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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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] Top Picks for Sports Day and Athletic Festivals! A Curated List of Fun, Popular Tracks to Dance To (1–10)

Standing on stageNEW!YOASOBI

YOASOBI "Stand on the Stage" Official Music Video

Standing on stageNEW!YOASOBI

YOASOBI’s song “Taking the Stage.” Released as a digital single in 2024, many of you have probably heard it as NHK’s sports theme across various live broadcasts.

The lyrics portray the struggles of athletes facing competition and the thrill of stepping onto the stage, powerfully pushing listeners forward.

With a guitar-driven, rock-leaning sound full of speed, it’s perfect for school sports day dances, too.

Move big to the strong rhythm, and the audience will naturally break into smiles.

Let’s cheer on children’s best performances with this song packed with messages to fire you up!

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Rock this PartyNEW!timelesz

timelesz ｢Rock this Party｣ (YouTube Ver.)

Rock this PartyNEW!timelesz

If you want to hype up your sports day dance, timelesz’s energetic track “Rock this Party” is a must-check.

Released digitally in February 2025, this single marks the group’s fresh start under a new lineup.

It was also featured in Universal Music’s “#OurSpringSong Campaign” Vol.

4 commercial, so many of you may have already heard it! With its uptempo beat infused with club music elements and a bright, catchy melody, it naturally gets your body moving.

Its positive theme of moving toward your dreams with your friends makes it perfect for a sports day where everyone dances as one! Try jumping, pumping your arms with energy, and enjoying it with dynamic choreography!

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Only One StoryNEW!Poketto Monsutā

[Official] Pokémon Anime “Rayquaza Rising” Opening Theme: “Only One Story”

Only One StoryNEW!Poketto Monsutā

This song was used as the opening theme for the anime “Pokémon” and was released in October 2024 as ZEROBASEONE’s original Japanese track.

It was later included on the EP “PREZENT,” released in January 2025.

It’s a bright, refreshing cheer song that encourages those setting out on an adventure, featuring a catchy melody.

With a fun rhythm that kids can quickly pick up, it’s perfect as a dance number for everyone to move to at a school sports day.

Filled with uplifting words, this track will get everyone moving with energy and liven up the entire venue!

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[Dance Songs] Recommended for Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! A Curated Selection of Fun, Popular Tracks to Dance To (11–20)

Curtain callNEW!Yuuri

Curtain Call by Yuuri: My Hero Academia Special Music Video / My Hero Academia Season 7 Cour 2 Opening Theme Anime MV

Curtain callNEW!Yuuri

Singer-songwriter Yuuri, whose earnest vocals that resonate in the heart captivate many listeners.

Among Yuuri’s songs, the one we’d most like to see passionately danced to at a sports festival is “Curtain Call.” Released early in July 2024, this track was written as the opening theme for cour 2 of season 7 of the hugely popular TV anime My Hero Academia.

It features an emotional rock sound and a powerful message about facing hardships.

If you incorporate dynamic choreography that matches the explosive energy of the chorus, it will create a cool stage that boosts the sense of unity among upper-grade students.

It’s a dance number highly recommended for anyone aiming for a heated, high-energy performance!

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Otona BlueNEW!atarashii gakkou no rīdāzu

ATARASHII GAKKO! – Otona Blue (Official Music Video)

Otona BlueNEW!atarashii gakkou no rīdāzu

The new group School Leaders is hugely popular with both adults and kids.

Their song Otona Blue was released digitally in May 2020.

It expresses the conflicts and impatience a teenage girl feels as she grows into a woman, set to an electro sound reminiscent of Showa-era pop.

In early 2023, the head-shaking dance gained attention on TikTok and sparked a major boom.

It became a record-breaking hit, reaching No.

1 on Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs in March of the same year.

With its distinctive moves and powerful vocals, this track is perfect for an elementary school sports day dance.

If everyone has fun shaking their heads while they dance, it’s sure to be a performance to remember.

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Nice idea!NEW!Ryokushokushakai

Nice idea!

Nice idea!NEW!Ryokushokushakai

For anyone thinking, “I can’t find a pop song that gets me dancing from the morning,” I highly recommend Nice Idea! It’s a track released in March 2024 by the pop band Ryokuoushoku Shakai, known for their colorful sound, and it was featured in Kagome’s Yasai Seikatsu 100 commercial.

It was later included on their album Channel U, released in February 2025.

The bouncy shuffle beat and lively call-and-response really shine.

With its uplifting pop theme, it’s perfect for everyone to dance to energetically at a school sports day.

Add some simple choreography and create a dance segment filled with smiles!

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Deer-Colored DaysNEW!Kanoko Noko (CV: Megumi Han), Koshiko Tora (CV: Saki Fujita), Koshi Anko (CV: Rui Tanabe), Bashame Meme (CV: Fuka Izumi)

TV anime “Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan” OP theme “Shika-iro Days” Special Anime MV

Deer-Colored Days NEW! Noko Kanoko (CV: Megumi Han), Torako Koshishi (CV: Saki Fujita), Anko Koshishi (CV: Rui Tanabe), Meme Bashame (CV: Fuka Izumi)

Watch “Deer-Colored Days NEW! Kanoko Shikanoko (CV: Megumi Han), Torako Koshiko (CV: Saki Fujita), Anko Koshiko (CV: Rui Tanabe), Meme Bashame (CV: Fuka Izumi)” on YouTube

How about captivating everyone’s attention with a high-energy anime pop track packed with an unforgettable, punchy rhythm and plenty of surreal wordplay? This song is performed by Shika-bu, a character unit featuring popular voice actors Megumi Han, Saki Fujita, Rui Tanabe, and Fuka Izumi.

Chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime “Shikanoko Nokonoko Koshitantan,” it was released on CD in August 2024.

The comedic moves timed to the intro went viral on social media both in Japan and overseas.

With easy-to-learn choreography that makes a big impact, it’s perfect for kids to enjoy dancing at school sports festivals.

Let’s create a lively, fun stage that will make everyone watching smile!

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