How to Make a Toc Toc Dance Video

8 min read

Want to try the Toc Toc dance but don’t feel like learning the steps? You don’t have to. If you’ve been looking for how to make Toc Toc dance video clips the easy way, this is it. Just upload one clear photo of yourself, a friend, or even your pet, and AI will turn it into a short dance video in under a minute.No hallway filming, no practicing the hop, no worrying about timing.

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The AI handles the one-foot bounce, the knocking gesture, and the straight face for you. It’s the simplest way to join the trend while it’s still everywhere on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

In this blog, you will learn how to make a TikTok dance video, along with some helpful tips and tricks to make your video stand out.

What Is the Toc Toc Dance Trend?

The Toc Toc dance (also known as the Kicékéla dance trend) is built around a 2015 French party song by Patrick Sébastien. The chorus goes “Toc toc, on frappe à ma porte / Qui c’est qui est là?”  which non-French speakers hear as “Kicékéla.” That’s why you’ll see both names used.

The signature moves are simple: a steady one-foot hop, a fist knocking on an invisible door, and usually a deadpan face the whole time. Some versions add a little shrug, a side kick, and a big “ta-da” finish. The clip is short, usually 8 to 12 seconds, and works best in hallways or empty rooms with the camera looking up from the floor.

It started with a 17-year-old French creator in late summer 2026 and quickly became one of the biggest viral dance trends of 2026. The French song viral trend crossed borders fast: Germany, the US, Poland (even a priest joined in), China, and K-pop groups all jumped on the Kicékéla trend. The combination of a catchy Toc Toc song, easy Toc Toc dance steps, and the knocking fist dance move made it perfect for both real dancers and AI versions.

What You Need Before You Start

You don’t need a fancy setup. Just:

  • A clear full-body or half-body photo of yourself, a friend, your pet, or anyone you want in the video
  • Good lighting and a simple background in the photo (so the AI can focus on the person)
  • Access to a photo-to-dance video or image-to-video AI tool
  • About 5–10 minutes for a tool to process the generation

That’s it. No dancing skills required.

Stepwise Guide on How to Create a Toc Toc Dance Video with AI

Using a Pre-defined Template

Step 1: Choose the characters for the image. Upload a clear photo of yourself, a friend, your pet, or anyone you want in the video.

Step 2: Change your background and outfit using prompts (for example, “simple hallway” or “empty room with soft lighting”).

Step 3: Choose the appropriate resolution and aspect ratio (select vertical 9:16).

Step 4: Click Generate, then download the final video.

If you want to make a video from scratch, use our Image to Video Tool.

Using Reference to Video (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1: Go to the Reference to Video Tool.

Step 2: Define your character. Upload a clear photo, such as of you, a friend, or your pet.

Step 3: If you own a driving video, add it as the video reference and write a prompt to replace the person in it. For example: “Replace the person in the video with the person in my reference image while keeping the exact Toc Toc dance moves and deadpan expression.”

Step 4: If you don’t have a driving video, create the whole effect with a prompt. Be clear about the look and the action. In your prompt, you can mention:

  1. Character: image, outfit, expression, and style (for example, serious deadpan face, casual clothes, or natural pet look)
  2. Scene: background, lighting, camera angle, and more (for example, plain hallway or empty room)
  3. Action: the exact Toc Toc dance sequence — one-foot hop moving toward the camera, closed-fist knocking on an invisible door on every “toc toc,” small shrug, and open-arm ta-da finish

To learn more about the tool and the steps, visit this blog: How To Swap Face In a Video

Toc Toc Dance Prompt You Can Copy

Here’s a ready-to-use AI video prompt that works well for most tools:

American man in a navy hoodie and jeans performing the Toc Toc dance in a modern indoor hallway with a transparent play button

Character: A [describe age/gender/look] with natural facial features, clear skin texture, and realistic hair. The person wears casual everyday clothes (or keep the outfit from the reference photo). Completely deadpan expression, serious face, minimal emotion throughout.

Background setting: Simple indoor hallway or empty room with soft natural lighting. Clean and uncluttered, with slight depth so the person can hop from far to near.

Camera angle: Steady front-facing vertical 9:16 shot. Medium to full-body framing that starts with the person farther away and follows as they hop closer. Clean, phone-style look.

Motion and action: The character performs the exact Toc Toc dance sequence — steady one-foot hop moving toward the camera, closed fist knocking on an invisible door on every “toc toc,” small shrug in the middle, and open-arm ta-da pose at the end. Keep the timing precise, deadpan face the whole time, natural body movement, no extra flourishes.

Style: Ultra-realistic AI video, high detail, natural motion, no artifacts, consistent character appearance.

Length: 10–12 seconds.

You can swap the character for a young woman, a man in a vintage suit, a fluffy cat, a friend, or any consistent look you like. Add details like “wearing a big wig” or “in front of the Eiffel Tower” if you want a costume or landmark version. The key is keeping the one-foot hop, knocking gesture, and deadpan expression intact.

Fun Ways to Remix the Toc Toc Dance

Once you know how to make a Toc Toc dance video with a photo, the fun part is remixing it:

  • Group dance AI video: Upload a photo of two or more people standing side by side. The AI can make them hop and knock in sync.
  • Costume or wig look: Ask for a big 70s wig, a white suit, or a police uniform. The deadpan face plus ridiculous outfit is comedy gold.
  • Anime or cartoon character: Turn yourself into an anime version or a cartoon figure doing the same moves.
  • Pet version: A cat or dog hopping on one paw and “knocking” with a paw is currently racking up huge views.
  • Landmark background: Put the dance in front of the Eiffel Tower, a Paris street, or any famous spot for an instant Eiffel Tower dance video vibe.

These small twists help your clip stand out in the Toc Toc dance Reels trend and the wider viral AI video trend.

Tips for a Viral-Ready Toc Toc Video

  • Use a clear full-body photo facing the camera. Blurry or side-angle shots make the AI struggle.
  • Keep the original background simple so the hopping and knocking stay the focus.
  • Mention the exact moves in your prompt: “one-foot hop,” “knocking fist dance move,” and “deadpan face.”
  • Always post with the official Toc Toc sound so the video shows up on the trend page.
  • Stick to vertical 9:16 and keep the clip under 15 seconds.
  • Try a couple of different prompts or characters. The ones with costumes or pets often perform better.
  • Add the AI-generated content label if your platform asks for it.

Related blog: How to Make a BbY WOW Dance Video

Conclusion

The Toc Toc dance video trend (or Kicékéla dance, if you prefer) is still going strong, and joining it has never been easier. You don’t need to practice the hops or film in a hallway. Upload one photo, use a solid Toc Toc dance AI prompt, generate the clip, and post it with the right sound. That’s all it takes to create your own viral Toc Toc dance video and ride the current TikTok dance trend 2026 and Instagram dance trend 2026 wave.

Give it a try; the trend is still hot, and the best time to post is while people are still searching for new versions.

FAQ

What photo works best for a Toc Toc dance video?

A clear, well-lit full-body or half-body photo of the person (or pet) facing the camera works best. Simple backgrounds help the AI focus on the dance moves.

How long does generation take?

Most AI tools generate a 10–12 second Toc Toc video in under a minute, depending on server load.

What resolution should I export the video in?

Export in a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio (usually 1080×1920). That’s the format that performs best on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Can I make a Toc Toc video with more than one person?

Yes. Upload a photo that includes two or more people, or use a group dance AI video prompt, and the tool can make them hop and knock together.

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