Fortnite Dances

2017gaming/dancedeclining

Also known as: Fortnite Dances · FD · Fortnite Dances Meme · FORTNITE DANCES

Fortnite Dances are 2017 dance emotes from the battle royale game that became viral real-life trends when celebrities, athletes, and TikTokers performed signature moves like the Floss.

Iconic dance emotes from the video game Fortnite Battle Royale that became cultural trends when players recreated them in real life. Dances like the 'Floss' became mainstream memes with celebrities, athletes, and non-gamers performing them despite the game's declining popularity among younger audiences.

fortnite memesdance memesgamingvideo game emote memes

TL;DR

Fortnite Dances iconic dance emotes from the video game Fortnite Battle Royale that became cultural things when players recreated them in real life.

Overview

Fortnite Dances are emote animations available as cosmetic purchases in Fortnite Battle Royale that players perform after eliminating opponents or during matches. These dances achieved cultural status when the gaming community and mainstream audiences began recreating them in real life, often without playing the game.

Fortnite Battle Royale's free-to-play model and emphasis on cosmetic purchases created a robust economy for dance emotes. The Floss dance, inspired by a pre-existing viral dance move, became the first to achieve mainstream cultural penetration when prominent athletes and celebrities began performing it publicly at major events.

Origin & Background

Platform
Fortnite Battle Royale
Creator
Epic Games
Date
2018

Fortnite's emote system allowed players to purchase cosmetic dance moves. The 'Floss' dance, inspired by a 2010 viral dance move, became the first breakout emote when players started recreating it outside the game, particularly on social media platforms.

How It Spread

Fortnite Dances exploded in popularity during 2018-2019 when mainstream celebrities and athletes began performing them. The Floss dance appeared at award shows, sports games, and music events, with notable celebrities like Drake, LeBron James, and countless athletes participating. This mainstream crossover made the dances cultural events beyond gaming circles.

The meme represented a unique moment where gaming culture achieved mainstream acceptance through physical, reproducible dance movements. Parents, athletes, and celebrities learned dances from a video game, leading to countless TikTok videos, YouTube challenges, and merchandise. Other notable dances from Fortnite gained recognition including 'Dabbing,' 'Electro Shuffle,' and 'Orange Justice.'

However, as Fortnite's player base shifted and the game's cultural dominance waned around 2020-2022, interest in the dances declined. The meme represents a specific era of gaming's mainstream cultural penetration that has not fully repeated with subsequent gaming titles.

Platforms

TikTokInstagramYouTubeTwitterTelevisionSports Events

Timeline

2018-Q2

Floss dance gains prominence in Fortnite

2018-Q4

Celebrities and athletes perform Fortnite dances publicly

2019-Q1

Peak mainstream adoption with dance challenges everywhere

2020-2024

Popularity declines as gaming trends shift and Fortnite dominance wanes

2021-01-01

Brands and companies started using Fortnite Dances in marketing

2023-01-01

Fortnite Dances entered the broader pop culture conversation

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

Fortnite Dances are used by recreating them in videos, photos, or in person at events. People perform them to celebrate achievements, participate in social media challenges, or simply reference the meme. The dances are most commonly shared via TikTok and Instagram Reels.

1

Watch the original Fortnite Dances 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

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Fortnite Dances represented a significant moment in gaming cultural acceptance, where a video game's cosmetics became mainstream social trends. However, the meme's decline reflects gaming's unpredictable trend cycles and the difficulty of sustaining cultural moments. The thing influenced how games and publishers approach cosmetic offerings.

Fun Facts

The Floss dance became so pervasive that it was performed at the 2019 Academy Awards

LeBron James performed multiple Fortnite dances during NBA games, introducing them to mainstream sports audiences

Controversy emerged regarding whether Epic Games compensated the original creators of dance moves they licensed

Merchandise featuring Fortnite dance animations sold millions of units globally

The success of dance emotes inspired other games to implement similar cosmetic dance systems

The Fortnite Dances meme has been shared millions of times across social media

You can create your own Fortnite Dances meme using free tools like Imgflip

Fortnite Dances first appeared in 2018

The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators

Brands and marketers have used Fortnite Dances in their campaigns

The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators

Derivatives & Variations

Floss Dance (the most iconic Fortnite dance)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Dab Challenge (performing the dabbing emote)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Electro Shuffle (futuristic dance variation)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Orange Justice (community-voted dance)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Fortnite Dance Tutorials (educational videos teaching the moves)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Frequently Asked Questions

References (21)

  1. 1
    Fortnite Dances, Know Your Memeencyclopedia
  2. 2
    Fortnite Dances, Wikipediaencyclopedia
  3. 3
    Fortnite Dances on Redditcommunity
  4. 4
    Google Trends: Fortnite Dancesdata
  5. 5
    Fortnite Dances Meme Explained, YouTubevideo
  6. 6
    Fortnite Dances on X/Twittersocial
  7. 7
    Fortnite Dances Meme Templates, Imgfliptools
  8. 8
    Fortnite Dances on TikToksocial
  9. 9
    Fortnite Dances Meme, Pinterestgallery
  10. 10
    Fortnite Dances, Memedroidcommunity
  11. 11
    Fortnite Dances, 9GAGcommunity
  12. 12
    pic.twitter.com/FhRbPrDVhJ
  13. 13
    June 17, 2018
  14. 14
    #SIMI
  15. 15
    pic.twitter.com/uONfMubyxp
  16. 16
    May 2, 2018
  17. 17
    Fortnite announces early access release, hands-on the unfinished game
  18. 18
    @Kid_Fortnite12's Tweet
  19. 19
    ‘Fortnite’ Adds Orange Shirt Kid Emote, Fans Celebrate
  20. 20
    After Mass Fan Outcry, Epic Adds 'Orange Shirt Kid' Dance To Fortnite
  21. 21
    Rapper 2 Milly Hires Pierce Bainbridge's David L. Hecht to Pursue Claims against Fortnite and Epic Games

