Do the Macarena

If you want to bring back 1996, the Macarena is the perfect way to do it. Are you ready to follow the biggest dance craze since the Electric Slide? It's easy to wow your friends with your Macarena moves.

Steps

The Classic Method

  1. Play the Macarena. Well, you could do it without the actual song, but that'd be weird. So either bust out your Los Del Rio album or get on YouTube or start doing it from memory if you can.
  2. Start on the third eight count. There's one beat per count, so the first two eight counts are 16 beats (8 x 2). The first sixteen counts (beats) of the song are subdued -- you just hear a bit of a synthesizer and then BAM! "Ay!" happens and you start right after that.
    • Feel free to do whatever you'd like during these first two eight counts. A lyrical dance? Maybe the Hustle? River  dancing? The more juxtaposition, the better!
  3. Count with the music. Every beat should be 1 through 8. As soon as you hear the "Ay!", know the next beat is one. Every movement corresponds to a specific beat. Always!
  4. Put your right arm straight in front of you with your palm down on 1. On 2, bring your left arm straight out in front of you, also with your palm down.
  5. On 3, flip your right hand over. On 4, flip your left hand over. All the way over -- like you're expecting someone to hand you your paycheck.
  6. On 5, grab or just touch your left shoulder with your right hand. Can you guess what's on 6? That's right -- touch your right shoulder with your left hand.
  7. Slide your right hand underneath your left arm and touch the right side of your head on 7. And on 8? You got it -- touch the left side of your head with your left hand.
  8. Put your right hand on your left hip on 1. That should be followed by your left hand to your right hip on 2. Can you handle it so far? Are you feeling the urge to feather your bangs?
  9. On 3, place your right hand on the right side of your booty. On 4, do the same with your left (on your left side).
  10. Roll your hips 3 times -- to the right, to the left, and to the right once more on 5, 6, and 7. Then on 8, jump a quarter-turn to the left and clap your hands. That's it!
    • Some people don't clap. It's up to you.
  11. Repeat! Easy enough, no? Now remember to do it with a smile on your face like you're remembering the glory days of light blue powder eyeshadow and butterfly clips.
    • As soon as you land, you should be ready to jut out your right hand on 1. Four rotations and you should be exactly where you started.
  12. If you want to really get into it, pulse your shoulders and hips lightly with each beat. The only way you can really pull this off as a dance is if you put your own style into it. So along with the arm movements, feel the music! It's catchy as hell, after all. That Macarena, man. She cray.

Like the Video

  1. Put your right arm out in front of you on 1, followed by your left arm out on 3. That's right -- the video takes it at half-time. You're skipping half the moves and only moving on the odd counts.
  2. Put your right hand behind your head on 5. Your left hand will then go behind your head on 7. You're skipping the part where you flip your palms over. Ain't nobody got time for that!
  3. Put your right hand on your booty on 1. Then your left on your booty (the left side, obviously) on 3.
  4. Swish your hips right, left, right on 5, 6, and 7. This is the same as the traditional dance. And then jump a quarter turn to the left and repeat!
  5. Since this goes much slower, get into it! Watch those crazy ladies on the video for inspiration (but don't copy their haircuts). Their hips and shoulders are feeling the beat even when their arms are still. Then you'll be so buena. Your boyfriend Vittorino will never leave town.

Tips

  • Shake your hips a little to stay with the beat. Also try stomping your feet a little.

Warnings

  • Don't hit anyone when you clap and turn. The Macarena is a good group dance, so be aware of those around you.

Things You'll Need

  • The Macarena track
  • Good taste in music

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