How to Dance Goth

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1 Headbanging to the Music

2 Moshing Safely

3 Trying Additional Moves

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Questions & Answers

Tips and Warnings

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Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 20, 2021 References

Goths often listen to music as dark as their clothes, from screamo to death metal. With aggressive and fast beats, this kind of music requires dance moves that are equally as intense. Some of the most common dance styles you’ll see at a goth concert or club are moshing and headbanging. If you're feeling extra spooky, add in a few more creative moves, too. Rock on!

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Headbanging to the Music

1. 
   1
   Warm up your neck and back muscles by stretching. Slowly roll your head in wide circles, starting clockwise and then switching to counter-clockwise. This gets your upper body ready for the same motion you'll be doing while headbanging. Try semi-circles, sweeping your chin from shoulder to shoulder or do gentle nods up and down, drawing a vertical line with your forehead.

   • Be careful not to let your head drop too far backwards when you're nodding or doing head rolls. It strains your neck.
   • If you don’t stretch, you’ll either injure yourself or have a very stiff neck the next day.
2. 
   2
   Bend at the hips and keep your core tight. This reduces the strain on your neck and protects both your neck and back. Your body should be bent at about 45 degrees at your hips. Pulling your belly button in to activate your core also helps support your spine.

   • Keep your knees slightly bent. Never lock your legs or you'll risk overextending your knees.
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3. 
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   Nod your head violently up and down to the beat of the music. Do smaller movements with an occasional larger one thrown in instead of constant exaggerated movements to protect your neck. Go straight up and down or move your head on a diagonal, going from the bottom left to upper right for example.

   • This is the most common style of headbanging.
   • One variation is moving the entire upper half of your body up and down. In this style, your head will come all the way down to your knees.
   • Try the Arschloch technique which involves jumping around while you headbang.
4. 
   4
   Swing your head in circles clockwise and then counter-clockwise. It’s important that you switch directions every so often to avoid overworking one area of your neck. The bigger your circles are, the more stress you're putting on your neck. If your neck starts to hurt, make smaller circles.

   • While not necessary, growing out your hair or wearing a long wig makes the headbanging effect much more dramatic.
   • Keep your eyes closed so you don't get dizzy. This also helps you feel the music more.
5. 
   5
   Get creative by adding in extra movements with your arms. Play air guitar or put your arms in the air, holding up your pinky finger and index finger to form devil's horns. Pump your hands up and down as you headbang. Another popular technique is "Thor's Hammer," where you bang your first on your upper thigh to the same beat that you're moving your head to.

   • To play air guitar, pretend you are holding an actual guitar. Hold the "neck" with your left hand in an open fist and place your right hand close to your waist where a guitar would sit. Slide your left hand up and down the imaginary neck as your right hand moves up and down in a strumming motion.
   • Give yourself enough space so you don't hit anyone while you're headbanging.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Moshing Safely

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   Observe the mosh pit before you join in. Get a feel for the type of crowd in the pit, which is usually located right in front of center stage. When a mosh pit first starts, it is usually most frantic and violent so give it a few minutes before you enter. Rushing in immediately increases your chances of getting hurt.

   • The more intense and heavy the band is, the more intense the mosh pit will be.
   • It's important to know the mood of the pit. For example, if it's a lower energy pit where everyone is just jumping and not body slamming, you won't make any friends if you run in knocking into everyone.
2. 
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   Jump up and down, keeping your elbows up and close to your chest. This is known as pogoing. Avoid swinging your arms around so you don’t hit people in the face or bruise your arms. Keep your hands open while you jump to the tempo of the music.

   • Never ball your hands into fists during a mosh pit. Because you get thrown around so much, fists can cause a serious injury to the other people in the pit.
   • Go with the flow of the pit. You'll get knocked over or hurt if you're jumping off-pace or moving too slow.
3. 
   3
   Crowd surf if you feel adventurous by pointing up with your index finger. This is the universal sign for crowd surfing in a mosh pit. Crowd surfing is when you’re lifted up by the crowd and passed to the front of the pit over everyone’s heads. Keep your feet up while you’re crowd surfing so you don’t hit anyone.

