How to Do the Chipmunks Dance: Step by Step for 3

The Chipmunks Dance looks chaotic, but it follows a simple rule: three people stand in a row, and the front spot keeps changing hands. Get the order of turns right and the moves almost take care of themselves. This guide walks through the whole routine as three siblings dance it in the video below, with timestamps you can follow along.

Before you start: assign the spots

Stand in a line, shoulder to shoulder, facing the camera. Give everyone a name for the practice:

• Middle: opens the dance at the front and comes back for a second turn.
• Left: takes the first handoff, and jumps in for one more turn near the end.
• Right: takes the second handoff.

If you are dressing up, the classic casting is Alvin in the middle, Simon on the left and Theodore on the right. Our costume guide has ideas for every trio.

The routine, step by step

1. The line-up (0:00)

All three stand still, hands on hips. The middle dancer is half a step forward, chin up. Hold this for the first beat. The freeze is what makes the first move pop, so resist the urge to start bouncing.

2. First handoff (0:03)

The left dancer cuts across to the front. Instead of facing the camera, they turn their back to it, put both hands behind their head and shimmy their shoulders. The other two drift back and keep a small bounce. This back-to-camera turn is the moment most people remember, so commit to it.

3. Second handoff (0:09)

The right dancer steps up close to the lens and takes over with big, wide arm swings and a grin. The left dancer slides back into the line. Keep the arm swings loose; stiff arms read as nervous on camera.

4. Back to the middle (0:13)

The dancer who opened returns to the front. This turn is short: pump both fists and pull a face for the camera. Two counts, then out.

5. One more solo (0:14)

The left dancer jumps back in for a quick extra turn: knees bent, hands low and wide, eyes on the camera, like they are about to catch something. It is the lowest pose of the routine, which gives the finish somewhere to rise to.

6. The finish (0:23)

The line closes up and all three rush toward the camera together. The dancer now in the middle throws both arms straight up on the last beat. End close to the lens with big faces.

How to practise it

1. Walk the order with no music. Say "middle, left, right, middle, left, all" out loud while you swap places. Do it three times.
2. Add the sound at half effort. Mark the moves and focus on arriving at the front on time.
3. Go full out for the solos. Each turn is short, so it has to be big.
4. Film a test take and watch it back before the real one.

Most groups get a clean take within about fifteen minutes.

Common mistakes

• Starting too early. If anyone moves on the first beat, the line-up never reads. Freeze first.
• Two people at the front. The dancer leaving the front has to slide back before the next one arrives. Practise the swap paths.
• Camera too close. When someone steps forward, the others get cut off. Put the phone about 2.5 meters back at chest height.
• Small solos. Each turn lasts a few counts. Spins, swings and faces need to be bigger than feels natural.
• Facing the camera on the first handoff. The back-turned shimmy is part of the charm. Keep it.

Can two people do it?

Yes. With two, the dancers split the turns: one opens and closes, the other takes both handoffs in between. It loses a little of the chipmunk joke, since the trio is the point, but it still works.

Not in the same place as your friends?

Long-distance trios can still post one. The AI version on this site will turn one photo of each person into the routine, in the order you choose, with the sound.

Quick answers

How long is the Chipmunks Dance? About 25 seconds.

How many people do you need? Three is the standard. Duos split the turns.

Who goes first? The middle dancer starts at the front, then the left dancer takes the first handoff.