PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson Viral Dances Rack Up Millions as Choreographers Drive Song Revivals
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 29
PinkPantheress, Zara Larsson Viral Dances Rack Up Millions as Choreographers Drive Song Revivals
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 29
2.5 million views on Luam Keflezgy’s first TikTok helped push PinkPantheress’s “Girl Like Me” dance, built around symmetrical shapes and a staggered canon sequence ahead of the singer’s Alexandra Palace headline show.
Lola Beckers’ routine for Zara Larsson’s 2016 hit “Lush Life” has also reignited the song, with arm swings and hip circles from the Midnight Sun tour spreading online despite not appearing in the original video.
PinkPantheress was closely involved in shaping her choreography, while Larsson has turned the routine into a live fan-participation moment, inviting audience members onstage to perform it with her.
Choreographers and social media strategists say labels now actively chase dance virality, though fan-made moves can still break out on their own, as with Charli XCX’s “Apple.”
Luam Keflezgy argues the formula has stayed constant across TV, YouTube and TikTok: dance routines spread when they tell a clear story, look confident and give fans a sense of community.
When a fan's dance goes viral, who really deserves credit for the song's newfound success?
As dance routines become key marketing assets, how can creators legally protect their viral choreography?
Is the music industry sacrificing artistic depth for 15-second dance clips designed to go viral?