Month: July 2023

Hip Hop Dance

Hip hop dance is a popular form of movement that blends elements from other dance styles to create a unique and powerful style. While vestiges of modern, tap, and African dance can be found in the genre, it’s truly in a class of its own. It’s also a great way to stay in shape and socialize with friends! According to Stanford Dance, even moderate amounts of dancing can improve your mood and lower your risk of dementia.

Whether you want to be the next flashy, high-energy star of a music video or just want to strut your stuff at a club with friends, hip hop is an amazing dance style to learn. It has a short history, with its beginnings dating back to the 1960s and 70s, but it’s grown to become one of the most diverse dance forms.

Some of the most common forms of hip hop include krumping, popping, and locking. Krumping draws from African American culture and is characterized by powerful movements, such as chest bumping. Popping uses the quick contracting of muscles to create a “jerking” effect and can be used on any part of the body. Locking is similar to popping, except the dancer freezes certain parts of their body for longer periods of time.

Ultimately, hip hop dance is much more than just a style of dance; it represents an entire culture. Many modern shows like America’s Best Dance Crew, Dancing with the Stars, and Step Up have helped to popularize street style movement to younger dancers, but often depict underground Hip Hop culture in a watered-down and commercialized manner. Today, a growing number of dance organizations and community groups are working to reverse this trend by practicing, teaching, and living Hip Hop authentically.

A Look at Some of the World’s Most Popular Dances

Throughout history, there have been countless dance crazes that have captured the interest of rhythm lovers. While many of them have lasted just a short while, others have gone on to become enduring and iconic. From the tango to the hand jive, here is a look at some of the world’s most popular dances.

The 1920s saw the birth of jazz dancing. It was led by the big bands of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and it incorporated the Lindy Hop and other popular swing dances to create something new. It became a defining style that has helped shape the modern music industry.

In the 1980s, hip hop and street dance styles became a cultural phenomenon. The breaking, popping and locking moves that are associated with this style were influenced by African American, Latin American and Asian cultures. It is a high energy style that is performed alone or with a partner.

With the rise of social media, new dance fads are becoming more and more prevalent. South Korean producer PSY made a huge splash in 2012 with his hit song Gangnam Style. The goofy and fun hopping dance has gone on to be a worldwide sensation and has been adopted by countless people who want to show off their unique style.

From country line dancing sensations to the one-hit wonder Macarena, there have been countless dance fads over the years. In 2022, TikTok dancer Charli D’Amelio sparked another with her popular video of the Woah move that she created to reflect the sound themes in the Los Del Rio song of the same name.

The Most Popular TikTok Dance Video of All Time

For better or worse, it seems as though our species has a relentless appetite for half-hearted dance routines performed to music in short-form video clips. While the trend may be a little suspect, it’s hard to argue that it hasn’t helped some artists catapult themselves to the top of the charts—particularly those whose songs seem like they’re practically begging to be danced to.

The latest entry into this category is country singer Walker Hayes’s hit song “Fancy Like.” Written by Hayes along with Cameron Bartolini, Josh Jenkins, and Shane Stevens, the track was first released in 2021 on his album Country Stuff. It was his most successful song to date, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and spending six months on the charts in total.

Its success was largely thanks to TikTok, where the song gained traction after a video of Hayes and his daughter dancing to it went viral. The clip was filmed on the family’s front porch, which is why it has such an authentic feel to it. Hayes recently shared a new version of the video to celebrate the milestone of “Fancy Like” hitting 73.7 billion views on the platform.

This father-daughter duo is the epitome of adorable, and it’s no surprise that their version of the dance has become a favorite among TikTok users around the world. If you haven’t watched it yet, check it out below!

How to Plan a Dance Lesson

Dance lessons can be an excellent source of exercise, burning calories without feeling like you are working out. Dance is also a great way to express yourself, build self-esteem and increase social interaction with your peers. In addition, dance is a wonderful way to relieve stress, improve mood and get some fresh air. However, it is important to remember that the dance lessons you provide need to be appropriate for the age and level of your students.

For example, if you are teaching beginner students, you should not start by introducing complicated steps. It is better to give them a basic map and build their confidence with simpler steps. Some people learn best with detailed step-by-step instructions, while others prefer to grasp the overview gestalt of what a whole dance, step or pattern is all about. It is important to have both detail and concept-oriented learners in your dance class.

