Chubby Checker’s ‘The Twist’ Launched A Huge Dance Craze In 1962

Dancing style fads have come and gone over the centuries, some become part of dancing for decades after they begin, whereas others fade away.One thing is for sure, every generation has its dance craze whether it be the Jitterbug and the Charleston from the 1920s or the Macarena from 1990s or Gangnam Style from 2010s. Lately youngsters love the “Whip” and “Nae Nae”, so much that they’ll even dance it with their parents, much like this daughter and father.

In 1962, Chubby Checker would release his version of “The Twist” that would launch his own dance craze. His rendition of the Hank Ballard tune became a huge hit selling over 15 million copies by 1965, and stayed at the top of the Billboard charts thanks to a performance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand.

Here’s a classic clip of Checker singing the song. Do you have a favorite dance that you and your friends dance or danced in the past?

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