Alfonso Ribeiro explains the inspiration behind the Carlton dance

Any kid of the ’90s who sees Alfonso Ribeiro (aka Carlton Banks) immediately flashes back to his signature “Carlton” dance from Fresh Prince of Bel Air, named after his ridiculous dance moves. The native New Yorker said Carlton’s preppy tastes and privileged upbringing were a foreign concept to him, and he needed a crash course before approaching the part.

“The dance is ultimately Courteney 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”.

The actor also revealed to Variety that his on-set character was not even remotely close to his real-life personality. “I grew up in the Bronx”, he says.

“Or in Eddie Murphy’s Delirious video, The White Man Dance, as he called it”.

“The Carlton Dance was created when it said in the script: “Carlton dances, ‘” he explained”.

Sure, he showed off a whole host of different dances on DWTS, but Ribeiro knows what gets the people going. But those aren’t the dance moves he’s remembered for the most. Ribeiro promises he never had a plan for the dance, it just sort of happened.

So next time you break out the Carlton at a party (that’s a thing, right?), you’ll do so knowing its roots.