Hip Hop

What is Hip Hop Dance?
Hip Hop dance refers to dances that have been created and formed from hip hop music and hip hop culture. Party dances such as the “Upstairs Downstairs”, “Four Corners”, “Cabbage Patch” and “Chicken” formed the basis and foundation of hip hop dance. Freestyling, battles and cyphers are key components of hip hop dance.

The term “Hip Hop Dance” is commonly used as an umbrella term to include the old school dance styles bboying, popping and locking. However, Bboying is the cultural dance of hip hop, whilst popping and locking are funk styles. The term is also sometimes used to encompass other street dance styles such as jerking and jooking.

The term “Hip Hop Dance” also commonly refers to choreographed routines to hip hop, R&B or rap music. These routines are generally practiced in dance studios and are commonly used for performances and music videos. This style is also known by many names which includes the words; “funk”, “urban”, “commercial” and “studio”. This style is unique from hip hop dance in that it lacks the freestyling, battle and cypher component that is dominant in other hip hop styles. For a description of this style, see Commercial Hip Hop. “Lyrical Hip Hop” is an evolution of this style and is performed to more contemporary, lyrical and popular music.

The overarching usage of the term “Hip Hop Dance” is not dissimilar to how the word “Popping” is used to refer to the styles of waving, tutting, animation and more.

FAMOUS HIP HOP DANCERS
Elite Force (USA)

Electric Trouble (Japan)

7Down8Upper (Japan)