The phrase “all singing, all dancing” can sometimes be seen as a backhanded compliment when it comes to lessons.

It might be used to describe overly complicated classes featuring, perhaps, a teacher dressed as Miss Havisham or a simulation of a First World War battlefield, in an attempt to seize the holy grail of “pupil engagement”.

Rarely, however, does such well-meaning ambition lead to a teacher literally dancing.

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But in the case of one US school teacher, his dance moves in the classroom have made him a viral internet sensation.

Dance builds relationships, says teacher

Craig Smith, a middle-school teacher from Kentucky, has been dubbed “TikTok famous” by his pupils, after clips of him dancing on the video-sharing platform went viral. 

In the videos, Mr Smith can be seen dancing to hip-hop classics such as Jump Around, as well as newer releases. He told CNN that he uses dance to build a relationship with pupils.

“Asking the students to come and understand my world is OK, but I need to meet them where they are,” he said.

“I need to figure out what they are interested in, what it is they are doing, and if I show interest in that, that just helps the relationship and helps me get through to them, personally and in the classroom.”