Gen Z has forgotten how to dance for fun – so BACARDÍ threw a party to fix it

It’s hard to remember a time before social media, but try to envision an era when people danced for fun, and not just for likes. Are you imagining it? Sounds kind of freeing right?

Well, that’s exactly how the ‘Greats’ dance. Your grandparents, your aunties, your uncles - they all love a good boogie. And while Gen Z does too, it’s harder to let loose wthen you feel like someone’s always watching, right?

New research from BACARDÍ has revealed that Gen Z are losing their carefree confidence on the dancefloor compared to previous generations, with 73% admitting they’re super self-conscious of their moves and over half worried about others watching them dance.

All the while, however, content featuring older generations letting loose on the dancefloor is regularly trending, both inspiring and reminding us of the confidence that comes with dancing freely. You know what we’re talking about - those posts of people recreating classic dance moves with their parents and dancing to the songs that once filled their own dancefloors. It goes to show that when they dance along with one of the ‘Greats’, that freeing spirit rubs off on them too.

In fact, 69% of Gen Z said they’ve been inspired to move freely by someone from another generation, and that’s why BACARDÍ united all ages on the dancefloor with an exclusive party on 5th November at Jumbi in Peckham. Tunes were provided by 3 times BRIT-nominated artist Joy Crookes, and it was an incredible night of shimmying and side-stepping across generations.

Guests and their Greats were treated to an exclusive performance by Joy Crookes and then danced side by side to a high-energy ska and reggae-infused DJ set from her own Great, Natty Bo, a true south London legend who kept the dancefloor jumping with his rhythms.

And the evening wouldn’t be complete without another Great pairing. Of course, we’re talking about the original party pairing of BACARDÍ and Coca-Cola that continues to define nights to remember. Served fresh from the bar and powering the dance party, BACARDÍ continues its legacy to encourage people to do what moves them.

Because the dance floor hits differently when you dance for joy, and all without a hint of judgement in sight.

The BACARDÍ x Joy Crookes event took place on 5 November 2025 at Jumbi, Peckham.