Children’s dance songs from Western music. Kids’ dance routines perfect for school plays and recitals.
This time, I’ll be introducing Western dance music that’s perfect for kids!
While it’s common to dance to popular Japanese songs, there are lots of bright, pop tracks in Western music that suit children really well.
These days, dance isn’t just for after-school lessons—it’s also included in school events and PE classes.
So, teachers who are struggling to choose a song, this is a must-see.
I’m sure you’ll find tracks that match the kids’ energetic vibe, so read to the end and pick the perfect songs for your students!
Make great memories with high-energy tunes!
Foreign (Western) children’s dance songs. Kids’ dances for school performances and recitals you’ll want to dance to (1–10)
Baby ft. LudacrisJustin Bieber
There are all kinds of dance tracks, from lively ones to party tunes, and upbeat love songs also fit dance perfectly.
“Baby,” released in 2010 as a single from the debut album, is a song loved in many countries.
Justin performs it live with a headset while dancing, so you can probably learn the choreography by watching live footage.
However, the dance is quite difficult, so this song is recommended for children who are good at dancing.
hey Mickylolly
If you want to dance in a sporty and lively style, “Hey Mickey!” is highly recommended.
The original song is “Mickey,” released by Toni Basil in 1982.
In the music video, vocalist Toni wears a cheerleader-like outfit, which seems to be the source of the song’s cheerleader image.
It’s a colorful, pop track, so it would look great in photos if used for kids’ dance routines, and it would make for an adorable and energetic performance!
MotherMeghan Trainor
It’s a bright, poppy track that brings to mind children’s lively, smiling faces.
Meghan Trainor’s powerful vocals speak to women’s empowerment.
Released in March 2023, the song is included on the album “Takin’ It Back.” Its doo-wop–influenced melody line is sure to capture kids’ hearts.
Having gone viral on TikTok, this piece is perfect for school plays and recitals.
It will surely become a wonderful memory where you can see the children shining brightly.
Say SoDoja Cat
When it comes to female rappers in the spotlight right now, Doja Cat stands out.
The catalyst was her song “Say So” exploding in popularity on the video-sharing app TikTok.
Included on her second album released in 2019, the track took off after popular TikTok users posted dance videos with original choreography to it.
Soon, young people around the world started imitating the dance, and the total number of views has now surpassed 600 million.
The song is a disco tune, and because the rhythm stays nearly constant from start to finish, it’s easy to choreograph and fun to dance to.
ProblemAriana Grande
With her cute looks, Ariana Grande is hugely popular among children as well.
Ariana often sings soul- and R&B-centered songs with a deep, soaring voice that you wouldn’t expect from her petite frame, but her dance-style tracks are also popular.
Since her choreography isn’t sharply intense, it’s perfect for kids’ dance recitals.
As for the song “Problem,” judging by the music video, there aren’t many dance segments, so it should be easy to adapt the choreography for children.
Friend Like MeDisney
When it comes to music kids love, songs from Disney movies are especially popular.
Many people use Disney songs for preschool performances or dance recitals.
“Friend Like Me” is a song from the Disney movie Aladdin.
Surprisingly, it’s quite fast-paced and can feel challenging for children to dance to, but if you reduce the number of moves, it becomes a song that kids can dance to easily.
If you want to win over the kids, choosing this song is definitely an option!
fire workKaty Perry
Katy Perry sang gospel at church when she was little.
Even after becoming a singer, her overwhelming vocal power, honed through gospel, is one of her strengths.
The song I’m introducing, Firework, is a motivational anthem I want people who are struggling to hear.
Its elegant, mid-tempo feel also makes it a good fit for children’s dance routines.
Since “firework” means hanabi in Japanese, it would be great for the kids dancing to wear brightly colored costumes like fireworks.