Here’s the Origin Story of the Iconic Carlton Dance from Fresh Prince

Ribeiro’s infamous jig first hit the tv airwaves in the early 1990s (on Fresh Prince of Bel Air) and continues to live on in pop culture until this very day.

It was created because the script simply read, “Carlton dances”.

Ribeiro doing his dance. The dance is ultimately Courtney Cox in the Bruce Springsteen video “Dancing in the Dark“; that’s the basis.

The way the actor interpreted the direction, swinging arms and clicking his fingers became synonymous with the character, eventually becoming known as “The Carlton”. Or in Eddie Murphys “Delirious” video, “The White Man Dance” as he called it. And I said, “That is the corniest dance on the planet that I know of, so why dont I do that? “I didn’t know Barry Manilow”.

“These weren’t people that I grew up with or experienced as a teenager”, he said. “I was a hip-hop kid”.

His famous “Carlton Dance” “was never even meant to be amusing”, he said. Ribeiro, who played Carlton Banks, explains that the dance was a manifestation of his character’s identity, which was far removed from Ribeiro himself.

Alfonso has continued to brush up on his Carlton skills over the years, busting the classic move during a “DWTS” routine and, most recently, on the golf course with Justin Timberlake in July.