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 curated selection of fun, danceable popular tracks (21–30)

Mela!Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai 'Mela!' Music Video / Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Mela!

Mela!Ryokushokushakai

Ryokuoushoku Shakai is a pop-rock band that delivers a genreless charm with colorful tones and catchy pop.

Among their songs, the perfect track to dance to at a school sports festival is “Mela!” It’s included on their 2020 release “SINGALONG” and was featured in the commercial for Dariya’s “Palty Coloring Milk.” The rhythmic tempo is infused with jazzy arrangements.

Try dancing along to the dazzling choral work and handclaps.

It’s a danceable number that will get the whole class moving in sync and feeling hyped.

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DoraemonHoshino Gen

Gen Hoshino – Doraemon (Official Video)

DoraemonHoshino Gen

This song was used as the theme for the movie Doraemon: Nobita’s Treasure Island and as the opening theme for the Doraemon TV series.

Speaking of Doraemon, along with Anpanman, he’s a character beloved by children! The anime has aired across the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, earning recognition from a wide range of ages, from kids to seniors.

This track is often played at school sports days, and in addition to the official dance, many easy-to-follow choreography videos for children have been released.

It’s a surefire hit for all kinds of sports days—whether at schools or community events with participants of all ages!

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New Treasure IslandSakanakushon

Sakanaction / New Treasure Island -Music Video-

New Treasure IslandSakanakushon

This is the 11th single by Sakanaction, a five-member rock band led by Ichiro Yamaguchi, who is known in the music industry as a “sound fanatic” for his uncompromising dedication to audio quality.

Created as the theme song for the film Bakuman, the track features a melody that’s somehow comical yet cool, and it sticks in your head.

The original choreography consists mainly of simple side-to-side movements and basic box steps that match the beat, making it easy for large groups to perform together.

It’s also not a song that demands extreme speed when creating choreography, so it’s recommended for dances at school sports days and athletic festivals.

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Hoshino Takashi

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School HeavenDream5

From Dream5 / Gakuen Tengoku / Album 'DAYS'

School HeavenDream5

Dream5 is a five-member dance and vocal unit that emerged from the music segment of the NHK Educational TV program “Tensai TV-kun MAX,” also known for the huge hit “Yo-kai Exercise No.

1.” Their cover of Finger 5’s “Gakuen Tengoku,” included on their second mini-album “DAYS,” was chosen as the theme song for BeeTV’s “How Far Will Akiko Wada Let Us Go!?” The call-and-response and high-energy ensemble make it perfect for group dance routines.

With lyrics about school life that everyone can relate to, it’s an uplifting tune loved across generations.

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Hoshino Takashi

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fatesumika

[Easy! Sports Day Dance] Fate / sumika (for lower grades to high school students) Creative Dance, Culture Festival, Sports Festival, etc.

fatesumika

This song by sumika features lyrics that start like a counting rhyme from “1” and a catchy, poppy sound.

Released in April 2024 as the opening theme for the TV anime Dungeon Meshi Season 2, it delivers a positive message about taking on the unknown.

Its upbeat, tricky sound perfectly matches the theme of enjoying life—failures included.

It’s a bright, uplifting track that can create a sense of unity across a whole venue, making it perfect for dance-time at school sports days and athletic festivals.

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Turning Uparashi

[Arashi] Turning Up – Full breakdown of the choreography up to the chorus in 15 minutes!

Turning Uparashi

It’s a song that was also performed at the 2019 NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

It was released on November 3, 2019, when Arashi celebrated their 20th anniversary.

It’s not an intensely fast-paced track that leaves your feelings behind, nor a swaying, sleep-inducing ballad—it’s a song that naturally lifts your spirits to just the right level.

As a dance track, ‘Turning Up’ has inspired many people to dance along to the music.

The footwork is super cool, isn’t it? Practicing for school sports festivals might be tough, but once it all comes together, you’ll surely feel a great sense of accomplishment.

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Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

Choreography for use at events like sports festivals (for upper grades): “Ao to Natsu” by Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE

If you want to boost the excitement at your school sports day with a refreshing rock tune, we recommend “Ao to Natsu.” This track was released in 2018 by the rock band Mrs.

GREEN APPLE, known for their popularity and classical-style melodies.

It was used as the theme song for the film “Aonatsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-nichi.” It’s an upbeat number that showcases Motoki Omori’s shining high-tone vocals.

The song evokes the feeling of youth, making it easy for students to connect emotionally.

Dance to this bright, feel-good track with smiles, and your class bonds will grow stronger!

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