TikTok dancing turns into fitness craze: 'Tortoise & Hare' choreography becomes the most difficult exercise on the network

Fun

Express newspaper

30/09/2025 20:58

TikTok has long been a breeding ground for strange trends – from the “barefoot everywhere challenge” to the phenomenon called “Sephora Kids.”

But the newest viral sensation may be the most surprising yet: a dance routine for kids that fitness enthusiasts are calling a full-body workout.

The choreography, known as the “Tortoise & Hare” dance, first appeared at a competition in Beijing, where young performers dressed as rabbits and tortoises took to the stage. The rabbits jumped energetically across the floor, while the tortoises crawled forward in heavy movements that required a lot of abdominal strength.

What seemed like a game show has now taken TikTok by storm. The original video has been viewed more than 12 million times, with over 1.2 million likes and dozens of retweets. Fans have even shared behind-the-scenes footage of the kids' training, fueling global curiosity about the routine.

But it's not just fun. Social media users are discovering how physically demanding this dance is. One TikToker described it as "one of the best ab workouts I've ever seen." Others who tried to replicate it admitted they got tired after just a few minutes.

"I can confirm with certainty that the Hare & Tortoise dance is a complete and intense workout," wrote one TikTok user, posting a video from the gym where she was practicing the choreography.

Another commented: "The abdominal, arm and leg strength required is incredible. I've done it for three days straight - it's so HARD."

The madness has now become a fitness challenge. Videos with over 3 million views show people turning the dance into a structured workout, breaking it up into a series of “rabbit jumps” and “turtle crawls.” Some are replacing their usual ab exercises with the turtle moves, while others argue that the cardiovascular fatigue of rabbits is stronger.

The debate has divided TikTok: who has the hardest job, rabbits or tortoises?

One thing is for sure – a dance intended for children has become one of the strongest viral workouts of 2025, showing once again that TikTok has the power to turn almost anything into a global phenomenon. /GazetaExpress/