Thinking About Taking Up Hip Hop Dance?

Hip hop as a cultural movement originated in the late 1970's in New York City. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the five pillars of hip-hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking, graffiti writing, and knowledge. Other elements include beatboxing, hip hop fashion, and slang. Since first emerging in the South Bronx, hip hop culture has spread around the world. When hip hop music first began to emerge, it was based around disc jockeys who created rhythmic beats by looping breaks (small portions of songs emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables, which is now more commonly referred to as sampling. This was later accompanied by "rap" (a rhythmic style of chanting or poetry more formally in 16 bar measures or time frames) and beatboxing, a vocal technique mainly used to imitate percussive elements of the music and various technical effects of hip hop DJs. An original form of dancing and particular styles of dress arose among lovers of this new music. These elements experienced considerable refinement and development over the course of the history of the culture.

The relationship between graffiti and hip hop culture arises from the appearance of new and increasingly elaborate and pervasive forms of the practice in areas where other elements of hip hop were evolving as art forms, with a heavy overlap between those who wrote graffiti and those who practiced other elements of the culture.

Hip Hop Dancing- A Craze that's Sweeping the Globe

Hip hop dancing was not a large part of the dancing scene until recently. While there have been people around the world practicing this type of dance since the music was created, it has become far more popular today than ever before. Countries like the United States are most commonly known for promoting this type of dancing, but it is popular in the UK and Australia as well. Hip hop dancing has become the centre of attention thanks to shows like MTV's "Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew", "So You Think You Can Dance", and others.

Hip hop requires a lot of different elements in order to be effective. There are many different moves and forms involved that are not found in other types of traditional dance. A sense of rhythm is a must because so much of this music is based in the beats. This is one of the most creative and free-form styles of dancing, and one that truly comes from the soul. However, there are also rules, moves, and styles that have been created as staples of this dance form for those who want to truly master the art.

Hip hop dancing classes will teach things like breaking, popping, locking, freestyle moves, jumps, obvious movements, and other skills that are critical to this style. The focus is on creating a dance that is informal and explosive at once, demonstrating a personal performance that responds to the music accordingly. Much like counting steps in ballroom dancing, counting beats is important to hip hop dance. Having timed movements that match the music will make all the difference. Beyond the actual technique, hip hop offers a lot more freedom than traditional dance forms, which is often why it appeals to more people.

There are no age limitations or physical restrictions on hip hop dancing, for the most part. Anyone who can follow the beat and create flexible, explosive movements that speak to the hip hop style can benefit from this type of dancing course. Hip hop is a bit more difficult to learn than classical dancing forms because of the body movements and unique freedom that is allowed, but it can be mastered by anyone who chooses to learn it. If you are looking for a fun, heart pumping dance that you can get creative with, hip hop is definitely the way to go. It takes time, but with the right instructor, anyone can become a great hip hop dancer.