Fortnite Dances

2017gaming/dancedeclining

Also known as: Fortnite Dances · FD · Fortnite Dances Meme · FORTNITE DANCES

Fortnite Dances are 2017 dance emotes from the battle royale game that became viral real-life trends when celebrities, athletes, and TikTokers performed signature moves like the Floss.

Iconic dance emotes from the video game Fortnite Battle Royale that became cultural trends when players recreated them in real life. Dances like the 'Floss' became mainstream memes with celebrities, athletes, and non-gamers performing them despite the game's declining popularity among younger audiences.

fortnite memes dance memes gaming video game emote memes

TL;DR

Fortnite Dances iconic dance emotes from the video game Fortnite Battle Royale that became cultural things when players recreated them in real life.

Overview

Fortnite Dances are emote animations available as cosmetic purchases in Fortnite Battle Royale that players perform after eliminating opponents or during matches. These dances achieved cultural status when the gaming community and mainstream audiences began recreating them in real life, often without playing the game.

Fortnite Battle Royale's free-to-play model and emphasis on cosmetic purchases created a robust economy for dance emotes. The Floss dance, inspired by a pre-existing viral dance move, became the first to achieve mainstream cultural penetration when prominent athletes and celebrities began performing it publicly at major events.

Origin & Background

Platform
Fortnite Battle Royale
Creator
Epic Games
Date
2018

Fortnite's emote system allowed players to purchase cosmetic dance moves. The 'Floss' dance, inspired by a 2010 viral dance move, became the first breakout emote when players started recreating it outside the game, particularly on social media platforms.

How It Spread

Fortnite Dances exploded in popularity during 2018-2019 when mainstream celebrities and athletes began performing them. The Floss dance appeared at award shows, sports games, and music events, with notable celebrities like Drake, LeBron James, and countless athletes participating. This mainstream crossover made the dances cultural events beyond gaming circles.

The meme represented a unique moment where gaming culture achieved mainstream acceptance through physical, reproducible dance movements. Parents, athletes, and celebrities learned dances from a video game, leading to countless TikTok videos, YouTube challenges, and merchandise. Other notable dances from Fortnite gained recognition including 'Dabbing,' 'Electro Shuffle,' and 'Orange Justice.'

However, as Fortnite's player base shifted and the game's cultural dominance waned around 2020-2022, interest in the dances declined. The meme represents a specific era of gaming's mainstream cultural penetration that has not fully repeated with subsequent gaming titles.

Platforms

TikTokInstagramYouTubeTwitterTelevisionSports Events

Timeline

2018-Q2

Floss dance gains prominence in Fortnite

2018-Q4

Celebrities and athletes perform Fortnite dances publicly

2019-Q1

Peak mainstream adoption with dance challenges everywhere

2020-2024

Popularity declines as gaming trends shift and Fortnite dominance wanes

2021-01-01

Brands and companies started using Fortnite Dances in marketing

2023-01-01

Fortnite Dances entered the broader pop culture conversation

View on Google Trends

How to Use This Meme

Fortnite Dances are used by recreating them in videos, photos, or in person at events. People perform them to celebrate achievements, participate in social media challenges, or simply reference the meme. The dances are most commonly shared via TikTok and Instagram Reels.

1

Watch the original Fortnite Dances 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

Create Your Own

Cultural Impact

Fortnite Dances represented a significant moment in gaming cultural acceptance, where a video game's cosmetics became mainstream social trends. However, the meme's decline reflects gaming's unpredictable trend cycles and the difficulty of sustaining cultural moments. The thing influenced how games and publishers approach cosmetic offerings.

Fun Facts

The Floss dance became so pervasive that it was performed at the 2019 Academy Awards

LeBron James performed multiple Fortnite dances during NBA games, introducing them to mainstream sports audiences

Controversy emerged regarding whether Epic Games compensated the original creators of dance moves they licensed

Merchandise featuring Fortnite dance animations sold millions of units globally

The success of dance emotes inspired other games to implement similar cosmetic dance systems

The Fortnite Dances meme has been shared millions of times across social media

You can create your own Fortnite Dances meme using free tools like Imgflip

Fortnite Dances first appeared in 2018

The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators

Brands and marketers have used Fortnite Dances in their campaigns

The meme is still remixed and adapted by creators

Derivatives & Variations

Floss Dance (the most iconic Fortnite dance)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Dab Challenge (performing the dabbing emote)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Electro Shuffle (futuristic dance variation)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Orange Justice (community-voted dance)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Fortnite Dance Tutorials (educational videos teaching the moves)

A variation of Fortnite Dances

(2018)

Frequently Asked Questions