Arts >> Dance >> Hip Hop Dance

How to Hip Hop Dance Without Using Videos

Hip hop dance was born out of Latin and African dance. It's generally danced to hip hop music, with strong beats and pauses. The moves in this dance genre can be categorized into breaking, popping and locking. Hip hop can be rigidly choreographed or danced freestyle. Individuals and groups often stage hip hop battles that are like dance offs. Learning this style of movement is fun and rewarding.

Things You'll Need

  • Hip hop music
  • Speakers
  • Large open space
  • Hip hop club
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Instructions

  1. On Your Own

    • 1

      Play hip hop music on speakers. Practice moving different parts of your body to the beat. For example, move only your hips in a side-to-side motion to the beat of the music. This exercise trains the body to move to a beat.

    • 2

      Practice freezing. Freezing accentuates the beat of the music by incorporating stillness in the movement phrase. Continue the exercise of moving to the music, but put long pauses in between. Move on 1 and 2, then be still for 5, 6, 7 and move again on 8.

    • 3

      Combine the rhythm and freezing exercises simultaneously in different parts of the body. Move your hips and hands at the same time. Add the head. Find out how many different parts of the body can move at once.

    At the Club

    • 4

      Watch other hip hop dancers to find out what they do. Go to nightclubs, and stand in the cipher (dance circle) to watch the dancers battle. Imitate their moves as much as you can.

    • 5

      Ask dancers you admire to demonstrate difficult moves. Most hip hop dancers are happy for a chance to teach their skills.

    • 6

      Step into the hip hop circle and battle. The only way to learn is to do. Push your skill limits by trying new steps and dancing with people who are better than you. Keep this up, and watch the improvement.

Hip Hop Dance

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