Raper's Macarena Dance Corner

Macarena Dance Instruction

The Macarena Major Phrase is 32 beats of music - 4 Mini Phrases (8 beats each). The turn occurs between beats 6 and 7 of the 4th Mini Phrase. There are incorrect versions of Macarena instruction on the web which indicate that the Macarena is a 16 beat dance - it is not!

There seems to be some controversy as to which way to turn in the Macarena. If you look at the Video of the Bayside Boys mix by Los Del Rio, you will see them turning toward their right shoulder - a clockwise turn.


1st Mini Phrase


Beat  1 (1-1): Rt arm straight forward - Rt Palm Down
Beat  2 (1-2): hold
Beat  3 (1-3): Lt arm straight forward - Lt Palm Down
Beat  4 (1-4): hold
Beat  5 (1-5): Rt arm straight forward - Rt Palm Up
Beat  6 (1-6): hold
Beat  7 (1-7): Lt arm straight forward - Lt Palm Up
Beat  8 (1-8): hold

2nd Mini Phrase

Beat  9 (2-1): Rt hand on top of Lt Shoulder or on Lt upper arm
Beat 10 (2-2): hold
Beat 11 (2-3): Lt hand on top of Rt Shoulder or on Rt upper arm
Beat 12 (2-4): hold
Beat 13 (2-5): Rt hand on back of Rt Neck
Beat 14 (2-6): hold
Beat 15 (2-7): Lt hand on back of Lt Neck
Beat 16 (2-8): hold

3rd Mini Phrase

Beat 17 (3-1): Rt hand cross in front on Lt side of Waist
Beat 18 (3-2): hold
Beat 19 (3-3): Lt Hand cross in front on Rt side of Waist
Beat 20 (3-4): hold
Beat 21 (3-5): Rt hand on Rt buttox
Beat 22 (3-6): hold
Beat 23 (3-7): Lt hand on Lt buttox
Beat 24 (3-8): hold

4th Mini Phrase

Beat 25 (4-1): Move hips Lt
Beat 26 (4-2): hold
Beat 27 (4-3): Move hips Rt
Beat 28 (4-4): hold
Beat 29 (4-5): Move hips Lt
Beat 30 (4-6): Jump after this beat and turn Right 1/4 turn
Beat 31 (4-7): hold
Beat 32 (4-8): hold

Style Variations

There are many style variations seen of which the following being only a few:

In the 4th Mini Phrase, instead of moving the hips Lt and Rt, you can rotate the hips in a counter clockwise circular motion.


[Raper's Macarena Dance Corner]

[Raper's Dance Corner]