Courteney Cox has once again captured the hearts of fans by recreating her iconic dance from Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” music video. The actress, now 59, took to social media to participate in a popular TikTok trend that asks parents to show how they danced in the ’80s.
In the video, Cox starts by dancing to Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy,” a synth-pop hit from 1984. She appears slightly awkward at first, moving her arms stiffly in the air. Then, in a nostalgic twist, she unzips her teal hoodie to reveal a “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band” T-shirt, reminiscent of the one she wore in the original music video. The background music shifts to “Dancing in the Dark,” and Cox seamlessly transitions into the dance moves that made her famous.
The original “Dancing in the Dark” video, directed by Brian De Palma, was filmed over two nights at the Saint Paul Civic Center in Minnesota. In the video, a then-20-year-old Cox was pulled onstage by Springsteen, who thought she was just another fan. In reality, she had been selected from a casting call in New York. Cox, who had only a couple of minor acting gigs under her belt at the time, was initially reluctant to dance in front of a massive audience. However, her performance in the video opened numerous doors for her, eventually leading to her iconic role as Monica Geller on “Friends.”
Cox’s recent TikTok video has garnered enthusiastic responses from her famous friends and fans alike. Jennifer Aniston, her co-star from “Friends,” responded with clapping, firework, and laughing emojis. Jennifer Garner declared Cox the winner of the viral contest, while actress Ali Wentworth called the moves “iconic.” Julianne Moore also showed her support with clapping emojis.
Fans of Cox have also joined in on the fun, posting their own videos and reminiscing about her various dance moves from “Friends.” One fan commented, “This is genius! And you’ve still got the moves,” while another wrote, “Each time I see the Boss on stage, I secretly hope you’ll join him on this song!”
The video also includes snippets from the original 1984 music video, creating a seamless blend of past and present. Cox captioned her TikTok video, “1980s dancing… in the dark,” paying homage to the era that launched her career.
In a video celebrating the 40th anniversary of Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” album, it was revealed that “Dancing in the Dark” was a last-minute addition to the album. The song went on to become its lead single and earned Springsteen his first Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance.
Cox has previously spoken about her experience filming the “Dancing in the Dark” video. In a 2017 interview, she admitted that she was nervous about dancing in front of 30,000 people. “I did not want to be the one,” she said. “I didn’t want to dance in front of 30,000 people. It was a full concert, and we did the song twice, back to back.”
Despite her initial reluctance, Cox’s performance in the video became a defining moment in her career. She recalled feeling out of place during the audition, surrounded by professional dancers. “I thought I was in the wrong place,” she said in a 2022 interview on the Howard Stern Show. “I was like, ‘I don’t know what they’re doing, but I can’t even bend my leg. Like, this is it.'”
Cox’s nervousness and awkwardness ultimately worked in her favor, as it made her appear more like an authentic fan. “I think that’s why I got it, because I was literally like [nervously saying], ‘OK.’ I think that’s what they wanted, a fan that just couldn’t believe it,” she explained.
Reflecting on her dance moves in the video, Cox laughed, “I do feel like when I watch the video, when I see it, I mean, God, did you see my dance? It was pathetic. I’m not a bad dancer, but that was horrible. I was so nervous.”
Springsteen, who was unaware that Cox had been planted in the audience, was instructed to pick a fan from the crowd for the video. Cox’s 25-second cameo became known as the “Courteney Cox moment,” and it played a significant role in launching her career.
Forty years later, Cox has proven that she still has the moves that made her famous. Her TikTok video is a delightful trip down memory lane, reminding fans of the magic of the ’80s and the enduring appeal of “Dancing in the Dark.”
