# Floss Dance > Floss Dance is a 2017 viral dance fad popularized by Fortnite, featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip gyration move known as 'the floss. A dead viral dance trend from 2017 featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip dance move (the 'floss') that became popular on social media, particularly among children. The dance was popularized by the video game Fortnite. ## Origin The floss dance was created by Russell Horning, known as the Backpack Kid. The dance became famous when it appeared in the video game Fortnite as a default emote. This association with a popular game accelerated its spread. - **Platform:** YouTube/TikTok - **Creator:** Backpack Kid (Russell Horning) - **Date:** 2017 ## Overview The floss dance is a dead viral dance trend from 2017 featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip movement with synchronized arm positioning. The dance became unavoidable on social media, particularly among children, and was popularized by its inclusion in the video game Fortnite as a purchasable emote. The dance's appeal lay in its simplicity and accessibility. Unlike complex choreography, the floss could be learned quickly and performed by anyone. The rhythmic, repetitive nature of the movement made it satisfying to perform and watch. However, like most dance trends, the floss eventually became oversaturated and lost novelty. Unlike some memes that achieve evergreen status, the floss dance proved to be a time-limited trend. The novelty of the specific dance move exhausted itself, and new dances emerged to replace it. Today, the floss is remembered as a textbook late 2010s trend, particularly associated with Fortnite. ## How It Spread The floss dance went viral on social media in late 2017 and throughout 2018, particularly among young children and teenagers. The simple side-to-side hip movement combined with arm positioning made it easy to learn and perform. The dance spread across YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and other platforms. The dance achieved peak popularity partly due to its appearance in Fortnite, which was at the height of its popularity during this period. The video game's massive player base helped popularize the dance globally. Schools began restricting students from performing the floss dance in classes, indicating how all over it had become. By 2019, the floss dance had largely faded from mainstream popularity as new dances and trends emerged. While occasionally performed ironically or nostalgically, the floss dance is essentially dead. Unlike some evergreen memes, this trend proved to be a passing fad despite its initial dominance. ## How to Use The floss dance involved standing with feet slightly apart and alternately swinging the hips side-to-side while moving the arms in the opposite direction. The arms would swing forward and back in a specific pattern synchronized with the hip movements. The dance could be performed solo or in groups. Variations included: different speeds of the movement, different background music, group performances, and creative modifications. However, unlike some dance trends that evolved significantly, the floss remained largely consistent in its core movement. 1. Watch the original Floss Dance video to learn the moves 2. Practice the key dance moves at your own pace 3. Record yourself doing the dance with good lighting and framing 4. Post your version on TikTok or Instagram with the trending audio ## Cultural Impact The floss dance represented the intersection of gaming culture and social media dance trends. The sensation demonstrated how video games could introduce dances and movements to global audiences, accelerating their spread compared to traditional dance-based viral content. The trend also showed how powerful accessible, learnable choreography in achieving viral status. Unlike complex dances that required training, the floss could be performed by almost anyone, making it more universally adoptable. This accessibility contributed to its rapid spread among children. The trend's relatively short lifespan compared to other cultural events illustrated the natural limits of dance-based trends. While some dances enter permanent cultural vocabulary, others remain time-limited fads. The floss proved to be the latter, remembered primarily as a late 2010s trend rather than an enduring dance. ## Fun Facts - The floss dance was created by Russell Horning (the Backpack Kid) - Fortnite's inclusion of the floss as a default emote accelerated its viral spread - The dance became so unavoidable that some schools attempted to restrict students from performing it - The simple movement made it accessible to people of all ages and abilities - New dance trends have completely replaced the floss in popularity - The Floss Dance meme has been shared millions of times across social media - You can create your own Floss Dance meme using free tools like Imgflip - Floss Dance first appeared in 2017 - The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators - Brands and marketers have used Floss Dance in their campaigns - The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Floss Dance? Floss Dance a dead viral dance trend from 2017 featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip dance move (the 'floss') that became popular on social media, particularly among children. ### What does Floss Dance mean? The floss dance is a dead viral dance trend from 2017 featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip movement with synchronized arm positioning. The dance became unavoidable on social media, particularly among children, and was popularized by its inclusion in the video game Fortnite as a purchasable emote. ### Where did Floss Dance come from? Floss Dance originated on YouTube/TikTok around 2017. The floss dance was created by Russell Horning, known as 'the Backpack Kid,' a dancer and social media personality. ### How do you use Floss Dance? The floss dance involved standing with feet slightly apart and alternately swinging the hips side-to-side while moving the arms in the opposite direction. The arms would swing forward and back in a specific pattern synchronized with the hip movements. ### Is Floss Dance still popular in 2026? Floss Dance is no longer widely used, though it occasionally resurfaces in throwback or ironic contexts. ### Who created Floss Dance? Backpack Kid (Russell Horning) created Floss Dance. The floss dance was created by Russell Horning, known as 'the Backpack Kid,' a dancer and social media personality. The dance gained initial traction on social media before achieving massive popularity when Fortnite added it as a default emote players could purchase. ### When did Floss Dance start? Floss Dance first appeared around 2017 on YouTube/TikTok. The floss dance was created by Russell Horning, known as 'the Backpack Kid,' a dancer and social media personality. The dance gained initial traction on social media before achieving massive popularity when Fortnite added it as a default emote players could purchase. ### What platform did Floss Dance originate on? Floss Dance originated on YouTube/TikTok around 2017. The floss dance is a dead viral dance trend from 2017 featuring a distinctive side-to-side hip movement with synchronized arm positioning. ### What are the best examples of Floss Dance? The best examples of Floss Dance showcase its core format at its most effective. Notable variations include Other Fortnite dances, Similar emotes from the game becoming viral trends, Gaming-based dance trends, Dances popularized through video games, TikTok dances, Modern equivalents on short-form video platforms. ### What memes are similar to Floss Dance? Memes similar to Floss Dance include Cash Me Outside, All Star Shrek, Distracted Boyfriend, Dab. These share a similar format, humor style, or cultural context. ### Is Floss Dance dead? Floss Dance has mostly run its course. You might see it pop up ironically or in throwback posts, but it is no longer a regular part of meme culture. ### Has Floss Dance been used by celebrities or brands? Various brands and public figures have referenced Floss Dance in their social media and marketing. Memes with broad recognition like this one often get picked up for commercial use. ### Can I buy Floss Dance merchandise? Yes, Floss Dance merchandise is available on platforms like Redbubble, Amazon, and Etsy. You can find t shirts, stickers, mugs, phone cases, and other items featuring the meme. ### Where can I find the Floss Dance template? Templates and references for Floss Dance are available on sites like Imgflip and Know Your Meme. Search for the meme name to find usable versions. ### How do I make my own Floss Dance? The floss dance involved standing with feet slightly apart and alternately swinging the hips side-to-side while moving the arms in the opposite direction. The arms would swing forward and back in a specific pattern synchronized with the hip movements. ### Did Floss Dance inspire any other memes? Yes, Floss Dance inspired several variations and spinoffs, including Other Fortnite dances, Similar emotes from the game becoming viral trends, Gaming-based dance trends, Dances popularized through video games, TikTok dances, Modern equivalents on short-form video platforms, Choreography variations, Different takes on the basic floss movement. ### Is Floss Dance copyrighted? Most memes exist in a legal gray area. The original image or video may have copyright protection, but meme formats are generally treated as fair use. That said, this is not legal advice. ## References 1. [Floss Dance, Wikipedia]() 2. [Floss Dance on Reddit]() 3. [Floss Dance, Know Your Meme]() 4. [Google Trends: Floss Dance]() 5. [Floss Dance Meme Explained, YouTube]() 6. [Floss Dance on X/Twitter]() 7. [Floss Dance Meme Templates, Imgflip]() 8. [Floss Dance on TikTok]() 9. [Floss Dance Meme, Pinterest]() 10. [Floss Dance, Memedroid]() 11. [Floss Dance, 9GAG]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/floss-dance Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library