Top 10 Hardest Dance Moves To Pull Off

Some people think that tap dancing is easy, and involves nothing more than stomping around with special shoes on. But they couldn’t be more wrong. It’s actually much harder than it looks. Look no further than the paddle and roll to see what we mean! When done slowly, it looks like some basic heel digs, taps, and front foot slaps. In other words, nothing too complicated. But then you see what it’s supposed to look like at full speed, and ‘easy’ is the last word that comes to mind. Also in this realm is the shuffle slap up changes. For both moves, the rhythm, syncopation, and speed present challenges to overcome.

This is just one of many difficult ballet moves. Imagine extending one leg out then jumping into the air, bringing the other one up to it and thus pushing it further up. Then, try to land back on your supporting limb in a steady manner. As the natural tendency is to bring the initially elevated leg back down, perfecting this move is a whole lot harder than you may think. Once mastered though, it’s a truly beautiful sight. You can also try to take on double cabrioles afterward if you’re feeling bold! We can only assume they’re twice as hard, but it’s worth it.

The headspin is most associated with breakdancing and b-boy culture. But the move has seemingly existed for decades, as evidenced by the 1933 film “Wild Boys of the Road.” While some dance moves fool you into thinking they’re simple at first glance, this one looks as hard as it is. For most of us, just standing on our heads is difficult to achieve. So the prospect of incorporating spinning is daunting, to put it mildly. The balance, core strength, and concentration needed to spin without falling over or getting ridiculously dizzy is endlessly impressive. Now imagine ending the move with a freeze just because you can!

The monkey flip is a move that most experienced breakdancers probably have in their arsenal. And while it’s pretty standard and easy once you get it, the learning process can be intimidating. Basically, you start by putting a hand on the ground behind you while crouched. You then use it to flip yourself onto a handstand, and back over onto your feet. It’s definitely a great way to transition up from the floor. But throwing yourself backwards on one hand and trusting you won’t come crashing down is a fear you have to overcome for this one.

The francophiles out there likely know that the word “penché” translates to “bent over.” And that’s exactly what this ballet move entails. But as you probably guessed, there’s a lot more to it than just that. Almost anyone can bend over. But doing so on one leg while the other is at a 90 to 180 degree angle is a whole other story. As is often the case with ballet moves, the penché demands that the person executing it possess balance, flexibility, power, and grace. In other words, it requires time and training!

The grand adage doesn’t just involve one move – that would be too easy! Instead, it employs a series of them during a section of a ballet. It’s part of a routine, often the “pas-de-deux”, in which you’re required to make slow and deliberate movements with leg lifts in each direction. The dancer must be in complete control of their body at every stage, employing strength and balance to make the gestures appear smooth and seamless. To say the concentration and muscles required to pull this off don’t come easily is a serious understatement!

The flare can be seen in gymnastics as well as breakdancing, having found a perfect place in both worlds – though its spelling varies between them. Gymnasts can perform the move during floor routines, but the maneuver’s true power is on display when they utilize the pommel horse. Watching their legs swing in circles never gets less mesmerizing. The strength required to hold your torso up is one thing, but the constant swirling takes things up several notches. While breakdancers obviously don’t use a pommel horse, they’ve created some amazing variations as well. Just take a look at the air flare!

When people think of the beauty and grace of ballet, they’re likely to imagine dancers doing grand jetés. The move involves leaping off the ground, extending one leg in front with the other hovering parallel to the ground. As if doing the splits on the floor wasn’t already hard enough, this move basically requires you do one in the air! To get it right, one has to muster up enough height to be able to fully extend their legs, all while maintaining an upright and strong position with their torso. As they say in French, it’s grand difficile!

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is as easy as doing a simple spin or pirouette. A fouetté is even harder, as it involves the dancer using their “working leg” and moving it in order to whip themselves around on each turn. Nailing the timing and balance is deceptively tricky, especially when you see someone like Sharon Wehner in “Swan Lake.” She’s incredibly elegant, and actually makes doing 32 of them in a row look easy! Yet if you ask anyone who knows anything about ballet, they’ll tell you that fouettes are not for the faint of heart.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Arabesque
With One Leg on the Ground, Extend the Other One Behind You

The Worm
Everyone From Breakdancers to New Husbands Loves This Tricky Move

Noventa
Be Careful Not to Get Too Tangled Up

En Pointe
Just Standing on the Tips of Your Toes Is Hard, Let Alone Dancing on Them

Straight Leg Scorpion
Dealing With the Titular Creature Seems Easier Than Doing This Ridiculous Stretch Maneuver

A number of breakdancing moves begin on the ground and involve spinning your body. There’s the windmill, in which your upper back generally maintains contact with the ground. There are also Taisuke criticals, named after bboy Taisuke, where he launches into the air, barrel rolls, and ends up back on two hands. But the one-handed chair flare undoubtedly reigns supreme in its complexity. You’re essentially throwing yourself into the air with one arm and doing a 360 degree spin with your body before landing on that same limb. Try not to look absolutely terrified in the process! If you’ve figured this move out, you can consider yourself a real pro.