Description: The Thai greeting behind the September 2026 single, the official choreography, actual TikTok covers and the AI-cat remix explained with dates.
The SaWaDiKa trend uses choreography from LISA's September 2026 single for TikTok dance covers and tutorials. Its title comes from the Thai greeting “สวัสดีค่ะ,” a polite way to say hello. One offshoot shows a digitally generated ginger cat wearing headphones and dancing upright.[1][3][4]
What does SaWaDiKa mean?
The ending “kha” is a polite particle commonly used by female speakers of Thai. LISA is from Thailand, and the music video was filmed in Bangkok. Sony Music announced the single on September 4 as the lead release from PRESS PLAY, an EP scheduled for October 23.[1] The greeting is not a random string of syllables: it connects the song to the singer's home country. The palms-together gesture makes that connection visible as well.
How did the dance spread?
LISA posted choreography on her own TikTok around the release. A dedicated performance video followed on September 12, offering a clearer look at the moves. Independent creators then posted covers, slow tutorials and mirrored practice videos.[2][3]
Two dated examples show the format evolving. @nadianimitt shared a dance on September 4. On September 5, @77_qiqi_ posted an AI-generated orange cat dancing in a purple room with glowing headphones.[4][5][6] It is not footage of a trained animal. Further AI-video templates appeared in October.[4] Direct playback of those TikTok links was restricted during this check, so their dates come from the linked documentation.
Where is it popular, and what makes it funny?
Thailand is the cultural source and Bangkok the video location. Korean entertainment coverage documented the September 12 performance; identifiable TikTok accounts show covers and AI adaptations.[1][2][3] A post labeled “Brazil remix” demonstrates another version, but the label alone cannot establish nationwide popularity in Brazil.[4] A Thai-language post also describes visiting Bangkok's Hua Lamphong station after seeing it in the music video.[7]
The comedy comes from the contrast: a respectful human greeting becomes a dance performed by an impossible cat. The short hand gesture is easy to copy, while the rest of the routine leaves room for skilled dancers, beginners and digital creators alike.
How do you join in?
Use the official sound, learn the palms-together move and add the steps you can manage. Slowed tutorials help with the rest. Treat the cat versions as generated entertainment. Hashtag totals reported by a commercial template site for October 16 cover selected tags at one moment, not a verified worldwide audience.[4]
Conclusion
SaWaDiKa starts as a Thai hello and becomes a chain of dances and remixes. The greeting is real, even when the cat returning it exists only on a screen.
References (7)
- [1] Sony Music Japan, September 4, 2026: https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/LISA/info/586535
- [2] Soompi, September 12, 2026: https://www.soompi.com/article/1869885wpp/watch-blackpinks-lisa-drops-fierce-dance-performance-video-for-sawadika
- [3] TikTok News Hub, September 28, 2026: https://tiktoknewshub.com/dance/sawadika-dance-trend/
- [4] MakeViral, October 16 snapshot, commercial source: https://www.makeviral.ai/templates/sawadika-dance-ai-trend
- [5] @nadianimitt, TikTok, playback restricted: https://www.tiktok.com/@nadianimitt/video/7681733942822604053
- [6] @77_qiqi_, TikTok, playback restricted: https://www.tiktok.com/@77_qiqi_/video/7682092365804211474
- [7] Thai-language location post, September 5, 2026: https://notes.tiktok.com/%40pp.spacestory/7681862802583077392?region=th
