Worm (dance move)

Man performs the worm at a Depths of Wikipedia live show

The worm is a dance motion associated with breakdancing and "funk" subculture, also referred to as the centipede, the seal, the caterpillar or the dolphin, or also erroneously the snake or the wave (names of other breakdance moves). In this move a subject lies prone position and forms a rippling motion through their body, creating a wave reminiscent of earthworm locomotion. This can be done either forward or backwards, by shifting weight from the upper body to the lower body (backwards) or vice versa for forwards. The motion begins by pushing off from the ground with one's hands to start a ripple.

The worm was performed at shows in the 1970s and was popularized widely during the 1980s "funk" period, and continues to be associated with breakdancing.

The move has been used and popularized by WWE wrestler Scotty 2 Hotty as his finishing maneuver ending with a chop drop and would later be used by Otis Dozovic as his signature maneuver called the "Caterpillar" ending with a standing elbow drop. David Arquette, as a wrestler, has used the worm dance ending with a standing elbow drop finisher in WCW and later on in the independent circuit.

Michael Fassbender, renowned for his performances in "X-Men," "Inglourious Basterds," and "300," has demonstrated the worm dance move on several talk shows and press events. His most notable performance of the worm occurred on "The Graham Norton Show" in 2017. This particular dance move has since become one of his recurring party tricks and is now commonly associated with Fassbender's public persona.

Recently, a new variation of the worm has been popularized, where dancers utilize only their arms to create a patented rippling motion. This innovative version retains the dynamic essence of the original worm while emphasizing upper body strength and fluidity, adding a fresh and captivating element to the classic dance move.