How to Dance the Boogaloo

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

The boogaloo is known for its lively, captivating movements. Doing it correctly involves rolling your body to the beat of the music. Leg rolls are mixed with transitions and footwork to create a free-flowing dance routine. Master these moves and you’ll have fun ruling the dance floor.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Mastering Leg Rolls

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Stand in place and bend your legs to do a double leg rolls. Start by standing straight with your legs close together. Bend your knees and lower yourself like you’re going to sit in a chair. As you move slightly towards the floor, lift your heels.^{[1]
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- Leg rolls are done mostly with your hips. Your head and torso stay in place. You can strike a pose with your arms or circle them around.
By bending and standing on the balls of your feet, both your knees will come forward naturally. Try to angle them to one side of your body. They should both point in the same direction.^{[2]
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Bring your knees around in a circle to complete the double leg roll. To complete the double leg roll, move your hips. Swing your knees out and around to the other side of your body. When you get back to standing position, let your heels fall flat on the ground.^{[3]
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- Try doing the double leg roll in the opposite direction too.
4
Roll one leg outwards to start a single leg roll. The single leg roll is very similar to the double version. Stand straight with your feet a shoulder width apart. Start with one leg. Bend your knee and lift your heel, then use your hips to roll your leg out and all the way back around to center.^{[4]
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- Keep your torso pointed forward and return to a standing position after you finish.
5
Roll your other leg away from your body to complete the single leg roll. After rolling your first leg, keep it in place. Let your second leg continue the rolling motion. Bend your knee and lift your heel, then roll it away from your other leg. Come back around to a standing position again.^{[5]
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- You can start the roll with either leg. Also practice performing single leg rolls after a double leg roll.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Using Transitional Moves

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Raise your shoulders before doing rolls. Smooth dancing involves your full-body, so incorporate your shoulders into the roll. Raise your right shoulder as you lower your head to the right. You can then start a leg roll and do this on the left side as you finish.^{[6]
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- This move, called popping, gets your whole body active. To make it look like a natural transition, tense your shoulders instead of jerking them upwards.
- As you do this, you can also push out your chest and use it to begin the roll. You may also strike poses, such as placing your palms straight out in a stop pose or squaring and lowering your shoulders like a football player.
To do a roll turn, begin doing a double leg roll. As your hips come around, pivot on one foot. Raise the heel of your other foot as you begin spinning. When done correctly, you’ll have turned to the side. Lower your foot and return to a standing position.^{[7]
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This is known as the step out. While standing straight, step forward with one foot. Try to do a double leg roll while in this position. By rolling with your hips, you’ll be able to stay in motion even though your legs are apart. Use the step out so you’re not stuck dancing in place.^{[8]
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4
Walk forward after a leg roll. Walking out of a leg roll is a way to transition so you can dance in another direction. After performing a double leg roll, swing your shoulders around to face the direction you want to go. You’ll need to slide a little on your heels to turn properly. Finish by stepping forward with your back leg.
- This move is a good one to incorporate with a step out. Try the step out move, a double leg roll, and then adding this extra step for a balanced dance.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Doing the Old Man Move

Stand straight with your legs shoulder width apart. To begin the move, raise your right leg behind you. Bring it back towards the ground, but instead of landing, swing it through like you’re kicking a ball. After the kick, swing your leg around to your right, similar to a lunge, then plant it on the ground..^{[9]
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Roll your chest to the right. A chest roll is done with your shoulders. Stick your chest out and circle it around from left to right. Your chest will mostly stay vertical, facing towards the wall. Your lower body stays perfectly still as you do this.^{[10]
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- To get the positioning correct, push your hips out to the left as you do the roll. It’s like leaning against a wall.
3
Roll your left leg towards your body. Now your left leg is extended. Move it towards your body like you’re stepping in. To make this move smoother, do it with a leg roll. Use your hips to roll your left leg towards your right leg.^{[11]
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- You can pump your arms a little as you go through the move, but mostly they stay low and in place.
4
Roll your right leg away from your body. With another single leg roll, move your right leg away from your body. As you do this, lean your upper body over your left leg. Repeat the steps from the beginning to continue dancing in one direction, or try going in the opposite direction.
- Incorporate the Old Man into the dance by transitioning to and from other moves.
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Doing the Crazy Legs Move

Stand in a neutral position with your back straight and your legs spread slightly. Start with your right foot. Lift up your heel so you’re standing on the ball of your foot. Twist your foot so your toes point towards your other shoe. Bring your foot back around to center and plant your heel on the ground.^{[12]
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When your right foot lands, repeat the motion with your left foot. Lift the heel and twist your foot around so it points at your right shoe. Finish the motion by bringing your foot back to center.
Turn your right foot to the side as you did before. This time, when you turn back, turn it all the way to side. Twist until your right heel is in front of your left toes. As you do this, lift your left heel slightly and rotate so both feet face to the side.^{[13]
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Rotate to face the opposite direction. Lift your right toes and left heel off the ground so you can spin in place. After spinning all the way around, your legs should no longer be crossed. You’ll land in a neutral standing position.
5
Slide your right foot back and turn. With your feet side by side, move your right foot back as far as it can go. Then, turn your body to face to the right. It might feel a little awkward, but lean back and keep your weight on your left foot.^{[14]
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- This position makes you seem like you’re doing the backwards dodge from The Matrix.
Complete the Crazy Legs by taking a big step back with your right foot. Angle your foot so it points straight down with only your toes touching the ground. If this is hard to do, you can step to a neutral standing position instead until you master the rest of the moves.

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Tips

Dancing the boogaloo means moving your entire body smoothly. Always try to incorporate your whole body into your rolls and dance moves.

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Mix different rolls, transitions, and moves to create your own unique dance routine!

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