The Youth Lab
DANCE CRAZY: FROM FLOSSING TO THE THE TRIANGLE
Remember the floss? The dab? The Drake-inspired In My Feelings Challenge? Well, there’s a new viral dance trend in town capturing the internet’s attention: the triangle dance. AKA the triangle challenge or the triangle dance challenge.
WHAT IS IT?
The triangle dance involves three people jumping around in coordination with one another. Sounds fun already, doesn’t it?
A triangle shape is formed by each participant standing close together and placing hands their on one another’s shoulders. Once set, the group synchronises their rotations - entries and exits - from the centre of the triangle. The result is spectacularly mesmerising, and has the power to instantly banish any straight-faces in the room.
From Russian flight attendants to families in Co.Kerry in Ireland, professional dancers and school kids alike - the triangle dance has captured hearts and minds the world over (our personal favourite effort is this viral family, who clearly put the time into perfecting their moves).
WHY ARE YOUTH CATCHING ON?
1. Let’s get real. Who doesn’t love a dance challenge? Especially when it looks this impressive (and doubles as a fitness work-out). Apps like Vine (RIP), TikTok and Instagram have enabled young users to showcase their dance skills to friends, family and the rest of the world. Not only is dancing a hugely shareable type of content that people can harness to gain online clout, it’s also one that young users really enjoy seeing their peers making.
2. It’s super simple. Once you’ve got two pals recruited, the only extra you need, is time. And a recording device.
“I think it’s popularity comes out of something similar to why trick shots and ‘the cup song’ and Vine were so massive. It’s not a huge crazy production and it doesn’t require massive skill - anyone can do it! It’s simple, but also looks really cool.” Ellie, 26
3. The actual dancing part isn’t easy, but it doesn’t matter if you’re terrible at it. While the moves aren’t beginner level, half the fun is that it’s much harder than it looks. Blooper reels and repeat attempts are an essential part of the entertainment. Plus, when something has mass appeal, there’s extra credit to earn for those who put their own ‘creative twist’ on it - something that worked extremely well with the mannequin challenge.
“I love it because it offers a combination of dance, fun, mental workout and teamwork.” Tierna, 28.
4. You have to work as a team. It doesn’t just take one skilled dancer to commit time to learning the moves - it’s about sociability. This means the opportunity is ripe for viewers (and participants) to call-out the ‘weak links’ in a trio, or just simply use it as an excuse to actually get together face to face. The pay-off from a team success has unique cause for celebration.
“There’s a social aspect to it. It’s fun to learn with your friends!” Grace, 22
5. It’s surprisingly fun. And random (weird is the new black, afterall). The delightfulness of this dance is suitably noted in the giggling (of the dancers or of the person filming) often captured in the background of videos.
BRAND TAKEOUTS
Creative forms of expression that bring groups of people together - especially in the name of fun - have the right ingredients to go viral and become noteworthy moments in online culture and young people’s lives. Once a craze like this is established there is scope for brands and organisations to put their own spin on it, and respond in a suitably creative way.
It’s not just young people hopping on this challenge. Youth are encouraging older people in their lives to get in on the fun too, reinforcing just how influential younger cohorts are on the behaviour of those around them. Marketing to youth can impact on broader culture in massively significant ways.