

You can get the descriptions of these and many more by checking out online, or through free guide books. Some more steps are Crip Walk, Heel Toe, Glide, Walkout, Cupid Shuffle, Soulja Boy, Sponge Bob and a few more. All these dance moves were just a glimpse of what all exciting moves hip hop dancing has to offer! These are a couple of steps that characterize and are inherent to hip hop. ◊ Ask your friends to join you when you go all “Do Harlem Shake!” Infuse any hand movements, as Harlem Shake is meant to be that way! ◊ The basic step calls for movements somewhat resembling the twirling of ribbon that cascades downwards. ◊ Repeat these two steps back and forth, by jerking and grooving your body. ◊ Raise your right shoulder and move your upper torso towards your right, pushing out your left hip, thereby giving you a diagonal look! ◊ Now, repeat the same movement with your left shoulder, diagonalizing with right hips. Although the roots of hip hop music are in Reggae and rap, hip hop dance moves are more influenced by African Dance and gymnastics than any other source. ◊ Start by standing with both your feet spread with at least a six-inch gap between them. Life Lifestyle Activities Dance Hip Hop Dance Moves By Robin Raven Thinkstock Hip hop dance moves keep dancers moving to the beat of contemporary music all over the world. The idea behind this hip hop dance move is to first learn the rules (i.e., steps) and then, forget them and have fun. That was the basic popping step in hip hop dance style. ◊ Follow that by rolling out the fingertips. ◊ To come to the end, you are going to do the exact opposite, raise the elbow, keep the wrist down and fingers up and then switch. ◊ Here, by the time you raise the opposite shoulder, the arm you started with has to be straightened out. ◊ Now raise that shoulder and then the opposite shoulder. ◊ Raise both your palms and elbow and drop the wrist. ◊ At this point, your elbow should be underneath your waist, and the hand should be pointing down. ◊ Your hand has to be dropped straight up to your wrist. ◊ Follow that up by dropping the rest of your fingers till your real knuckles. Drop your fingers till your middle knuckles, for them to form a 90 degree angle. ◊ Now, the key is to slowly move a certain part of your arm. It has to be below your chest, about a foot and a half away from your body. ◊ Begin with putting your right hand in a flat karate chop position. When you’re dancing hip-hop, what you choose to wear is not just about movement, it’s how all aspects - from the moves, to the music, to what you wear - come together to celebrate hip-hop as a whole.Īhead, find six hip-hop dance outfits to help embrace movement and celebrate hip-hop culture all at once.Hip Hop Dance Moves for Beginners Popping “You can't separate the spirit of hip-hop dance (what you might wear) from the genesis of hip-hop culture.” “It's my hope that anyone who wants to be a part of the culture, whether it's through dance or any other platform, is approaching with curiosity and humility,” Copeland said. Sneaker culture is prolific within the larger hip-hop community, and any street dance or hip-hop outfit will need a slick pair of sneakers. Shoes are equally important - for hip-hop dance you need a pair that are more than just functional, they should be an essential part of your look, too. Obviously theres the classic old school hip hop dancing that incorporates a lot of jazz/funk movements as well as bboying, but the most relevant kind of. Since hip-hop isn’t just a means of expression but a form of exercise all its own, Copeland suggested bringing multiple shirts to a hip-hop dance class, because - odds are - you’ll sweat through them. (Related: 5 Ways to Style a Nike Crop Top) Or, I wear an oversized tee with baggy pants or shorts if it's summertime,” Copeland said.

“I either like a short crop top with baggy sweatpants or windbreaker pants. You want an outfit that’s relaxed, loose and comfortable - but still looks fresh. It's more than just dancing.”įor both newbies and seasoned dancers, it's essential to nail the right hip-hop dance outfit - one that is comfortable and allows you to express yourself, too. “But it’s also how you add your own style and form of expression within that. “It started in African-American communities with rapping, graffiti, breaking and deejaying so these themes are woven into the foundations of what is brought to dance,” said Traci Copeland, an Nike Training Club (NTC) master trainer and movement director who professionally danced both street jazz and hip-hop. But, for those who dance hip-hop, the right outfit is about more than just the latest trend. Throughout the last five decades, hip-hop style has evolved, defined by many renowned and beloved artists. The year 2023 marks the 50-year anniversary of hip-hop, the dance style that’s transformed generations and is responsible for the current state of music, movement and style.
