What is the ‘Mingle Dance’? Squid Game scene sparks viral trend
Throughout January, TikTokers went viral with the song “Mingle Dance,” inspired by a scene from an episode of Squid Game.
The “Mingle Dance”, also known as the “Round and Round Challenge”, is the latest viral trend ever Tik Tok. It’s inspired by a scene in the second season of the Netflix series Squid Game. In this survival show, the contestants must… Endure deadly challenges To win an amount of money that will change your life.
One of this season’s standout moments comes from a game called “Mingle,” where players scramble to form groups and enter rooms that correspond to specific numbers while the nursery rhyme “Round and Round” plays in the background.
The suspenseful scene is enhanced by the presence of a vibrant, purple-haired character named Thanos (played by K-pop star T.O.B.), who dances joyfully despite the dangers to his life. His carefree attitude and memorable moves made him a highlight Squid game 2 for many.
Origins of the mixed dance trend
On December 26, 2024, the Squid Game season 2 episodes “One More Game” and “OX” premiered, introducing the “Mingle” challenge. In this dark game, players must form a group within 30 seconds and rush into rooms of the corresponding number to survive.
A clip featuring the song “Round and Round” and Thanos’ infectious dancing was posted on TikTok by com. squidgamenetflix On December 30th. The video received over 158 million views in a week, sparking the trend instantly.
In the scene, Thanos mimics the choreography from BIGBANG’s hit song “Bang Bang Bang”, before happily linking arms with another player, laughing and spinning in circles.
On December 31, TikToker alekessekes_ uploaded his first viral remake of “Mingle Dance,” garnering over 16 million views and 2 million likes in a week. The video shows TikTokers linking arms and spinning in a circle, mirroring Thanos’ carefree movements.
Since then, thousands of videos have adopted January’s “Round and Round” sound, with fans recreating the simple group dance and Thanos’ individual moves.
The trend has already garnered over 82,000 videos on TikTok, many of which have racked up millions of likes and views, cementing its place as one of the platform’s premier viral moments of 2025.
If you want to learn more about the trending dances on TikTok right now, check out our list of dances The 20 best dances on Tik Tok.
