"a robot from 1984"
Isn't that a reference to a robot dancing style popularised around the time period of the year 1984.
Not robots dancing in the book 1984?
Yes. The actual lyric is "dancing to electropop like a robot from 1984" and it does, indeed, refer to a robotic dance style done to electronic pop music. A dance style that is always more effective when aided by strobe lights.