The Monkey is a novelty dance, most popular in 1963. The dance was popularized by two R&B records: Major Lance

Major Lance

Major Lance was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul.-Life:Major Lance was born in Winterville, Mississippi...

's "The Monkey Time", and The Miracles

The Miracles

The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...

' "Mickey's Monkey" both Top 10 Pop hits released during the summer of 1963.

The monkey is often referenced on the animated series Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo

Johnny Bravo is an American animated television series created by Van Partible for Cartoon Network. The series stars a muscular beefcake young man named Johnny Bravo who dons a pompadour hairstyle and an Elvis Presley-like voice and has a forward, woman-chasing personality...

(in every theme song in addition to many times in the actual show), although it may be a completely different dance. The TV series The Simpsons

The Simpsons

The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...

also referenced the dance at least twice (in seasons 4 and 8). The thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 band Exodus

Exodus (band)

Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of over 30 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members. Guitarist Gary Holt remains the only constant member of the band,...

 reference the dance in their song "The Toxic Waltz" (from Fabulous Disaster

Fabulous Disaster

Fabulous Disaster is the third album by Exodus. UK label Music for Nations released the album in 1988, but in the USA, it was released in January 1989 by Combat/Relativity Records....

) with the lyric "Used to do the monkey, but now it's not cool". Characters in the anime series Overman King Gainer

Overman King Gainer

is a TV anime series, created by Sunrise. Directed by longtime animator Yoshiyuki Tomino, the creator of the Gundam series, written by Ichirō Ōkouchi, and featuring character designs by Yoshihiro Nakamura, Kinu Nishimura and Ken'ichi Yoshida, the series ran from September 7, 2002 to March 22, 2003...

do the monkey in the opening animation and in the show itself.

The Monkey

1. Taking a fighter's crouch, face your partner and stand with feet apart, knees bent. Bend arms and close fists, thumbs up.
2. Bend forward from waist to the left, raising right arm. As your body bobs, your head also bobs forward on each count. The whole effect is jerky.
3. Straighten up to original position.
4. Bend forward from waist toward your partner, facing centre, switching arms as you do so.
5. Straighten to original position. Hands and head should give impression of monkey holding two bananas.
6. Bend forward from waist to the right. Straighten to original position.
7. Bob back to centre, bending at waist and again switching hands.
8. Repeat entire pattern. Counts are double time, hitting every accent in the music.