On the other hand, if you are teaching experienced dancers, it is often wise to challenge them with new material. However, it is equally important to take their accumulated skill set into account and not dismiss it as incorrect or outdated in the hope that they will change their style overnight. They will justifiably resent your disrespect of their years of hard work and investment in their personal style.

To avoid these problems, it is often better to plan the dance lesson by starting with your end goal – what you want the class to achieve at the end of the term – and then working backwards to figure out how many skills, concepts, habits and values have to be taught to reach that goal. This will become your class curriculum.

Dances Tips and Tricks

There is a lot of information on dances online and in magazines, but it can be overwhelming for new students. This article will share some tips and tricks that will help new dancers get started with the basics.

The first tip is to learn a basic step. This can be a single move or part of a larger dance. Then work on making it look good. This will be a lot easier than trying to figure out everything all at once. It is also helpful to watch other dancers who have learned the moves already and see how they do it. This will give you a sense of what the dance should look like.

Another tip is to learn to spot. This is a technique that dancers use to keep their balance and stay on track when they are doing spins. The dancer will focus their eyes on a fixed point that is in the direction of their turn and then they will delay the rotation of their head as much as they can until it becomes impossible to do so any longer.

The last tip is to practice the moves you have already learned. This will make it easier to add other steps to your routines. It is also a good idea to dance with people who are better than you, as this will push you out of your comfort zone and help you improve faster. It is also important to focus on your technique. This includes your standing leg, frame, and posture.

How to Learn to Dance

Dancing is the rhythmic movement of a body to music in a specified space for the purposes of expressing an idea or emotion, exercising the body, releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the movements themselves. The art form is practiced by people of all ages in social settings, dance studios, community halls and even at home. Learning to dance is an excellent form of exercise that is suitable for any age and fitness level, and it is a great way to meet new people.

The earliest proof of structured dancing comes from the 9 thousand-year-old cave paintings in India, and dance has been used for both entertainment and religious ceremonies throughout history. In Ancient Egypt, dance was a central part of the dramatic performances that told mythological stories, and in Greece, the chorus through its dances reenacted the themes of drama during lyric interludes. In Europe during the medieval period, court ballets became popular and remained so until they faded out in favor of more informal dances that accompanied music such as the tango from Argentina or the folk dances inspired by popular music.

To learn to dance, first watch tutorial videos or find a video of a professional dancer performing the style you’ve chosen. Then practice the moves and steps with a partner or in a class until they become ingrained in your muscle memory. It can also be helpful to get a feel for the music that is typically played with this style of dancing, and count or tap your foot to the beat of the song while practicing.

What is Pop Dance?

Pop dance is a style of funk and street dancing that is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause jerks in the body, known as “pops” or “hits.” This movement is done continuously to the rhythm of a song in combination with various movements and poses. A person who practices popping is called a “popper.” Popping developed before Hip hop’s cultural movement and helped influence styles of Hip hop dancing, such as waacking and locking.

A slick, energetic style, pop dance is often accompanied by sharp, fast movements that emphasize the beats and melodies of a song. It is a form of aerobic exercise that can be used to improve cardiovascular health, as well as build strength and flexibility. It also burns calories, and, as a result, can help a person lose weight.

The best pop dance recordings are up-tempo, rhythmic, and characterized by the use of instruments that reflect the sounds of the music being performed. The genres of music that have inspired this genre include funk, soul, disco and R&B.

Popping is typically danced to funk and disco music, but it can also be incorporated into other genres of music such as dubstep. It is a dance that continues to evolve as new poppers develop their own unique styles. Some popular techniques of popping are ticking, slow motion, strobing and liquid moves, while others are more like mannequin movements or puppet dances.

Hip Hop Dance

When you see a group of people dancing to hip hop music in a club or at a concert, it may look like they are just having fun. However, they are also putting in the work to create an art form that is both interesting and difficult to master. Hip hop dance is an art form that has roots in the 1970’s and continues to be a popular way to express oneself.

The popularity of hip hop dance was first boosted by the television show Soul Train and the 1980s films Breakin’, Beat Street and Wild Style. This helped to introduce the dances and dance crews that were creating them to a larger audience. Later, shows such as America’s Best Dance Crew and movies like Step Up brought the dances to a new generation of viewers. However, these shows and films tended to portray underground Hip Hop culture in a way that was more palatable for mainstream audiences.

