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)

A Cruel Angel’s ThesisTakahashi Yoko

A Cruel Angel's Thesis / Yoko Takahashi [Avantgardey]

A Cruel Angel's ThesisTakahashi Yoko

An epic-scale anime song themed around angels and destiny that conveys courage and hope.

Released in October 1995, this track captivated many fans as the opening theme of the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” with lyrics that brilliantly capture the world of the series and Yoko Takahashi’s powerful vocals.

It embodies a resolve to soar into the future, a readiness to grow, and a wish for self-realization, overflowing with a moving message that stirs the heart.

Its energetic rhythm and dynamic sound are sure to add flair and excitement to school sports festivals and dance performances.

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Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI

Easy! Sports Day Dance to Highest Point/SEKAI NO OWARI [For Lower Grades and Up]

Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI

A hugely popular song by SEKAI NO OWARI with a driving, exhilarating melody that celebrates the importance of keeping up the challenge.

It debuted in September 2023 as the theme song for the Fuji TV anime ONE PIECE, drawing attention with its grand strings and Nakajin’s powerful guitar sound.

While carefully portraying the protagonist’s determination to move forward even while embracing their own weaknesses, its energetic development gives listeners a strong push from behind.

With a refreshing rhythm that appeals to both kids and adults, it’s a perfect track for sports days and school festival dances—one that will make the audience want to move along too!

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[Dance Songs] Perfect for Sports Days and Athletic Festivals! A Curated Selection of Fun, Popular Tracks to Dance To (31–40)

Silent majorityKeyakizaka46

Keyakizaka46 'Silent Majority'

Silent majorityKeyakizaka46

After relaunching in 2020 as Sakurazaka46, the idol group Keyakizaka46 gained popularity with songs featuring strong, message-driven themes that set them apart from conventional idol images.

Their 1st single, “Silent Majority,” became a massive hit despite being a debut track, thanks to its tightly synchronized, military-like dance performance and catchy melody that sparked a huge reaction.

While it carries a somewhat serious tone for a sports day selection, its formation dance has a gripping appeal and intensity that captivates viewers.

It’s a dance tune that, when polished to perfection, we’d love to see performed—one that resonates with special conviction precisely because it’s done by teenagers.

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Hoshino Takashi

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PERFECT HUMANRADIO FISH

[PERFECT HUMAN] RADIO FISH 'Easy Dance' 'Comedy/Parody Style' A dance anyone can do! Simple arranged dance!

PERFECT HUMANRADIO FISH

A party tune in an EDM style distinguished by its energetic beat.

The high-level dance skills and showmanship of the RADIO FISH performers are fully showcased, perfectly matching the rhythmic music.

Released in December 2015, the piece won the Wired Topic Award at the 49th Japan Cable Awards the following year.

It also appeared in the 67th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, becoming a social phenomenon.

The subtly self-deprecating humor woven into the chorus and the powerful dance performance create an appealing contrast.

Even now, it enjoys enduring popularity as a classic track to energize dance time at school sports days and athletic festivals.

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Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO

SHISHAMO “Tomorrow Too”

Tomorrow as wellSHISHAMO

How about dancing to SHISHAMO’s “Ashita mo”? SHISHAMO is popular among elementary and junior high school students.

Their songs are often pop and cute, yet carry meaningful messages.

These days, J-pop is frequently used at school sports festivals, right? This song was also in a commercial, so it’s well-known—not just for the dancers, but it should also resonate easily with the audience.

The tempo is just right for a dance and I think it’s easy to perform.

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OLA!!yuzu

Yuzu: "OLA!!"

OLA!!yuzu

This is Yuzu’s 42nd single, which served as the theme song for the film “Crayon Shin-chan: My Moving Story — Cactus Large Attack!” and was also used as the ending theme for the TV anime.

As the title “OLA!!” suggests, it features a Latin rhythm and is a highly danceable track.

With its bright tone, it’s sure to lift everyone’s spirits if played at a school sports day or athletic festival.

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Yes, with pleasure.kocchi no kento

[Sure, with pleasure] Kocchinoken and MV “Simple Dance” — A simple arranged dance you can do at sports days or recitals!

Yes, with pleasure.kocchi no kento

Kenchto-san’s “Hai Yorokonde” is a track packed with a lively, fun vibe and a positive message.

Set to a light, upbeat rhythm, the chorus repeats the phrase “Giri-Giri Dance,” making it easy to remember and fun to dance to.

Released in May 2024, the song became a big hit on social media platforms like TikTok.

The choreography is simple, and if everyone dances together, it’s sure to bring plenty of smiles! It’s also a great pick for events like school sports days.

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