis finds a way to follow her. Naturally, he enlists his bestie to assist with the audition. Louis and Twitty look like they’ve just changed for gym class and forgot about being partnered for a presentation. The way they happily flail about to spoken word and banjo-playing never fails to make us laugh. It’s the true embodiment of adolescent shenanigans, while also highlighting the importance of friendships and group dynamics.
#8: Challenge Accepted
“Austin & Ally” (2011-16)If there’s one thing a Disney kid can’t resist, it’s a challenge. Austin shows where his loyalties lie when he fires a backup dancer that breaks his friend’s heart. But, in true tween TV fashion, they decide to gamble his spot on the team with a dance-off. The drama pulls us in as if we don’t already know that the hero always comes out on top. Even knowing the outcome, it never makes it any less exciting to watch a dance competition, especially when the boys are doing all sorts of flips and tricks for the number one spot. Go Austin!
#7: Krumping
“Jessie” (2011-15)Gen Z may be tech-savvy and building careers on influencing…but Millennials had the privilege of living through the Krumping craze! The aggressive and expressive style of dance soared in popularity in the early 2000s, appearing frequently in mainstream media. While the hype may have died down a bit, “Jessie” took the opportunity to playfully jab the dance. It’s hokey and exaggerated in the way that all Disney Channel shows are, but that’s actually what makes this particular scene sort of endearing. It captures the generational divide perfectly while the younger kids watch with disdain as Jessie and Bertram form unlikely dance partners. It’s surprisingly entertaining and Bertram can really bust a move!
#6: The Dance Portion
“Phil of the Future” (2004-06)Even in the future, siblings get on each others’ nerves. In a ploy to get Phil and Pim to understand one another better, their dad makes them switch bodies. However, Pim uses the opportunity to embarrass her big brother. Phil’s body is thrust in front of his classmates for an impromptu performance. An emotional quatrain is followed by some jazzy steps around the class. If those moves weren’t memorable enough, don’t worry - because his classmates made sure to take plenty of photos! (Ah, the good old flip phone camera quality.) To be perfectly honest, this seems like a pretty satisfying revenge from a younger sibling scorned.
#5: Twizzler, Spin, Sprinkler
“That’s So Raven” (2003-07)Back in the day, music videos were everything. Each chart-topping hit had a specific visual to go alongside it. Most of those videos had dancers who were handpicked to perform. Like many teenage girls, Raven and Chelsea took a shot at auditioning for their favorite artist, Pressure. Competition is fierce and the routine is, well…unique, to say the least! Many of us could do this routine to this day, but it’s too funny not to get distracted by Raven and Chelsea’s off-beat approach. We might just have to break this combo out for next wedding season.
#4: “Overtime”
“Shake It Up” (2010-13)It must have been a requirement at Disney Channel auditions to be a triple-threat. Nobody embodies that talent more than the cast of “Shake It Up”. The performance of the single “Overtime” is nothing short of grand. Rows of dancers clad in construction gear keep our eyes darting across the stage, while the synchronized steps are hilariously mimicked off-stage by the late Leslie Jordan. Even with all the commotion and flashing lights, CeCe and Rocky take full control of the performance. We can’t help but think that maybe this was the inspiration behind Fifth Harmony’s “Work From Home” video?
#3: The Bone Dance
“Hannah Montana” (2006-11)Even pop-stars have to pass biology! If you grew up in the early aughts, there's a good chance Hannah Montana taught you what a patella is. While many series spouted out the importance of an education in an “after-school special” type of fashion, Disney managed to hide its educational purposes with a smash hit. Miley cleverly uses the melody of “Nobody’s Perfect” in place of a pneumonic device to study for class. Although her teacher is originally against this method of learning, it clearly worked both on and off the show. According to a study from Harvard University, music can play a big role in memorization and nostalgia.
#2: What’s That? A Hat!
“Wizards of Waverly Place” (2007-12)We always wondered if Keira Knightley ever caught wind of her role in this iconic friendship song. It’s short, sweet and simple enough to catch on just after one watch…and also to remember more than fifteen years later! It took something as mundane as headwear and turned it into its own little inside joke for kids watching the show. If you happened to show up to school wearing something atop your head, there was a good chance you’d be subjected to the full ten-second routine. Even if you didn’t watch the show, your friends probably performed it enough to sear it into your memory. Alex and Harper made us all want to grab our best friends to create a ditty of our own…just as long as hats were not a part of the costume.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Crafty Moves, “Lizzie McGuire” (2001-04)
Ethan Was So Cute, but So UncoordinatedFloss, “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08)
The OG Floss, That IsAmy Duncan School of Dance, “Good Luck Charlie” (2010-14)
A Simple Routine Even Beginners Can MasterFamily Moment, “Stuck in the Middle” (2016-18)
The Diaz Family Celebrates Georgie in a Special WaySelf-Confidence Dance, “Bizaardvark” (2016-19)
Uncertain & Certainly a Mess#1: Crazy Legs!
“The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” (2005-08)“Crazy legs!” You may need a second to let that massive wave of nostalgia wash over you. If there’s one singular dance move that early aughts kids collectively knew and loved, it was this one. Maybe it’s the timbre in Phil Lewis’ voice, or the chaotic swinging of his knees that makes this so iconic. It’s always fun to see a series regular completely break character. From the very start of the routine, Mr. Moseby puts his whole being into these chaotic steps. It’s almost as if he’s been waiting on this moment and finally lets loose. You may not remember all the steps, but as long as you have crazy legs, you’ve captured the essence of the number.
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