How to dance hip hop (with pictures)

"Hip hop" refers to a variety of musical forms that began with young African Americans and Latinos in the South Bronx and Harlem, New York, in the 1970s. You may come across this musical form in a nightclub, at a dance school or pretty much anywhere, so it helps if you sound like you know what you're doing when you listen to anything from Chris Brown's "Forever" to Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice." If you want to know how to dance hip hop, read step 1 to get started.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Mastering the Basics

Step 1. Turn up the volume

Put on a little OutKast, a little Lil John, Kanye West, or whatever makes your feet want to move on their own. Also try dubstep if you want to challenge yourself.

Feel the rhythm. You want to be wrapped up in the music, so turn it up high enough to feel every "bang" of the kick and every hit of the bass

Step 2. Wear comfortable clothing

Your clothing should be loose and comfortable when you are practicing. When you go to nightclubs, you may wear tighter and less comfortable clothes, but it is good to practice as comfortably as possible.

• Wear shoes that don't grip the ground too tightly. You need to be able to slide and twist with ease, and if the soles get stuck in the ground in one quick motion, you could fall or even twist an ankle.

  

Step 3. Relax

You don't want to look stiff when you're dancing hip hop. You should look relaxed, with a comfortable body, rather than standing too straight or looking like your head and neck are too stiff. Once your body is relaxed, you can move however you want to the rhythm of the music. If you are too nervous, you will not be able to let go completely.

Step 4. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart

This is a safe bet when you are learning to dance to hip hop music. This neutral position will make it easier for you to try whatever dance steps you want to try. Your knees should be slightly bent, which will make it easier for you to dance and prevent you from looking too stiff or formal.

Step 5. Keep your arms at your sides

Don't cross your arms over your chest or move your hands nervously. Just keep your arms and hands loose at your sides, staying relaxed as you begin to move to the beat of the music.

Step 6. Move your hips

When you are dancing hip hop, it is important to engage the hips. You have to move them right, left, forward or backward with the flow of the music. This may be one of the first things you do as you prepare to demonstrate some great steps.

Step 7. Start moving

You don't have to follow the way other people dance, but know the steps. There is no established way to dance to hip hop music. Your best bet is to relax, move your hips, and find which dance moves feel right for you. You can incorporate elements of popular dances or invent some and combine different steps as much as you want. Read the next section for inspiration to perform a variety of dance steps.

• Remember, it doesn't matter if you seem to know what you're doing. If you act like you have confidence in yourself and really know how things are, people will have faith in your hip hop dancing abilities.

  

Part 2 of 3: Mastering the Movements

Step 1. Do the Dougie. Learning the entire dance to the song "My Dougie" can be helpful if they play the song, but knowing the main steps of the dance, which requires you to move your arms and shoulders from left to right, can also add a nice touch to your steps. dance, because you can incorporate a step from this dance into your hip hop steps at any time. You don't have to do the full dance; you can just do it for a few seconds before moving on to another step.

Step 2. Do the stanky leg

This is another fun dance move that makes it appear as if one of your legs is not working properly (hence the term "stanky", American slang for something that is not working). Although these steps are part of a dance, you can just do the stanky leg at any time. All you have to do is stick one foot forward and lean in the opposite direction, moving the foot that is out in a way that looks like it is "stuck." After a few seconds, you can move to the other side and repeat the step with the other leg.

Step 3. Learn to popping

Popping is another classic hip hop step where you isolate one part of your body at a time, causing it to move as if it were "pop." You can move your arms, shoulders, chest, or any other part of your body while on the dance floor. This is a great step that you can use every now and then without putting too much emphasis on it.

Step 4. Make the helicopter

The helicopter is a classic break dance step in which you squat down with your hands on the ground and move one leg around your entire body. To achieve this, you have to raise your hands and jump at just the right moment so that your feet do not collide with your hands and the other leg. This is a great step to perform on the dance floor, especially if you are dancing in a circle.

Step 5. Pop, Lock and Drop It

This dance step looks just the way it sounds. First, you popping and locking a part of your body. Then, you squat down to the ground, feet wide apart. You can do this at any time in the middle of any dance move.

Step 6. Do the shuffle with your feet

You can learn to do the basic T-step, master the "running man" or even combine both of these steps. The shuffle is a classic step that requires you to have good coordination and nimble feet. Knowing how to do it will make you look like a pro on the dance floor in no time.

Step 7. Do the Nae Nae

This dance step requires you to bend your knees, move your arms up and down, and cross them behind you. Some elements of this dance can be perfect for any hip hop rhythm.

Step 8. Do the moonwalk

Michael Jackson would be proud if he saw you on the dance floor, demonstrating this classic step in the middle of a song. All you have to do is master your footwork, making it appear as if you are moving forward when you are actually moving backward. This classic dance step can be performed in the middle of any song, even if you only do it for a few seconds.

Step 9. Twerk

Girls, don't be afraid to shake your butt and try this daring move on the dance floor. If Miley Cyrus can do it, so can you. All they have to do is get comfortable, lean back and shake it. Don't be afraid to try this step at a nightclub, especially if you are with a few friends.

Step 10. Perrear with a partner

Hip hop music is made for dogging. Do not be afraid to take a partner, synchronize the hips and dog looking at each other or from the back. If you are not comfortable with such intimacy, you can still keep your distance and have a great time dancing to the music.

Part 3 of 3: Going Further

Step 1. Watch and learn

MTV, YouTube, and the Internet are full of great music and videos from people of all skill levels. Whether the talent in those videos is from top-notch popping people or from housewives in the suburbs, it doesn't matter; what matters is that you observe their movements. Copy what you can and be inspired by what you cannot copy.

• Watch a friend rehearse their routine. Then practice your basic routine. Learn the same tricks and practice the whole routine again adding the tricks. Then add your own style.

  

Step 2. Take some classes

If you've made as much progress as you can on your own and you think you've caught on, find some classes. Many dance or even yoga studios offer classes for hip hop dancing.

• Find an inspiring dancer in your neighborhood and ask if he teaches classes.

  

• Check with your local gym. Dancing hip hop is a great way to stay in shape, and it's fun too.

Step 3. Keep trying

Some people were born to dance. Some have to work at it. It doesn't matter which group you are in, what matters is that you work hard and do your best.

• Practice on your own. Dance alone in your room where no one can see you, and you won't worry about what other people think, just to make your body comfortable with the beat. Just let your body flow at your own pace!

  

Advice

• Feel the music in your body always.
• Practice, practice, practice.
• Begin by dancing on your own in front of a mirror. You will feel more comfortable.
• Enjoy it. Dancing is finding yourself and losing yourself at the same time, so enjoy it.
• Remember this is an exercise routine. Stretch before dancing and when you finish to keep your body lithe and flexible.
• Practice the basics first, then move on to the more complicated moves.

Warnings

• Be careful. Like any vigorous athletic activity, there is always a chance of injury. Warm up and stretch first to get ready; do not practice when you are drunk, tired or in dangerous places; and save the toughest things for when you're ready.
• If you don't have a great sense of rhythm or are shy, be patient, practice, and have a good attitude. You can become a great hip hop dancer with a combination of heart and hard work.
• Start with easier movements to warm up and then move on to steps that are just outside your skill range.
• Once you feel comfortable dancing, find a partner. They will then be able to support each other and hold each other for balance as they learn awkward steps.