If you've had any interaction with TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts recently, you've certainly seen the catchy beat and fun dance steps of the Jilo Viral. This dance challenge has dropped on the scene, captivated millions, and proven once again the power of social media to spread a global phenomenon.
So, what is Jilo Viral? Where does it come from? How can I take part? This article will share all you need to know about the latest internet obsession.
Fundamentally, "Jilo Viral" is the name of a song and dance challenge. The song is generally upbeat, involves some combination of an Afrobeat or Amapiano rhythm, and has an easy-to-remember chorus that rips through repetition. The song is designed to dance to, with an array of exciting and syncopated steps.
Much of the routines include fluid body movements, sharp footwork, and arm movements that create a complete routine. The balance of difficulty and easy-to-learn steps, make it a fun event for beginners and experts alike.
Similar to many infractions, the true origins of Jilo Viral originate in the creatively-infused corners of TikTok, many believe it started with a user (or users) who built out the concept along with the dance, adding it to the now-famous song "Jilo."
The word "Jilo" in and of itself has no direct English translation, but is believed to be a slang or brand name that developed traction through the lyrics of the song. The "Viral" portion was likely provided by the community to highlight the challenge's monumental growing power.
This trend took off when creators or influencers, who had significant following, put their own flair on the dance challenge, which created more dopaminergic effects on the originating trends and other interest levels on TikTok content, and if that wasn't enough, the next day new content would continue the trend for a plateau of mass appeal while the challenge rise, making it land on many people's pages where it included more spins and layers of creativity and trends in the pattern.
Let's have a little chat to better understand the hype:
User: "I keep coming across this Jilo dance! Why are people engaging with it now?"
Creator: "It's just a perfect storm, really. First, the tune is a total banger, it gets stuck in your head. Half of the work is complete."
User: "Okay, fair enough, the music is catchy. But doesn't the dance seem challenging?"
Creator: "And that's the second piece! It looks harder than it is. It is easy to learn the basic movements from the simple tutorial, which invites players into the participation aspect, and there is also room to showcase your abilities if you are an advanced dancer. Plus, it is just pure, ecstatic energy. Of course, there is a lot of bad news in the world, and a fun dance challenge is a nice way to escape from that."
User: "So, it is the music, the accessibly, and the positive energy?"
Creator: "Exactly! And don't forget the algorithm! Once TikTok identifies a trending dance pattern, the algorithm shows the dance to more and more people, creating a snowball effect!"
Interested in becoming part of the trend? Here's a short starter guide:
Find the Song: Search your favorite music service on "Jilo Viral song" or check it out on YouTube.
Watch the Original: Check to see if there is an original version or popular choreographed video, so you can see what the main sequence looks like.
Follow a Tutorial: Many of the dance creators provide beginner to professional tutorials of the moves in slower motion. Search "Jilo Viral dance tutorial" on YouTube.
Practice: Start slow with no music. Separate the footwork and separated or arm movement to practice those separately before speeding them up and combining them.
Record and Post: Once you're ready to try, record yours and get it posted with any linked hashtag on the social media platform of your choice!
The term "Jilo" does not have a direct English translation that mirrors the nuances of its original meaning. It seems to be a catchy word or brand that originated from the lyrics of the song itself, similar to other catchy words in pop music that do not have particular meanings but are memorable.
The collaborative efforts of TikTok users originated the Jilo viral dance. While individual creators posted the choreography at the start, it has developed significantly through contributions made from the dance community worldwide since TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms allow individuals to diversify the choreography.
The song is simply titled, "Jilo Viral." Searching this word should help you find it on streaming platforms/musical platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc.
The basic structure/routine is easy to learn. Although there is a level of complexity, for someone with a diminutive dance background like me, the basic movements can be replicated. The many finesse of videos posted online to assist with learning the dance make it easier as well.
To expand your audience, you should add popular and appropriate hashtags like:
#JiloViral
#JiloDance
#JiloChallenge
#ViralDance
#DanceChallenge
#[YourCountry]Dance (e.g., #IndiaDance)