Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

Elementary schoolers can dance to it! Recommended dance songs and choreography for sports day

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.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICHane Keisuke
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. After working in a music studio and handling wedding sound, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with a variety of instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in junior high school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on my own musical activities and the experience gained through my work, I produce daily articles, including various song introductions, features on music festivals around the country, and live reports. In music, I enjoy not only rock from Japan and abroad but, lately, a wide range of J-pop as well.

Every year, one of the biggest highlights at elementary school sports festivals is the dance! Dance songs are often a must-have part of the program.

Many people probably struggle with choosing the right music.

Here, we’ll introduce dance songs recommended for elementary school students.

We’ve gathered the latest popular tracks as well as fun, timeless favorites.

We’ve also prepared choreography videos, focusing on routines that are easy to learn even for busy people.

Packed with ideas to help both kids and adults enjoy the sports festival together—be sure to use this as a reference!

Elementary schoolers can dance! Recommended songs and choreography for school sports day (31–40)

APT.ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

[For Elementary and Middle School Students] APT. / ROSÉ & Bruno Mars [Easy Arrangement Ver.]

APT.ROSÉ & Bruno Mars

Inspired by the Korean drinking game “Apartment Game,” this song captivates children with its catchy rhythm and dance-inducing melody.

Blending pop punk and pop rock, its energetic sound features a pleasant harmony between Rosé and Bruno Mars, and the playful call-and-response makes you want to move naturally.

Released in October 2024, the track rapidly gained views on YouTube and achieved the milestone of 1 billion plays.

Its bright, fun vibe and easy-to-copy rhythmic chants make it perfect for kids’ dance time.

It’s ideal for sports day practice or family dance sessions, and is also recommended as a song kids can enjoy together with friends.

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primary colorsYOASOBI

[Akipon and Achapi] Tried Dancing to Primary Colors

primary colorsYOASOBI

The song you can dance to with a sparkling, cool melody is YOASOBI’s “RGB.” Released in 2021, it was created based on Yuichiro Komikado’s novel “RGB.” It conveys the message that even if we walk separate paths, our bond will never be broken.

Featuring YOASOBI’s signature technical melodies, it’s undeniably cool and sure to make kids want to dance! Regardless of how good you are at dancing, let’s move just as coolly as the music itself!

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Permission To DanceBTS

Choreography for BTS 'Permission To Dance' That Even Preschoolers and Elementary School Kids Can Dance

Permission To DanceBTS

The dance of BTS, the Korean dance-and-vocal group making waves worldwide, is something everyone wants to try at least once! How about performing Permission to Dance at your sports day with simple choreography that even preschoolers and elementary school kids can dance? It’s a song co-written with Ed Sheeran, the British singer-songwriter, which also became a hot topic.

Among BTS’s tracks, it’s a relaxed, pop dance number, so I think you can dance it without any difficult elements at all.

The key is that the moves are easy, big, and look great!

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Let’s give it a tryWANIMA

[Sports Day Dance] [Full] Let's Try / WANIMA | Easy Choreography [Kindergarten, Nursery, Junior Class, Middle Class, Senior Class, Elementary School]

Let's give it a tryWANIMA

This one’s a dance classic too! WANIMA’s hit song “Yatte Miyou.” Since the original tune comes from the children’s song “Picnic,” the melody is super easy to remember! Plus, it was used in the au Santaro “Yatte Miyou” commercial, so everyone’s probably heard it at least once.

WANIMA’s powerful sound and motivational lyrics make it perfect for a school sports day dance.

Try jumping, moving your whole body, and dancing with big, dynamic choreography!

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Brand new dayTōkyō Dizunī Rizōto

TDL Brand New Day ～Tokyo Disney Resort 35th Anniversary～

A song created to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Tokyo Disney Resort.

Its bright, hope-filled melody is striking.

It starts at a slow tempo and gradually builds excitement, making it easy for dance beginners to join in and naturally get moving.

Adding movements like spreading your arms wide together and jumping as the chorus approaches will create a sense of unity.

Incorporating choreography that matches the lyrics brings out a narrative feel and makes it even more enjoyable.

Used at school or community events, it will move many people.

The glamorous music and uplifting message will greatly elevate the atmosphere of the occasion.

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Elementary schoolers can dance to these! Recommended dance songs and choreography for sports day (41–50)

SignalWANIMA

SIGNAL

SignalWANIMA

With its energetic intro, WANIMA’s “Signal” is a perfect song for livening up a sports day! The chorus melody is easy to remember, and the powerful lyrics will make it the highlight of the event.

It would be great to incorporate expressive elements into dance or mass performances! When everyone comes together as one and dances earnestly, it moves and inspires the audience.

It’s recommended for around third grade and up, so be sure to give it a try.

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Nanchū Sōran BushiHokkaidō min’yō

Soran Bushi audio source, no ads

Nanchū Sōran BushiHokkaidō min'yō

Rather than a modern dance, it’s more of a traditional Japanese performance—and a classic choice for school sports festivals! I’d bet almost every school does it to some extent.

You might think it’s cliché, but there’s a reason classics are classics.

Its overwhelming name recognition, powerful music, and dynamic choreography perfectly match the atmosphere of a sports day.

It’s rewarding to practice, and it will surely become a lifelong memory!

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