Leading dance organizations have warned aspiring dancers that they are risking injury by copying advanced moves and taking part in viral challenges on TikTok.
Professionals Warn Dancers About Dangers of TikTok Challenges
In an interview with The Stage, the Royal Academy of Dance said that young people should be more careful when trying to recreate moves done by professional dancers while taking part in challenges on TikTok.
The Royal Academy of Dance's artistic director, Gerard Charles, said that while TikTok can be a great inspiration for amateur dancers, it still needs to be supervised by trained teachers to avoid injury.
Charles added that watching dance videos on TikTok can provide great inspiration for young people. However, copying the dance steps, especially the complicated ones, without the supervision of experienced and qualified teachers could lead to serious injuries.
Dance Training for TikTok Users
Louise Molton, the director of education at the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, encourages young dancers to consider proper dance training before trying any of the difficult dance challenges on TikTok.
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Molton added that repetitive routines without targeted feedback do not support technical and artistic development and can lead to serious injury and poor practice.
Learning complicated dances without a teacher who can correct them in the early stages of any physical activity could be dangerous and may lead to permanent injury, Molton continued.
Injuries Caused by TikTok Dances
The Guardian reported that American actor Kyra Sedgwick was pictured with an ice pack on her wrist after trying the "Footloose Drop," a current TikTok dance challenge.
Sedgwick's husband, Kevin Bacon, an actor who starred in the original film, shared the picture of the 56-year-old actress on Instagram.
In 2020, a spate of TikTok users was reportedly injured after trying a complicated set of moves to Cardi B's "Wap" during the first few months of the COVID-19 lockdown.
According to the New York Post, at least one aspiring dancer was taken to the hospital after copying the viral dance, which includes twerking, several splits, and a leaping high kick.
The "Wap" dance challenge, which Brian Esperon choreographed, garnered 13 million views on the social media platform. The dance challenge consists of complicated series of steps.
A TikTok user who recreated Esperon's dance said they could not wear a skit for a week because their legs were covered in bruises. The user also said that they suffered a pinched neck.
Another TikTok user was hospitalized after blowing her knee out while trying to do a high kick.
Despite these injuries, TikTok was still praised for its inclusivity and for encouraging young people to discover new interests.
Online Tutorial for Dance Moves
Danielle Drayton, the creative director at Blue Fish Entertainment, said that breaking moves down into tutorials can be more engaging for social media users than a formal dance lesson.
Drayton said that with inspiring companies like Rockettes or the cast of Dance Moms breaking down a dance move in 15 seconds to 30 seconds, at times, the dance could seem less tedious online than in a class.
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Written by Sophie Webster