   • If pointing doesn't get you noticed, ask your friends or the people near you to hoist you into the air to start your surf.
   • Make sure the people in front of you know you’re crowd surfing so they’re prepared to catch you. Otherwise, you could fall to the ground.
4. 
   4
   Try hardcore dancing while you're in the pit by flailing around wildly. It sounds out of control, but that's the point. Feel the music and move your body in whatever way feels right. This can be crazy, spontaneous movements with your arms and legs or jerky motions with your whole body that look like a spasm.

   • If you have room in the pit, headbanging is a fun dance move, especially when the beat drops.
5. 
   5
   Respect the rules of moshing to avoid getting hurt. Every mosh pit is different but there are some common rules. Avoid purposefully hitting other people, starting fights, or pushing people into the pit who don’t want to be there. Always obey the venue’s regulations or security staff.

   • If someone hits you, don’t take it personally. And if you hit someone else, clasp a hand on their shoulder or give them a thumbs-up to indicate it was an accident.
   • Immediately help anyone who falls. It’s common etiquette in a mosh pit to look out for others and someone who falls on the ground is at risk of being trampled.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Trying Additional Moves

1. 
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   Swirl your hands in the air if you want to mix up your moves. This should look like you're sweeping away cobwebs. Slowly swipe your hands in the same motion you would to brush aside a spider web. Start with your hands on one side and then move to the other, all the while swirling them in large circular motions.

   • Add level changes by reaching your hands up in the air and then reaching down towards the ground instead of just moving side to side.
2. 
   2
   Fold your arms across your chest to mime being stuck in a coffin. Put your hands into fists and lay your left arm against your chest so your left fist is resting on your right shoulder. Then cross your right arm over top of your left arm so your right fist is resting on your left shoulder. This will form an "X" shape on your chest.

   • Use this move with any foot movements you'd like or simply sway back and forth in place.
3. 
   3
   Rotate your hands in small circles in front of you for a spooky effect. Bend your elbows at about 45 degrees and hold both hands in front of your chest or face. Keep your palms facing out. Slowly move your hands in circles, switching from clockwise to counter-clockwise occasionally. This is a motion similar to washing windows.

   • You don't have to move your hands in sync. For example, one hand could be at the top of the circle while the other hand is at the bottom. Goths don't want their movements to look too practiced or perfect.
   • If you want to mix it up, slowly wag your fingers while you're moving your hands in circles. It gives off a spooky effect.
4. 
   4
   Spin in circles with your friend if you get tired of regular moshing. One popular move in a mosh pit is known as "The Cyclone." Form an "X" over your chest by crossing your arms. Grab the hands of a friend who also has their arms crossed. Then spin around each other as fast as you can.

   • Be careful not to let go of each other while you're spinning or you'll fall over.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  What if the goth music comes from the classical era?

  

  Torpi

  Top Answerer

  Gothic music only goes back to the invention of gothic rock in 1979, so there is no "classical goth". Though learning how to dance to Renaissance-era music like gigues, sarabandes, and bourees would be very appropriate for Romantic and Medieval goths in particular, that's so complicated it deserves its own article and couldn't be addressed in the space allowed for one of these answers.

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• Question

  Can you still be goth without listening to goth bands?

  

  Torpi

  Top Answerer

  You can still dress in a gothic style, but most old-school goths, at least, would not consider you a "real" goth, but might still admire your outfits and dedication to DIY. Also remember that if you go out to goth clubs and events, you'll mostly be hearing darkwave and gothic rock.

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Warnings

• Headbanging can cause whiplash and other brain injuries.
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• Wear ear protection if you’re attending a heavy metal or similarly loud concert.
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• Mosh pits are very dangerous. You’ll likely get bruised and maybe even a little bloody from flying limbs and slamming bodies.
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