Popping, an essential part of hip hop dance, originated in the 1980s. The key to popping is to start slow and increase speed once you have mastered the basic moves.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Raise your right arm out to the side and keep your hand flat with your palm facing the floor. Slowly point your fingers down to the floor, bending at the knuckles. Then, point your entire hand to the floor, bending at the wrist. Raise your wrist and straighten out your hand so that you fingers are pointing straight out. Your hand should look as though you are going to place it flat down on top of a table. At the same time, raise your right shoulder. Your elbow should be sticking out in the air to form a right angle with your arm. Raise your left shoulder and straighten out your right arm. Do the steps listed above in the opposite order as your move down your left arm.
One of the latest hip hop dance moves is the "Walk It Out." Rapper DJ Unk invented the move in 2006. The dance resembles the Twist, invented by Chubby Checker in 1960.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Twist your legs back and forth, from left to right. The key is to do this to the beat of the music. If you can remain on the balls of your feet, you will be able to catch on easier. Keep your feet light and quick.
You can add freestyle moves once you have grasped the ability to Walk It Out properly. For example, when the beat pauses, you can freeze in mid-twist for a second or two and then resume movement. To appreciate many different varieties of this dance, see the videos in Resources and learn how to put your own spin on it. Make up your own variation of Walk It Out and have fun.