Top 10 Best Dance Moments in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
#10: Phillip Thinks He’s Home Alone “Courting Disaster”
Phillip Banks is a respectable man of high class and even higher composure. So it can be a big shock when he cuts loose and lets his goofy side out. When Phil thinks that he has a moment alone, he cranks up the stereo, lets himself go and starts dancing. It starts off as just a few head nods at first. Then gradually evolves into a bit of on tempo wiggling, before escalating into an all-out boogy. He even gets Vivian in on the party. You can tell by the cheer of the live studio audience just how awesome it is to get to see this side of Uncle Phil.
#9: Geoffrey’s Risky Business Moment “The Philadelphia Story”
While the rest of the family is in Philly, it’s up to Geoffrey to hold down the fort at the Banks residence. Naturally, Geoffrey can’t resist throwing a huge party for all the butlers and maids in the neighborhood. We already knew that Geoffrey had a bit of a wild side, but this took it to a whole new level. He slides into the living room pantsless a la Tom Cruise in Risky Business. The house is packed and all the maids and butlers are going crazy. Geoffrey is no better than one of the kids: throwing an insane party while Phil and Viv are away.
#8: The Lambada “Kiss My Butler”
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As we said, it’s no surprise that Geoffrey has a wild side. But working for the Banks, he usually keeps up a prim and proper facade. So it’s always entertaining when we get to see that other side to him. Will gets Geoffrey a date for his birthday and tries to teach him how to woo a woman which includes dance lessons. But he finds out that Geoffrey didn't really need his help after all. Geoffrey might have started off a little stiff, but Will soon catches them doing the Lambada in the club. They call it the forbidden dance for a reason.
#7: Soul Train “Soooooooul Train”
This one was just epic. If there was any doubt as to just how cool Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv really were underneath all the money and fancy clothes, this moment killed it. They get invited to the 25th anniversary celebration of Soul Train, which is where they first got engaged. But after 20 years of marriage Phil feels that he can no longer keep up with Vivian, so he’s hesitant about going back to the place where it all began. However, they rediscover their youth and the whole family gets to dance down the Soul Train line.
#6: Ashley’s Backup Dancers “The Client”
Will and Ashley have always had a special relationship. In fact one of their first special moments together also involves dancing. But more on that later. When Ashley has an opportunity to become a professional singer, Will acts as her manager and gets her a gig. But when she has stage fright right before her big debut, she’s too scared to go on. Will and Carlton have always had Ashley’s back, and this time they were her literal backup. Will and Carlton take the stage with Ashley as her backup dancers, and they make complete fools out of themselves. But as long as it’s for Ashley, they don’t seem to mind.
#5: Carlton’s Strip Show “Striptease for Two”
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This is a classic Fresh Prince moment. Will and Carlton just can’t seem to stay out of trouble when they try to pull off a scheme together. They make a bad stock decision and need some quick cash, so Will gets a job as a stripper, but Carlton is the one who ends up on stage. He ends up accidentally dancing in front of a social group with his mom and sister there. The older ladies seem to really love him, and Carlton really enjoys all the attention. This is an early episode where we get to see a whole new, unexpected side to Carlton. That is, until his mom abruptly ends the show.
#4: Will Dances During Ashley’s Drum Lesson “Bang the Drum, Ashley”
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As we mentioned before, Will and Ashley have always had a very special bond. So when she didn’t want to play violin anymore, she turned to Will for guidance, and he got her a drumset to try out instead. Ashley's drum lesson not only gave us this hilarious dance from Will, but it also introduced us to fan favorite character, Jazz. Appearing in the second episode of the first season, this moment also helped set the tone of the show and gave us a glimpse of that magical relationship that would grow between Will and Ashley.
#3: Aunt Viv’s Dance Class “The Big Four-Oh”
This is probably the most iconic OG Aunt Viv moment of all time. When Aunt Viv turns 40 she feels insecure that she never did all the things she wanted to do when she was younger, so she quits her job as a professor and joins an advanced dance class. The younger students make fun of her and basically laugh her out of class. She gets discouraged and almost throws in the towel. But after some encouragement from Uncle Phil, she comes back with a vengeance and dances circles around them. It’s so awesome watching Aunt Viv put those little brats in their place. Who knew Aunt Viv had it in her?
#2: Jump On It “Viva Lost Wages”
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This is THE dance from the show. When you think of Fresh Prince, this dance is one of the first things that comes to mind. The only thing more synonymous is the epic theme song, or our number 1 pick, which we’ll get to in a moment. When Carlton gambles away all their money on his 21st birthday, he and Will compete in a dance contest to try to get the money back. They put together this hilarious and unforgettable hip thrusting dance to the song Apache by the Sugar Hill Gang. This dance has transcended time and will probably always be a pop culture sensation. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Will Imitates Ashley "The Fresh Prince Project" The Family Dances to the Temptations "Talking Turkey" Will Setting Up His Room "The Fresh Prince Project" Music Video Dance "The Butler Did It"
#1: The Carlton Various Episodes
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The only Fresh Prince dance more famous than the Jump On It has got to be the Carlton. The goofy movements perfectly encapsulate Carlton's adorkable character. The arm swinging and little steps, not to mention the big goofy grin on his face the whole time is nothing short of perfection. This dance is so unforgettable that Alfonso Ribeiro even performed it during his run on “Dancing With the Stars”. And perhaps the “funnest” fun fact of all, in the Fresh Prince Reunion he revealed that he actually made up the dance himself.
