Music & dance
Stop Dance
Also called Freeze Dance, Dance and Do
Everyone dances while the music plays; when it stops, the host shouts a command and the last person to obey is out.
- people
- 10–80
- time
- 10 min
- energy
- High
- materials
- Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Before you start
Clear the middle of the room of chairs and bags. Write 10–12 commands on a card before you start so you are never stuck thinking mid-game.
- 1Everyone dances anywhere on the floor while the music plays.
- 2The host stops the music and shouts a command: “Freeze!”, “Sit on the floor!”, “Touch something red!”, “Hands on your head!”
- 3The slowest player, or anyone who moves after a freeze, is out and joins the judges.
- 4Repeat with shorter music bursts until three finalists remain, then play one last round for the winner.
What to say3
- 1“Music's on — dance like nobody's watching! Everybody's watching.”
- 2“STOP! Touch something red! Too slow at the back — you're out!”
- 3“Three left! Next command decides it. Ready…”
Host tips3
- From the stage it is hard to see who was last. Pick two eliminated players as spotters on each side of the room by round two.
- Avoid commands that make people grab each other or hit the floor in a crowd, like “Find a partner!” — that is where collisions and awkward grabbing happen.
- Shy adults stand at the edges and barely move. Make “anyone not dancing when the music stops is out” a rule out loud in round one.
Variants2
Pose call
Instead of a single command, call a theme: “Pose like a Christmas tree!” Judges pick the weakest pose to go out.
No elimination
For small kids, nobody is out. The slowest player just has to do a funny dance move solo for three seconds.
Safety2
- Floor commands (“sit down!”) cause pile-ups in a packed room — use them only when there is space, and never for seniors or pregnant guests.
- Watch for heels and wet floors near the buffet.
Good for
Occasions
ChristmasBirthdaySchoolFiestaReunion
Venues
Indoor, largeOutdoorOfficeChurch hall
If this one dies early7
- LimboDance under a bar without touching it or the floor; the bar drops each round until one player is left.
- Simon SaysPlayers copy the leader's commands only when they start with “Simon says”; obey a command without it and you're out.
- Musical StatuesDance while the music plays, freeze like a statue when it stops; anyone who wobbles or laughs is out.
- The Boat Is SinkingThe host shouts “The boat is sinking — group yourselves into five!” and anyone not in a group of exactly that size is out.
- Balloon StompEveryone has a balloon tied to their ankle. Stomp on other people's balloons and protect your own.
- Lip Sync ShowdownTeams or volunteers mime to a song with full drama and props; the crowd's cheers pick the winner.
- Dance-OffTeams take turns dancing to surprise songs in the middle of the floor; the crowd's cheers decide who goes through.