All About Hip Hop

well, from my last story i tell you guys about how i like dance so much, and now i will tell u guys a little about hip-hop...

What is Hip Hop ??
Hip hop is a dance style, usually danced to hip hop music, that evolved from the hip hop culture. The first dance associated with hip hop was breakdancing. While breakdancing consists primarily of moves executed close to the ground, the majority of hip hop moves are done standing up.

Hip Hop Culture ??
Hip hop developed from several cultures, including jazz, rock, tap and American and Latino cultures. Hip hop is a very energetic form of dancing. It is unique in that it allows its dancers to perform with freedom of movement, adding in their own personalities.The hip hop culture is influenced by the following four elements:

• Disc jockeys
• Graffiti (art)
• MCs (rappers)
• B-boys and B-girls (breaker boys and girls)

Hip Hop Dance Step
Hip hop dance steps require skill and experience to perfect. Hip hop dancers practice a lot in order to master basic steps and movements that appear simple when performed. Dancers with a good sense of rhythm find it easier to learn hip hop steps.

Learning Hip Hop
Hip hop classes are popping up in dance studios around the country. Teens are particularly interested in learning how to dance like dancers they see on MTV and music videos. Dance teachers have capitalized on this interest and have started incorporating hip hop and breakdancing classes into their curriculums. Many people with roots in hip hop culture feel that hip hop dancing should not be formally "taught." They feel that teaching specific moves takes away from the originality factor that hip hop possesses.

The Element of the Hip Hop itself

If you ask several people to define the term "Hip Hop", chances are you will here several different answers. Hip hop is much more than a way of moving to Hip Hop Music...it is a way of life. Hip hop is a lifestyle that includes its own language, music, wardrobe style and style of dance.
Some people believe that hip hop dancing is simply moving to hip hop music. However, hip hop as a dance style is anything but simple. Hip hop dancers frequently engage in friendly battles or informal dance competitions. In an article appearing in Dance Teacher magazine, Rachel Zar discusses the top five elements of hip hop dance.

1. Popping

Created by Sam Solomon in Fresno, California and performed by the Electric Boogaloos dance crew, popping consists of quickly contracting and relaxing your muscles, causing a jerk in your body. These jerks are known as pops or hits. Popping is performed with other dance moves and poses to the beat of the music.
Popping Terms:

• Puppeting
• Waving
• The Creep
• Tutting
• Robotting
• Ticking
• Dynorama
• Strobing
• Vibrating

2. Locking

Created by Don Campbell in Los Angeles and introduced by his crew The Lockers, locking consists of performing a series of locking movements, which involves performing a quick movement, "locking" into another position, then holding the last position for a few seconds. The hips and legs usually remain in a relaxed position while movements of the arms and hands are more distinct and exact. Movements are big and coordinated closely with the beats of the music. Locking has a bit of a comedic flair and is usually performed to funk or soul music. Dancers who perform locking movements are called "lockers."
Locking Terms

• Lock
• Points
• Throwback
• Wrist Roll
• Iron Horse
• Muscle Man
• Scooby Doo
• Stop & Go
• Scootbot
• Skeeter Rabbit
• Funky Guitar
• Knee Drop
• Leo Walk

3. Breaking

Breaking (also referred to as b-boying or b-girling) is probably the most well-known element of hip hop dance. Breaking is very unstructured and improvisational, and evolved from a style of dance known as uprock. Breaking, or breakdancing, is composed of movements performed at different levels: toprock (performed while standing), downrock (performed close to the floor), power moves (acrobatics) and freeze moves (poses). Dancers who perform breakdancing are often called b-boys, b-girls or breakers.

Breaking Terms
• Rock Steady Crew
• Zulu Kings
• Sal Soul
• Crazy Commandos
• Dynamic Rockers
• New York City Breakers
• Air Force Crew
• Full Circle
• The Bronx Boys
• Seven Gems

4. Boogaloo

Boogaloo is a very loose movement, mostly using the hips and legs. Boogaloo seems to give the illusion that the dancer has no bones. This style is closely related to popping, with dancers involved in rolling the hips, knees, legs, and head.
Boogaloo Terms

• Twist-o-flex
• Walk-out
• Fakey
• Neck-o-Flex
• Cobra
• Snakin'
• Slides
• Glides
• Old Man
• Egyptian

5. Social Dances

Social dances, or '80s party dances, came about during the 1980's as popular dances at the time were transformed by club dancers. Social dance is a freestyle dance style and is the element of hip hop that is often seen in music videos.
Social Dance Terms

• The Wop
• The Cabbage Patch
• The Roger Rabbit
• The Running Man
• The Rooftop
• The Humpty Hump
• The Worm
• The Kriss-cross