Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[Dance Songs] Recommended for school sports days and athletic festivals! A curated selection of popular tracks that are fun to dance to

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Among the events at school sports days and athletic festivals, the dance performance draws especially high attention.

Because students, teachers, and parents all look forward to it, choosing the right music becomes a big deal.

If you use the same songs every year, both students and parents will get bored, and if the songs aren’t well-known, the crowd won’t get excited…

So, for sports day dances, we recommend buzzworthy tracks and songs popular among students.

In this article, we’ll introduce songs that are especially popular for sports day dance routines!

It’s packed with anime theme songs and hit tracks that students love.

[Dance Songs] Recommended for Sports Days and School Athletic Festivals! A handpicked selection of fun-to-dance popular tracks (71–80)

paprikaFoorin

[Paprika] Dance Music Video | Foorin × Kenshi Yonezu | NHK

paprikaFoorin

Paprika was created as part of NHK’s support project for the 2020 Olympics.

It became a hot topic because Kenshi Yonezu wrote and composed it.

The singers are Foorin, a group formed by children selected through an audition.

It’s a very uplifting cheer song.

The choreography was done by the star duo Tomohiko Tsujimoto and Koharu Sugawara.

Let’s energize the venue with free-spirited dancing!

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Your AdventureOkazaki Taiiku

Your Adventure

Your AdventureOkazaki Taiiku

Recommended for sports days at kindergartens, nursery schools, and elementary schools.

This song was used as the opening theme for the anime Pokémon Sun & Moon.

It was released in 2018 as the fourth digital single by singer-songwriter Taiiku Okazaki.

Its high-energy sound and straightforward lyrics are encouraging—it makes you feel like you could run faster.

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SenbonzakuraWagakki Band

Wagakki Band / Senbonzakura

SenbonzakuraWagakki Band

How about dancing to “Senbonzakura”? When you hear “Senbonzakura,” you might think of Hatsune Miku, but this one is Wagakki Band’s version.

The powerful sound of taiko drums resonates alongside the tones of traditional Japanese instruments like the shakuhachi, koto, and shamisen.

I think it would look really cool to dance wearing something with a Japanese touch, like a happi coat.

It’s an upbeat, captivating track that really gets the crowd going.

Dancing with a folding fan could be wonderful too!

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FLASHPerfume

[Official Music Video] Perfume 「FLASH」

FLASHPerfume

“FLASH” is a single released in 2016, and it was also chosen as the theme song for the live-action film adaptation of the manga Chihayafuru: Kami no Ku / Shimo no Ku.

Its fast-paced sound, glamorous melody line, and vocals leave a strong impression.

With a highly danceable tempo, it’s perfect for energizing dance performances at school sports festivals.

It’s also great for cheering on club activities!

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The world is smiling at you.Little Glee Monster

Dance choreography for sports days and recitals! Little Glee Monster: “Sekai wa Anata ni Waraikaketeiru” (The World Is Smiling at You)

The world is smiling at you.Little Glee Monster

Little Glee Monster is a female vocal group that delivers songs that make listeners feel bright and positive.

Each member is known for exceptional vocal ability.

Among their tracks, the one we’d love to see danced to at a sports day is “Sekai wa Anata ni Waraikaketeiru” (“The World Is Smiling at You”).

Released in 2018, the song was chosen as Coca-Cola’s annual image song for that year.

It’s a catchy pop tune with vibrant, colorful sounds.

The rhythm is easy to dance to even for beginners, making it perfect for large-group sports day dances!

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dissonanceKeyakizaka46

Keyakizaka46 'Discord'

dissonanceKeyakizaka46

Among the Sakamichi groups, Keyakizaka46 is the coolest and most stylish.

They’re a group known for the intense, almost fierce dancing of former center Yurina Hirate.

“Fukyouwaon” is a work that expresses the importance of staying true to your own pride.

The lyrics use strong words, and you can feel the inner strength needed to protect one’s pride.

The choreography is so powerful you wouldn’t think it’s an idol group, so if you want to dance coolly at a sports festival or school event, this song is recommended.

Practice so you can put on a confident, defiant expression.

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100% CourageHikaru GENJI

Courage 100% / NYC Cover [Tried a Solo Acoustic Performance]

100% CourageHikaru GENJI

Hikaru GENJI was an idol group so popular that they became legendary, thanks to performances featuring roller skates and acrobatics.

Their 21st single, “Yuuki 100%,” used as the opening theme for the TV anime Nintama Rantarō, is also known for being passed down and sung by younger Johnny’s groups over the years.

Its positive message and pop arrangement brighten up athletic events like school sports days.

Even today, this timeless classic is often used for marches and dances in kindergartens and elementary schools.

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Hoshino Takashi

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