Source: Adela Loconte / Getty
Robin Roberts snapped her fan, and the entire studio got in formation! The Good Morning America host wasn’t just reporting the news on Feb. 27—she was making it—by joining in on the viral Boots on the Ground line dance to help close out Black History Month.
Spoiler Alert: Robin was on beat and looking good.
Good Morning America & Robin Roberts: The Fan Flick Heard Around the World
The live line dance performance had all the elements of we love—music, movement, and a touch of cultural magic. Robin, along with co-host Michael Strahan and Sam Champion, brought in professional dancers (including Kenny G, who was not playing about those steps) to showcase the routine taking over social media.
The dancers, dressed in all black with comfy kicks, were locked in, ready to hit every beat as the song blared through the studio. And if you’ve seen the dance online, you know it’s not just about the steps. The fan is the moment.
If you haven’t been practicing your “Boots on the Ground” routine in the mirror, let me catch you up real quick. The dance is the latest viral sensation, following in the footsteps of classics like the Tamia line dance (which many of us are still trying to master). But what sets this one apart is the strategic, perfectly timed fan flick.
That snap of the wrist and dramatic pop take the whole dance from a simple two-step to a full-blown production. It’s giving club, it’s giving cookout, it’s giving cultural phenom.
Dancer and choreographer Devin Butler, who teaches line dancing classes, spoke to NBC News about the significance of incorporating the fan. “You’ll notice that even people sitting and eating while a song is playing will still hit their fans while eating their chicken. It’s just a part of the culture,” he explained.
Good Morning America & Robin Roberts: A Celebration of Black Culture
Seeing Robin —typically poised behind the GMA desk—laughing, dancing, and living in the moment made this segment even better. We’re used to seeing her ask the tough questions, hold world leaders accountable, and deliver breaking news with grace and professionalism. But this week’s segment is a reminder that the joy of Black culture is just as powerful as hard-hitting journalism.
Line dancing has been a staple in Black culture for generations. From the Electric Slide to the The Wobble, from Walk It Out to The Cupid Shuffle, these dances build community. If you’ve ever been at a wedding, a cookout, or a family reunion, you know the feeling of jumping up the second that first beat drops.
It’s instinctual. It’s tradition. And more importantly, it’s us.
Seeing Good Morning America bring this viral cultural moment to a national platform wasn’t just timely—it was everything we needed.
And Robin Roberts? She ate that – fan flick and all.
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