#CLASSIC HIP HOP DANCE MOVES PROFESSIONAL#
#CLASSIC HIP HOP DANCE MOVES FREE#

The general public probably associated the dance with the music, also calling the dance they saw in some New Jack Swing videos, “New Jack Swing”. Teddy Riley (producer and artist) was the creator of this New Jack Swing sound. The term New Jack Swing is actually the original name for a genre of R&B music in the 90’s. Some people often refer to some steps in Hip-Hop dance during the late 80s/90s as New Jack Swing, or Hype Dance. Members from later groups like Jurassic 5, Pharcyde, Divine Styler, and Black Eyed Peas also had some freestyle dance background prior. Here in the Bay Area some of the dancers from that era were Pop Tart, Pat/Oscar, Housing Authority, Knuckle Neck Tribe, Bizerx, Soul Sector, Jedi, Gary Kendell, etc.Įven a few Emcees were also dancers during these days were, like Big Daddy Kane, Stezo, MC Hammer, and Kid N’ Play. Stezo and Fendi danced for EPMD and Heavy D had his dancers as well.There were also crews from the LA area like the Soul Brothers, and Scheme Team, and SWAT who were featured in various music videos. Big Daddy Kane also had a duo named Scoob & Scrap as his dancers. Whodini was one of the first rap groups to incorporate Hip-Hop dancers in their shows.

#CLASSIC HIP HOP DANCE MOVES PROFESSIONAL#

Buddha Stretch, member of Elite Force is considered to be the first professional Hip-Hop choreographer, and went on to choreograph for artists such as Michael Jackson, Will Smith, and Mariah Carey. Hip-Hop music and dance was very raw during this era.Īfter a time when media over-saturated television and film with movies like Breakin 1 & 2, Beat Street, etc, there came a point when artists started featuring more and more Hip-Hop dancers in their music videos. They were featured dancers in Alive TV’s documentary segment, “Wreckin Shop from Brooklyn”, as well as House documentary called “House of Trey”. The unique styles of these dancers has influenced many dancers to this day. There were also dancers such as The Misfits, and Wizeguys, who were also some of the many well-known Hip-Hop dancers of that time. In the New York Area, one of the groups most noted as some of the pioneers of Hip-Hop dance, is the group Elite Force (Mop Top).

Outside of the party dances, dancers would freestyle to Hip-Hop during this era and gave the dance that raw identity that I will never forget when I first saw it. It gave it that sound and vibe that also brought a different energy in the dance. Music during the Golden Era of Hip-Hop (mid 80’s to early 90’s) sampled more funk, soul, and jazz in it’s beats. Rocking and also Electric Boogie (New York’s early style similar to popping and waving but with a bounce, not to be confused with Electric Boogaloos) should also be noted as a part of the evolution of Hip-Hop dance. Reggae dances also had an influence on Hip-Hop dance with steps like the Butterfly, Bogle, and Pepper Seed. During the later years, there were steps like the Running Man, Roger Rabbit, Criss Cross, among many others. So for Hip-Hop during this time, dance driven songs like Joeski Love’s “Pee Wee’s Dance”, Gucci II Crew’s “The Cabbage Patch” and B Fats’ “Woppit”, etc. A lot of the movements are similar, but with just a different type of groove due to the musical changes throughout the eras. The party dances being done to Hip-Hop music laid the foundation and vocabulary to the style, much like an evolved version of Jazz dance steps during the Harlem Renaissance era, and Soul dance steps during the Motown and 70’s Soul/Funk era. B-boying is the first dance that was accepted as a part of the Hip-Hop culture, and it goes the same for the other dance styles that were accepted into the culture after, but each of the dance styles all have their own history and culture individually. But using the word Hip-Hop to talk about the dance is when it’s referring to the social dances done to Hip-Hop music. For terminology’s sake though, “Hip-Hop” is usually referring to the “culture” which consists of DJing, Graffiti, Emceeing/Rap and B-boying.

are all the same dance and label them as “Hip-Hop”. For a lot of urban dance styles, non-dancers or people who aren’t well informed might think that b-boying, popping, locking, etc. There are times when things might get categorized under an umbrella term.

#CLASSIC HIP HOP DANCE MOVES FREE#

If you’d like to contribute to any of these dance history sections, feel free to contact us.

Our goal is to try and provide them with a starting point for more insight and also help point them in the right direction for more information. Everything written here is aimed primarily towards the non-dancers, or those who aren’t well informed about these dance styles and seek to learn more. *Disclaimer: This dance history section is based on our own research, interviews, discussions with pioneers and also knowledgeable dancers in the community.

Classic hip hop dance moves