# Kakalika Dance AI > The Kakalika dance is the footwork routine to "Kakalika" by DopeNation, the Ghanaian twin duo: quick kicks, knee lifts, shoulder bounces and a spin, done in loose trousers that swing with every step. Canonical: https://aidanceapp.com/templates/kakalika-dance Updated: 2026-11-12 Publisher: AI Dance (https://aidanceapp.com), by Applax Pte. Ltd. The Kakalika dance is the footwork routine to "Kakalika" by DopeNation, the Ghanaian twin duo: quick kicks, knee lifts, shoulder bounces and a spin, done in loose trousers that swing with every step. It has been one of the biggest dances of 2026, with #kakalika at 885 million TikTok views and top posts up to 14.9 million views. Upload one photo of a person and AI Dance makes them do the routine in an 11-second video, ready in a few minutes. ## Facts - Price: 1 credit per video. A failed video gives its credits back. - Output: 11 second 9:16 MP4, ready in a few minutes. - Works with photos of: person. - Song: Kakalika by DopeNation (named only, add it when you post). - Trend status: Rising now (checked 2026-11-12). - Example video: https://aidanceapp.com/media/t/kakalika-dance/kakalika-dance-adult.mp4 (the original dance by @aimee.alwright, https://www.tiktok.com/@aimee.alwright/video/7654627749008592150, with its original sound). ## What is the Kakalika trend? "Kakalika" is a song by DopeNation, the Ghanaian twin brothers B2 and Plan B. The single came out on October 2, 2025 and the official video followed on November 5, 2025. The title is Ghanaian slang for a cockroach, which the duo use as a picture of someone who never gives up. The dance took off on TikTok in January 2026. On January 20 @miss1_2step posted the routine with friends and credited the choreography to @chrissy.com, @Fidelis and @TooRisky07 (5.9 million views). Solo takes followed: @besishalilaj posted his on February 13 (14.9 million views) and @hannah.kromah hers on March 16 (3.0 million). By spring it was everywhere: the "Kakalika virus" video of April 21 reached 14.2 million views, Ghanaian graduates did it at their Howard University graduation in May, and Barcelona players danced it while celebrating the La Liga title. In September a dance battle crew performed it on stage (11.1 million views). By November 2026 #kakalika had passed 884 million views and #kakalikadance 86 million, and AI video tools were adding Kakalika dance templates. The clip on this page is a solo version by the Irish dancer @aimee.alwright from June 23, 2026 (2.3 million views), filmed outside an apartment block: one dancer, full body, no text on screen, shown with its original sound. On AI Dance, the template copies her moves onto your own photo: your face, clothes and background stay, and your body follows the routine. ### The moves She starts with small bounces on the spot, then kicks one foot out to the side and back while her arms swing loose at her sides. She lifts her knees in quick turns, rolls her shoulders and bounces her chest to the beat, then twists around to the side and comes back to face the camera. Her hands brush her hair and her waist on the beat, and she finishes with more side kicks and a light step back, her wide trousers swinging with every move. ## How to make the Kakalika video 1. **Add your photo.** Upload one clear photo of you or a friend, facing the camera, as much of the body in the frame as you can. 2. **Tap Make my video.** The Kakalika dance costs 1 credit. The AI copies the moves onto your photo while you wait, about a few minutes. 3. **Download and post.** You get a 11 second 9:16 MP4. It comes with the dance's music. Post it on TikTok, Reels or Shorts, and swap the sound inside the app if you like. ## Best photo for Kakalika - Use a full-body photo, head to shoes: the kicks and knee lifts need your legs in frame. - Wide trousers or tracksuit bottoms give the trend's look, because the kicks make them swing. - Stand straight with your arms a little away from your body. - A street, a yard or any open space works best: the kicks need some room around you. - One person per photo. The AI animates the biggest person in the frame. Avoid: - Group photos, or a second person cut off at the edge - Faces turned away, covered or in deep shadow - Blurry or very dark photos - Heavy filters, stickers or text on the photo ## Post it on TikTok, Reels or Shorts - Your video comes with the song from the original clip. You can also pick DopeNation's "Kakalika" sound on TikTok when you post. - Make one for each