For decades, children have been embarrassed by the "dad dance". But now, they are posting it online.

If you ask your parents to dance, they may surprise you.

That is what thousands of teenagers have discovered in a new TikTokA Chinese social media company featuring short videos with one billion monthly users. trend. In the videos, children put on songs from the 1980s and ask their parents how they would have danced to them back in the day. What follows is an amazing disco display.

So why do these little moments of dance bring us so much joy?

Dance is probably the oldest human art form. Cave paintings in India dating back 30,000 years show people dancing.

Dance has always been important for faith. In ancient EgyptOne of the most powerful civilisations in the world's history, lasting for more than 3000 years between 3150BC and 30BC. , dance was an important part of religious ceremonies.

Why does dancing have such a universal appeal? Philosophers think it is because it shows what it means to be free.

When you dance you cannot just move however you want, or you will dance badly and get in the way of others. You have to follow a set of rules. However, you can bend these rules and play within them.

Human freedom is the same. It only works if we follow a set of rules, rather than our own whimsA sudden want or change of mind, often without an explanation. , otherwise we just trample on everyone else. But we can invent and create new ideas within the rules and make something uniqueDifferent to everything else. .

Could dancing save the world?

Yes! Dance is one of the few things that bring all human beings together. It shows us how to be free. To dance is to be human.

No! Dancing does not bring us together. In fact, many people fear being made fun of for the way they dance. And even if you like dancing, to say it could save the world is very extremeVery great, or beyond what is expected. .

TikTok - A Chinese social media company featuring short videos with one billion monthly users.

Ancient Egypt - One of the most powerful civilisations in the world's history, lasting for more than 3000 years between 3150BC and 30BC.

Whims - A sudden want or change of mind, often without an explanation.

Unique - Different to everything else.

Extreme - Very great, or beyond what is expected.