International Dance Day is just around the corner—April 29! Created in 1982 by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, this global celebration honors the universal language of movement and the cultural richness that dance brings to our lives.
So what better way to celebrate than by infusing your indoor cycling sessions with the electrifying energy of dance-inspired beats? 💃🌍🚴♀️
In your classes, you don’t need choreography on the bike—we’re all about keeping it real and rooted in strong, effective cycling technique. But that doesn’t mean your ride can’t feel like a party. With a dance-themed playlist, think more head-nodding, toe-tapping, and infectious rhythms that inspire energy and joy in every pedal stroke.
To help you craft your own rhythmic ride, we’ve put together not one, not two, but three sensational bucket playlists that celebrate movement and dancing in all its forms:
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Dance/Boogie/Bailar (~230 songs): This playlist is bursting with toe-tapping tracks that are about dancing! Sure, you can dance to just about anything, but these songs bring the theme front and center with lyrics that celebrate the art of dance.
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Move/Move Your Body (~160 songs): Songs that shout “move your feet” or “move your body”—these tracks are all about inspiring motion and momentum, both on and off the bike.
- DJ (Songs About a DJ) (50 songs): This playlist is filled with tracks that mention or call out to a DJ. After all, DJs are the heartbeat of the dance floor—the ones who carefully curate the music that keeps us moving. It’s a fun and funky addition to your dancing theme!
From disco classics to global grooves to high-energy anthems, these playlists include songs that work across a variety of tempos and terrains, giving you endless flexibility to craft climbs, flats, surges, and more. (ICA members can access those playlists at the end of this post.)
Below you’ll find a sampling of tracks we’ve handpicked to help get you started…
Dancing with Myself, Billy Idol, 3:48, 88 bpm
Fuel high-intensity, high-cadence intervals or push through FTP tests with this adrenaline-pumping anthem from the 1980s.
4321, Manafest, 2:41, 107 bpm
While you can ride at 107 rpm for the whole song (make sure to offer modifications for those who can’t pedal that fast with good form), I like to feel the rhythm with leg surges and chase the beat on the chorus, falling back to the 90s rpm for the verses. This approach keeps riders engaged and energized throughout.
Alors on Danse, Stromae, 3:26, 120 bpm
Transport your riders to the dance floor with this infectious French hit, perfect for a steep climb. “Alors on danse” means “So we dance.”
One Last Time, Hollerado, 3:17, 160 bpm
Unleash one final interval in your set with this energizing track, inspiring your riders to finish with an exhilarating push one last time.
Yo Quiero Bailar, Ivy Queen, 3:06, 95 bpm
Embrace the vibrant rhythms of Latin music with this fast-paced anthem, guaranteed to keep spirits lifted on a high-cadence moderate to hard flat road. Latino artists have long embraced dancing as a central theme in their music, infusing their songs with passion, rhythm, and a zest for life. “Yo Quiero Bailar” (“I want to dance”) embodies this spirit, inviting riders to immerse themselves in the pulsating beats and lively melodies that define Latin music’s timeless allure. This post dives into the diversity of Latino music—perfect for a dancing theme!
Boogie Shoes, KC and the Sunshine Band, 2:11, 120 bpm
Elevate your climb with accelerations on the chorus or add resistance for a standing challenge. Short yet sweet, it’s also perfect for a recovery track (dissociate from the beat). Even avowed non–disco fans can’t deny the joy this song brings and the memories that surface once those horns kick in!
Travolta, Arno Cost, Norman Doray, 3:33, 124 bpm
Speaking of disco… This song is the furthest thing from the disco genre—it’s an EDM vibe perfect for a climb. But the spoken lyrics sing the praises of disco—making for an entertaining juxtaposition following or preceding “Boogie Shoes,” silencing the disco haters! Here is a taste of the lyrics:
Disco will never be over. It will always live in our minds and hearts.
Something like this that was this big, and this important, and this great, will never die.
People will laugh about John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, white polyester suits and platform shoes and going like this!
Disco was much more, and much better than all that. Disco was too great and too much fun to be gone forever.
Hey DJ, CNCO, Meghan Trainor, Sean Paul, 3:09, 90 bpm
This delightful Reggaeton track will have your head nodding as you pedal at a quick pace. The energy of the song can work as a warm-up, a recovery, or even a more spirited fast flat.
Music, Madonna, 3:45, 120 bpm
This early-2000s Madonna classic is a dance anthem that celebrates the power of music to bring people together. As she calls out to the DJ, you can bring that same energy to the bike with rhythmic jumps on a slow, powerful climb—letting your legs “dance” to the beat while keeping your focus on form and flow.
Starry Eyed Surprise, Paul Oakenfold, Shifty Shellshock, 3:48, 103 bpm
This feel-good, dance-under-the-stars anthem opens with a shoutout to the DJ and delivers an irresistible groove from start to finish. Perfect for a fast flat at 103 rpm, it shines as the final track in a cadence ladder or as part of a high-cadence interval set. Let the rhythm take over as you ride into the night under the stars.
With such a wide range of genres and styles, there’s no limit to the creative and exhilarating experiences you can bring into your studio for International Dance Day.
💬 Have a favorite track that gets your class moving? Share it in the comments below—we’re always building and updating our playlists with your input!