The hokey pokey, or hokey cokey as it is known in Great Britain, is an old group dance still very popular, especially in Anglo-Saxon countries. It is often used as a fellowship exercise among toddlers, babies and young campers, but is also fun for adults and children of all ages. All you need to do is learn the song along with the dance moves, and you'll find yourself dancing Hokey Pokey in no time!
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Dancing
Step 1. Get in a circle with the other dancers
This dance is traditionally performed with all the participants grouped in a circle, with enough space between them so that everyone can move without bumping into the others. You should be within an arm's length of the people next to you.
If, on the other hand, you are performing the dance for an audience, the dancers should all face frontally, if necessary in alternating rows, so that your steps are visible to all
Step 2. Step forward with your right foot
When the first verse arrives, "You put your right foot in", put your right foot forward and let it dangle a few inches from the floor, or move it forward pointing towards the floor. You can put your hands on your hips or keep your arms along your body. Many like to sing as they perform the steps, so you can join the song too! This way you can charge up and make it easier for you to remember the next steps.
Step 3. Bring your foot back
With the next verse, "You put your right foot out", bring your foot back to the starting position, next to the other foot.
Step 4. Put your right foot forward and shake it
Following the following words, "You put your right foot in and you shake it all about", bring your right foot forward and shake it back and forth, up and down, or whatever you want to shake it. Make sure you don't lose your balance!
Step 5. Perform hokey pokey and turn on yourself
As in the next verse, "You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around …", now extend your arms to your sides at a ninety degree angle, reach out your fingers and wave them up and down as you turn.. This step only takes a few seconds, so make sure you keep time with the other dancers!
Step 6. Clap your hands at the words "That's what it's all about! "After you have turned on yourself, clap your hands once or twice in this verse. As a variation, you can clap your hands on your knees.
Congratulations, you have completed a full cycle of the hokey pokey! Now you can repeat the same steps with different parts of the body until the song ends
Step 7. Step forward with your left foot
Follow the line "You put your left foot in", and bring your left foot forward, a few inches in front of you. You can keep it stretched out or let it hang a few inches off the ground; repeat what you did with your right foot.
Step 8. Bring your foot back
Verse "You put your left foot out" brings your left foot back to the starting position.
Step 9. Put your left foot forward and shake it
Following the line "You put your left foot in and you shake it all about", bring your left foot forward and shake it as much as you like!
Step 10. Perform hokey pokey and turn on yourself
At the words "You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around", do the hokey pokey again and go around so that when the sentence ends you are in the starting position.
Step 11. Clap your hands at the words "That's what it's all about! "After turning on yourself, clap your hands once or twice in this verse. As a variation, you can clap your hands on your knees.
Step 12. Put your right hand forward
With these words of the song, "You put your right hand in…", lean slightly and stretch your right hand towards the center of the circle or in front of you. The other arm can stay outstretched or you can put your other hand on your hip, depending on how you decide to do it. It's that simple.
Step 13. Withdraw your hand
Following the line "You put your right hand out…", bring your right hand back to your side or send it over your back - the important thing is that you exaggerate the gesture a little. The left hand remains in the position you decided in the previous step.
Step 14. Put your right hand forward
With the new verse "You put your right hand in…", perform the same gesture as before with your right hand.
Step 15. Shake it
The song continues with "And you shake it all about", which means you have to wave your hand up and down, left and right, or whatever you want to shake it. You can even let go and shake it like crazy, depending on how much energy you feel you can put into it!
Step 16. Perform hokey pokey and turn on yourself
Following the words "You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around", perform the hokey pokey and turn yourself again.
Step 17. Clap your hands in the verse "That's what it's all about! "After turning on yourself, clap your hands once or twice at these words. As a variation, you can clap your hands on your knees.
Step 18. Put your left hand forward
Following the words "You put your left hand in", bring your left hand in front of you.
Step 19. Withdraw your hand
At the words "You put your left hand out", bring your left hand back to its original position, or let it swing by your side.
Step 20. Put your left hand forward and wave it
Following the line "You put your left hand in and you shake it all about", bring your left hand back and shake it as much and as you like.
Step 21. Perform hokey pokey and turn on yourself
Following the words "You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around", perform the hokey pokey and turn yourself again.
Step 22. Clap your hands in the verse "That's what it's all about! "After turning on yourself, clap your hands once or twice at these words. As a variation, you can clap your hands on your knees.
Step 23. Bring yourself forward
Following the "You put your whole self in" line, you can either jump forward to the center of the circle or lean forward. This is always the last "body part" you move during hokey pokey, regardless of any changes that may have occurred before!
Step 24. Take it back
At the words "You put your whole self out", you can either jump back to the original position or return your torso to a standing position, whichever comes first.
Step 25. Bring yourself forward and fidget
With the verse "You put your whole self in and you shake it all about", move your body from side to side, waving your hands up and down on your hips. You can lower and raise your torso, shake it, point with your fingers or do whatever you want to just "fidget" one last time!
Step 26. Perform hokey pokey and turn on yourself
Following the words "You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around", perform the hokey pokey and turn yourself again.
There are some variations of this song's ending that repeat the words "That's what it's all about" one last time for the grand finale
Step 27. Clap your hands at the words "That's what it's all about! "After you are done spinning, clap your hands once or twice in this verse. As a variation, you can clap your hands on your knees. Congratulations: you are done! Repeat as many times as you like until you enjoy!
Part 2 of 2: Becoming a Hokey Pokey Expert
Step 1. Learn the song
If you really want to become a Hokey Pokey expert, you should know the song well before you dance it: this will help you orient yourself on the various moves to follow, and will also help you have more fun while dancing! While the words may change slightly depending on which version you can find, here's what you should know:
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- You put your right foot in
- You put your right foot out
- You put your right foot in
- And you shake it all about
- You do the hokey pokey
- And you turn yourself around
- That's what it's all about!
- You put your left foot in
- You put your left foot out
- You put your left foot in
- And you shake it all about
- You do the hokey pokey
- And you turn yourself around
- That's what it's all about!
- You put your right hand in
- You put your right hand out
- You put your right hand in
- And you shake it all about
- You do the hokey pokey
- And you turn yourself around
- That's what it's all about!
- You put your left hand in
- You put your left hand out
- You put your left hand in
- And you shake it all about
- You do the hokey pokey
- And you turn yourself around
- That's what it's all about!
- You put your whole self in
- You put your whole self out
- You put your whole self in
- And you shake it all about
- You do the hokey pokey
- And you turn yourself around
- That's what it's all about!
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Step 2. Add variations
Although this version only uses arms, feet and the whole body, you can add as many variations as you want to this dance as long as you always end using the whole body. Once you're done with your arms and legs, you can use other parts of your body, adding your nose, shoulders, knees, elbows, and even your butt too!
- Keep in mind that in some versions of the song the arms move before the feet. It just depends on you!
- In some versions, the line where it says "You put your [body part] out" is changed to "You take your [body part] out", but it's basically the same.
Advice
- Don't forget to wear appropriate clothing for this dance. And the skates if you are on an ice rink.
- There are many covers of this song, some with different moves that are recalled: although using the body parts mentioned above, some may not be necessary depending on the version you choose. Be aware that you may need to adapt the moves if the song you end up with is different from the one you practiced on.
