What Is Hip Hop Dance?

Hip hop dance is a style of street dance form that evolved from hip hop culture and hip
hop music. It borrows elements from a number of different styles like African dance, tap,
and ballet. Hip hop dance began as a freestyle dance performed in the streets by dance
crews, mostly to hip hop music. Today, hip hop dance may involve choreography, along
with various points of improvisation, especially during dance battles or freestyle
competitions. Some classic hip hop dance moves include the running man, the humpty
dance, and the cabbage patch, and techniques often involve body isolations and other
unique movements, like popping, locking, and krumping.

A Brief History of Hip Hop Dance

Hip hop is a style of dance that originated on the East Coast in the late 1970s in the
Bronx, New York City. Groups of people would often perform the dances in the streets,
clubs, and underground venues of New York. It evolved closely with many other
elements of hip hop—like DJing, graffiti writing, and MCing—and borrowed certain
signature elements from the funk styles of the 1960s.

4 Characteristics of Hip Hop Dance

Hip hop dance is a recognizable style with a few defining characteristics, which include:

1. High energy: Hip hop music provides a heavy beat for quick-paced movements requiring
high endurance and stamina.
2. Complex footwork: Hip hop dance puts emphasis on the footwork, pulling off special
moves that often look effortless. Choreographers will often push the boundaries of their
routines, finding new and innovative ways to create pictures with their body.
3. Versatility: Hip hop dance can be performed at a venue with friends or alone in a studio.
It contains a diverse range of movements that can be fitting for any age or level of
experience.
4. Attitude: Hip hop dance reflects the attitude of the music that is being danced to, which
is often full of confidence, boldness, and irreverence.