Some of the most famous styles of hip hop dance include breaking, krumping, locking and popping. These styles are created by quick contractions of muscles that cause the dancer’s body to jerk and move. While some of these dances are fast and high energy, others require slower movements that allow the dancer to hold positions longer.

Regardless of the specific style, all forms of hip hop dance are characterized by an awareness of the music that is being played and a sense of self-expression. Whether you are looking to join a hip hop dance class or just want to start exploring the moves on your own, this article will give you a good starting point to begin your journey with this intriguing and expressive art form.

Popular Dances on TikTok

popular dances

A number of dance trends have risen and fallen over the years, but some have become extremely popular and well-known. Whether it’s the “Renegade” dance to Cardi B’s WAP or the 2022 dance craze of Mikael Arellano’s routine to Taylor Swift’s Bejewelled, these amazing TikTok dances have made their way into the hearts and minds of everyone who has the app.

Jazz dance

The popular dancing style of jazz combines ballet, modern, tap and hip-hop. It is characterized by its fast and energetic movements that often include spins, jumps and leaps. Jazz dancing is usually performed to upbeat, contemporary music and has its roots in African dance, English clog dancing and Irish jigs. Jazz shoes are designed with split soles to offer dancers the freedom to bend and move their feet.

Disco dance

The disco music of the 1970s would have never found such popularity if it were not for its highly entertaining and easy-to-do dance moves. These movements, which are influenced by ballet and modern dance, are generally accompanied by upbeat music and can be synchronized.

Rave dance

The sexy, dramatic and freestyle movement of rave music is all about expressing one’s moods through motion. This high-energy dance style is influenced by ballet, jazz and hip-hop and is typically performed in dark clubs or outdoor festivals with electronic music. Dancers wear a range of costumes to match the theme of their dance and are encouraged to express their unique personality through their movement.

The Fancy Like Dance on TikTok

If you’ve been on TikTok, chances are, you have seen the viral clip of Walker Hayes and his daughter dancing to “Fancy Like.” The dance is easy enough to learn (it is a line dance after all), and it’s taken over social media. In fact, it’s one of the most popular moves on the app to date.

Hayes created the video to promote his song of the same name from his 2021 Country Stuff EP, and it’s been a massive hit since then. In fact, it’s currently the top country song on Billboard’s country digital sales chart.

The dance is so popular that even non-country fans have been putting their own spin on it. For example, a Pittsburgh-based chiropractor who shares stretching tips on TikTok used the dance to show off a new move. He says the trick is to use your hands like you would if you were doing a fist bump, while moving them back and forth.

Another fan of the dance is this girl who danced it while wakesurfing. Clearly, she has some serious rhythm skills! For those who want to try out the Fancy Like dance, there are plenty of tutorials online. One YouTube user called thestrohshow posted a step-by-step guide to help others learn it. Other popular tutorials come from dancewithscoop, Harlie_Turner, and beginnerdancetutorials.

What to Expect From a Dance Lesson

dance lesson

Dance lessons provide children with a fun outlet for expressing themselves physically in a supportive and structured environment. As an added benefit, dancing helps reduce stress levels by releasing feel good hormones known as endorphins.

As with other sports or activities, dance teaches your child to set goals and stick to them. It also encourages the development of other life skills such as teamwork, accountability and dedication.

A key component of any dance class is to help students appreciate and value their unique attributes, whether physical or artistic. If only physique related qualities are discussed (such as extreme flexibility or perfect proportions), the dancer may come to believe that he or she is not a good dancer. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and frustration. Teachers can help their students develop a balanced approach to skill mastery by integrating discussions of anatomy, kinesiology and other sciences that support the dancer’s self-efficacy and motivation.

All dancers should be able to perform their movements with confidence. To build this confidence, dancers need to be allowed to experiment and make mistakes in a safe, encouraging environment. This type of experimental approach to learning accelerates progress and increases motor control.

Most dance schools offer group classes with anywhere from 10-20 students learning together with one teacher guiding the class. While this allows for a more social experience, it is important that your child be comfortable in this type of setting and able to stay focused and listen to the teacher’s instructions without being distracted by other children or chatty parents. If a student is not comfortable in this setting, ask the studio about their drop-off policy or see if they offer video viewing options.

Dances Tips and Tricks

dances tips and tricks

Dances tips and tricks are essential to advancing your dancers’ technical proficiency. Often, dancers will use the time they are waiting on their partners in line to chat (not a good idea during class) or zone out, but watching others in action can provide dancers with a wealth of information about the movement, what they do beautifully and what they are still working on. It also helps dancers understand why they receive certain corrections from their instructors.