of your friends and post them together: the trend's biggest posts are groups doing the routine. - Use the tags people search for: #kakalika, #kakalikadance and #dopenation. - Film your photo outside: the most-viewed solo takes are on a street or a rooftop. Caption idea: the kakalika virus got me 🪳 Hashtags: #kakalika #kakalikadance #dopenation #aidance ## Kakalika trend timeline - 2025-10-02: DopeNation release "Kakalika" as a single. (source: https://music.apple.com/us/album/kakalika/1839067700?i=1839067702) - 2025-11-05: The official "Kakalika" video comes out. (source: https://www.3music.tv/section/news/article/dopenation-unleashes-visuals-for-their-new-anthem-kakalika-2025-11-05) - 2026-01-20: @miss1_2step posts the routine with friends, crediting the choreographers (5.9M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@miss1_2step/video/7597530546591354134) - 2026-02-13: @besishalilaj's solo take, the trend's most-viewed solo post (14.9M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@besishalilaj/video/7606456495290584342) - 2026-03-16: @hannah.kromah: "Onnnn repeat" (3.0M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@hannah.kromah/video/7617791134990896416) - 2026-04-21: The "Kakalika virus" video shows the dance everywhere (14.2M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@sexykwadwoananta/video/7631327644608367893) - 2026-05-11: Ghanaian graduates dance it at their Howard University graduation. (source: https://www.pulse.com.gh/story/ghanaian-graduates-at-howard-university-go-viral-for-performing-kakalika-dance-their-graduation-ceremony-2026051111351920827) - 2026-05-11: Barcelona players celebrate the La Liga title to "Kakalika" (3.3M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@kobeboujee/video/7638762752151997704) - 2026-06-23: @aimee.alwright posts her solo version, the clip on this page (2.3M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@aimee.alwright/video/7654627749008592150) - 2026-09-18: A dance battle crew performs it on stage (11.1M). (source: https://www.tiktok.com/@afrodance.1/video/7686951455399480609) ## More dances like this - [Tsundere](https://aidanceapp.com/templates/tsundere-dance): 1 credit, 6 s, for person. - [A New Kind of Love](https://aidanceapp.com/templates/a-new-kind-of-love-dance): 1 credit, 11 s, for person. - [La Mujer del Pelotero](https://aidanceapp.com/templates/la-mujer-del-pelotero-dance): 1 credit, 10 s, for person. - [Iconic By Mistake](https://aidanceapp.com/templates/iconic-by-mistake-dance): 1 credit, 11 s, for person. - [Funk Loading](https://aidanceapp.com/templates/funk-loading-dance): 1 credit, 11 s, for person. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the Kakalika dance? A footwork dance to DopeNation's song "Kakalika": side kicks, knee lifts, shoulder bounces and a quick turn, usually done in wide trousers that swing with the kicks. It went viral on TikTok in January 2026 and kept growing all year. ### What does Kakalika mean? "Kakalika" is Ghanaian slang for a cockroach. DopeNation use it as a picture of someone who keeps going no matter what. ### Who created the Kakalika dance? Early viral posts credit the choreography to the TikTok creators @chrissy.com, @Fidelis and @TooRisky07. @miss1_2step's group post of January 20, 2026 helped spread it. ### Can I make the Kakalika dance AI video from a photo? Yes. Upload one full-body photo and AI Dance moves your body through the routine. You do not need to learn the steps. ### Is the Kakalika AI dance free? No, Kakalika costs 1 credit per video, but you can earn a free video by inviting friends. Invite 3 friends with your link. When 3 friends join with Google sign-in, you get a free video (1 credit), up to 10 times. Credit packs start at $4.49 for 3 credits, and the weekly plan is $7.99 for 8 credits a week. ### How long is the Kakalika video, and how long does it take? The video is about 11 seconds long, in 9:16 MP4 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. It is ready in a few minutes, and it also appears in My videos, so you can leave the page. ### Who made the dance video on this page? The clip is from a TikTok post by @aimee.alwright of June 23, 2026, shown with its original sound and a link to the post. Your own video is made by AI from your photo. ### Does my video have the song? Yes, your video comes with the music of the original clip. When you post on TikTok you can also pick DopeNation's "Kakalika" sound so your video shows up on the trend's sound page.