Lesson 3: Adding Flavor – Party Moves

Now we’ll put groove on top of fun party moves. Over the decades, dancers made named dances just for parties. In the 1980s and 90s, moves like the Running Man, Cabbage Patch, and the Worm became famous in dance halls . In the 90s, one playful move was called the Bart Simpson – named after the cartoon kid from The Simpsons. This move is like sliding side-to-side as if you’re surfing on a skateboard. (On the cartoon, Bart always skates with arms out.) In fact, the Bart Simpson dance was inspired by Bart riding his skateboard .

How to Bart Simpson (simply): Step right, then left with a little slide. You can drag your foot so it glides. Twisting your knees slightly gives a fun skateboard feel. Imagine Bart with his arms out; you can let your arms swing back and forth or hold like you’re steering. Video

Groove tip: Whatever move you do (even Bart Simpson), add bounce/rock to it! For example, when you slide side-to-side like Bart, keep a gentle bounce in your knees. Let your body rock with the step. Maybe rock your shoulders or lean into the slide. This turns a cool step into a full groove.

You can do this with any party move. Want another example? Try the Running Man: pretend you’re jogging in place, but slide one foot back each step. You do it with a bit of bounce. The Cabbage Patch is another: circle your fists like throwing a lasso. As you do it, keep bouncing your knees. It all starts from that simple bounce/rock base.

Summary: Learn a fun move (like Bart Simpson), then layer in a groove. Add your own swing, bounce, or shoulder dips. This makes the move look smooth and interesting. Every dance becomes more exciting when you put a little groove on top!