Hip-hop is one of the most popular modern dance styles. You can see him in famous movies and music videos, and his story is inevitably combined with the music of the same name. Hip-hop is classified as Street Dance, and it was created on the streets of New York. It is divided into different varieties, e.g. old school, new style, new age, freestyle, which makes it extremely diverse, and every dance lover will find something for himself. Check what is characterized by hip-hop, learn its basic steps and find out who it is recommended to.

Hip-hopis a dance that we meet relatively often on a daily basis. Just watch music videos of famous hip-hop, R&B and soul artists such as Ciara, Usher, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson or Jennifer Lopez. We also had the opportunity to get to know this dance style better thanks to numerous films about dance: "In the rhythm of hip-hop", "Step up", "Honey", "Street dance" or "Just dance".

Dancing, by definition, is the transmission of non-verbal signals by the dancer. In hip-hop, this statement is perfect. Hip-hop dance is not only technical steps, but above all gestures added to each movement as well as expression and the right facial expressions corresponding to specific emotions. Get to know this energetic dance!

Contents:

  1. Hip-hop - history of dance
  2. Street Dance - group of street dances
  3. Hip-hop - dance description and basic steps
  4. Hip-hop - dance music
  5. Who is hip-hop recommended for?

Hip-hop - history of dance

Like most hip-hop dances, it has developed thanks to the music of the same name. What's more, hip-hop is also the name of the entire street culture created by African-American communities in New York in the 1970s, in the Bronx. In addition to dancing, hip-hop culture also includes DJ-ing, rap and graffiti.

Hip-hop came out of the American ghettos and was an expression of the rebellion of black residents of New York's neighborhoods. In this expressive dance they expressed themselves: their fantasy, rebelliousness, vitality and often difficult emotions. Currently, hip-hop is part of a family of dances called Street Dance and it is impossible to talk about hip-hop dance without explaining the genesis of street dances.

Worth knowing

Street Dance - group of dancesstreet

Hip-hop is often confused with Street Dance, perhaps because it is the most popular street dance style. Meanwhile, all known dance varieties, e.g. house or funk, are styles derived not from hip-hop, but from Street Dance. It is a group of street dances created in the Bronx in the 70's that gave rise to hip-hop culture. Street Dance includes the following 5 styles:

  • hip-hop,
  • funk,
  • locking,
  • popping,
  • electric boogaloo.

There is a reason why the listed dance styles are confused with each other, as they have a lot in common. Each style arose somewhat from the previous one, and hip-hop was the first street dance. It is worth outlining the rest of the dance techniques, as hip-hop has now developed to the point where it assimilates all other street styles.

Funkis a style derived from Rhytm & Blues (R&B). It is danced to the joyful sounds of electric guitars, it is sharp and lively.Lockingis a predatory style of dance inspired by martial arts. Characterized by stopped movement in poses that mainly involve arm and leg work, these steps resemble kicks and punches. On the other hand,poppingis the dance that gave rise to the robot dance. It consists in relaxing and tensing the body and requires perfect control of isolation, i.e. separate movements of individual parts of the body. The last street dance style iselectric boogalooreminiscent of the "puppet" dance that Michael Jackson is particularly fond of.

Hip-hop - dance description and basic steps

Hip-hop comes from a group of dances called Street Dance. He assimilates such hip-hop techniques as locking, popping and funk. So it is a dance with great technical freedom, but it has certain rules that should be followed, these are: feeling - that is the feeling of music, translating into rhythmic movement, ease - fluidity with appropriate movements and isolation - especially of the upper body.

The following steps are distinguished in hip-hop dance:

  • toprock: dynamic steps combined with gestures, e.g. apache, bounce roller, indian crosover, latino rock, salsa step;
  • power moves: these are aerobatic and rotational figures, resembling bboing movements, e.g. spinning top, bubble, head spinning, twisters;
  • freeze: this is a static figure in which the body should be held in a specific pose for a few seconds, e.g. air baby;
  • footwork: steps performed in a supported squat, e.g. baby swipes, bicycles pumps, six step, scrambles, threestep.

Learning hip-hop for beginners - see VIDEO

In the video, a dancer shows how to perform basic hip-hop steps and feel the atmosphere of street dancing:

Hip-hop - dance music

Hip-hop music is a combination of soul, R&B and rap. The first musician to make this musical genre famous and bring it from discos to the streets was DJ Kool Herc. Other hip-hop musicians from the 70's include Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Fab Five Freddy, Marley Marl, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Moe Dee, Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh, Whodini, Fat Boys, Warp 9 and Spoonie Gee . A decade later, RUN-DMC and LL Cool J ushered in the "golden age of hip-hop". The 90s saw a total boom of this music, which in the middle of their lifetime became the most popular music genre.

Today we can distinguish many musicians dealing with hip-hop, such as: Kanye West, Jay-z, Eminem, Ciara, Snoop dogg, Mary J. Blige, Azealia Banks, Taio Cruz, Flo Rida, Wiz Khalifa, Trey Songz, Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, Timbaland, Lil Wayne, M.I.A., LAuryn Hill, Usher, P. Diddy, Missy Elliott, Wyclef Jean, Eve.

Who is hip-hop recommended for?

Hip-hop is recommended for people who like to move and have fun. The choice of the difficulty level of hip-hop dance depends on the person entering the class. Currently, hip-hop is often referred to as simply modern dance and in this simple form it is recommended to children and teenagers.

You can burn up to 400 kcal during a 60-minute hip-hop class.

If we are very physically fit, we can try advanced hip-hop hooking on bboing - otherwise break dance. New trends in this dance, such as hip-hop new style or new age, can be gaining popularity. They are rich in modern, more complicated steps and are great for those who want to enrich their dance and make it more spectacular.

Hip-hop is an energetic dance that engages the whole body to work, so it will be an ideal way to keep fit and fit and help burn calories. An hour of hip-hop dance ison average even 400 kcal less !

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This will be useful to you

Meet other types of dance:

  • Viennese w altz
  • argentinian tango
  • rumba
  • samba
  • kizomba
  • bachata
  • jazz
  • salsa
  • cha-cha
  • swing
  • rock and roll
  • pole dance (pole dance)
  • zumba
  • flamenco
  • bokwa
  • belly dance

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