How to Do the Chicken Dance

Co-authored by Jami Stigliano

Last Updated: September 13, 2025

The chicken dance is popular around the world and is an activity fit for fun occasions, such as parties, dinners with friends, and informal wedding receptions. The steps are not difficult, so put on the Chicken Dance song and you will be polkaing like a chicken in no time!

How to Do the Chicken Dance Moves

Perform the chicken beak move (x4).
Flap your wings (x4).
Bend your knees and shake your hips (x4).
Stand up straight and clap your hands to the music (x4).
Hook your elbows with a partner and spin in circles (x8).
Repeat the steps.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Doing the “Chicken” Part

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1
Join the crowd as the song starts. As you hear the Chicken Dance song start, head to the dance floor and join the circle of other dancers. The crowd may also be formed in a line, or broken into groups of different people doing the dance by themselves.^{[1]
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- The Chicken Dance is done in repetitions of three, followed by a clap at the end of the section.
2
Make the chicken beak with your hands. Holding your arms out before you, form your “chicken beaks” by pressing your fingers and thumb together, opening and shutting your hand like the beak of a chicken.
- Open and close your beaks four times in time with the music.
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3
Flap your wings four times. Putting your thumbs in your armpits, flap your elbows as if they are wings. With your hands in your armpits, your elbows should point out, resembling chicken wings.
- Repeat this motion four times in sync with the music.
4
Bend your knees and shake your hips with the music. With your hands at your hips like the feathers of a chicken, move your hips to the left and right as you lower yourself down toward the ground.
- There is no rule on how low you are supposed to go during the shaking of your hips.
5
Stand up straight and clap four times with the music. As this is the last step of the Chicken Dance, prepare yourself for two more rounds of repeating these dance moves. In some versions of the Chicken Dance song, the pace increases as the song progresses, so prepare yourself for things to move faster.^{[2]
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- This dance can also be done in the seated position if you have someone who is injured or who cannot stand.
6
Give yourself some creative freedom. Although these are the basic guidelines to the chicken dance, allow yourself to be creative and mix things up. The Chicken Dance is supposed to be fun, so if you feel like there is something you can do to spice things up, don’t hesitate to do so.^{[3]
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- The more loose and free you are while doing the Chicken Dance, the more fun you will have.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Doing the Polka Portion

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1
Hook your elbows with a partner's. In between the Chicken Dance portion of the song, find a partner and interlock your elbows. If you cannot find a partner, do not worry about it. You can stomp your feet and clap on the outside of the circle, or simply watch until the song changes.^{[4]
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- This polka section is temporary, and you can enjoy dancing with yourself until the Chicken Dance part starts again.
2
Spin in circles for eight counts. With your partner, spin in circles for a count of eight, switching arms and spinning in the opposite direction every time. As you detach elbows, you can also switch partners and spin with someone new.^{[5]
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- Children can hold hands and spin together in a circle, spinning in one direction for eight counts and changing directions for eight counts.^{[6]
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Once you finish the Chicken Dance, return to your starting position and prepare to start again. The shift in pace and tone of the music will be obvious. If you are uncertain whether the chicken dance portion is starting again, just observe what other people are doing and follow suit.^{[7]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Is this an appropriate dance move to jam out with during any song?

Community Answer

Yes. Absolutely.

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Question

Is it okay if my whole middle school tells me I look very stupid doing this?

Community Answer

If doing the chicken dance makes you happy, you should it, no matter what anyone says.

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Why does my chicken dance look like I'm having a seizure?

Community Answer

That's the way everyone else looks. It is supposed to be that way. Just have fun.

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