Another tip is to encourage your dancers to use their plie rather than their arms for height in any jump/leap. This is a great way for dancers to avoid getting tired prematurely. Also, remind them to always land in a plie to protect their knees and backs.

A common mistake in a pirouette turn is that dancers whip their arms to gain momentum. This can pull them off balance and can cause the pirouette to turn into a double or triple, which are more difficult.

Lastly, try to inspire your dancers to get creative with their movements. Taking inspiration from different forms of art, such as two-dimensional paintings, can help create dynamic movement that gets the audience’s attention.

Also, try to encourage your dancers to experiment with different styles of music to find the best match for their movements. For example, fast songs about having fun can inspire different movement than slow, heartbreak-focused ballads. The beat and lyrics of the song can influence how the dancers connect emotionally and physically to it.

The Benefits of Dancing

dancing

Dance is a performance of sequences of body movements characterized by a range of rhythms and patterns. It is usually imbued with aesthetic and symbolic value, and may be freeform or purposefully choreographed. In some cultures, dancing is used to express ideas and feelings, communicate, or serve religious, political, economic, or social purposes; it can also be used as a form of recreation.

If you’re a little nervous about the thought of hitting the dance floor, rest easy—just about everyone can learn to at least waltz, and the benefits are pretty clear-cut. Studies show that dancing improves balance, coordination, and mobility—particularly as people age—and it can help prevent diseases like Parkinson’s.

The Mind and Dance

While dancing is often viewed as a form of entertainment, it can have many psychological effects as well. It can be a way to relieve stress, reduce the levels of the hormone cortisol in the bloodstream, and boost overall mood. People who practice dance report feeling happier, less stressed out, and more confident than those who don’t.

It can be hard to put your finger on exactly why dance has these positive effects, but researchers suggest that it has something to do with the combination of physical and mental activity. It involves a high level of attention, concentration, and coordination that requires the brain to stay engaged. Plus, the repetition of certain moves helps strengthen muscles—particularly those in the feet and legs—that are often overlooked in other types of exercise.

Pop Dance

pop dance

Pop dance is a street and funk style of dancing that is often performed in battles or cyphers and can also be used as part of choreography. It is closely related to hip hop dancing and other funk styles such as waacking, locking, and tutting, but it has its own unique techniques and moves that are not shared by these other dance forms. Popping is also an umbrella term for the closely related illusionary dance styles and techniques, including robot, waving, and turfing, that are frequently integrated into popping to create a more varied performance.

The addition of a best pop dance category is a major victory for the electronic music world, which often gets overlooked by Grammys voters in favor of juggernaut genres like hip-hop, Latin and pop. Having a dedicated category for pop dance means that the artists, producers and mixers behind dance-pop radio bangers and underground drum ‘n’ bass tunes will have a better chance of receiving nominations and winning awards. It also helps ensure that the broad spectrum of the genre will be better represented, as many of these songs ride the line between pulsing dance-floor grooves and traditional pop song structures.

The most famous artists to have popularized pop dance are Alanis Morissette, Madonna, Britney Spears, and Whitney Huston. Other artists who have made their mark in this industry branch include Rihanna, The Black Eyed Peas, Stevie Wonder, Backstreet Boys, and Mariah Carey. To become a successful pop dancer you must have a lot of energy and not be afraid of being in front of an audience. Besides that the main thing you need is a good sense of rhythm and an excellent memory to memorize the lyrics to the songs you dance to.

Hip Hop Dance

hip hop dance

Hip hop dance is an art form that has been cultivated since the late 1960s and 70s. It was originally inspired by African dance styles and complex rhythms. It was created by individuals without professional dance training who took their natural instinct for movement to the streets where they combined a mix of freestyle movements with turns, spins and foot shuffles. It has evolved into a style of dancing that is often referred to as break dance.

During this time, the art of street dance was influenced by popular movies, cartoons and TV shows. Moves such as Running Man, The Prep, Cabbage Patch and Robocop are just a few examples of moves that have become part of the culture of hip hop dance. It was during this time that the first formal hip hop dance classes started to develop. Buddha Stretch and others became pioneers in teaching the technique. Hip hop dance began to appear in music videos and on television which helped the style gain more exposure and commercialization.

The popularity of modern shows such as America’s Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance and the Step Up series have helped to bring a new generation into the world of hip hop dance. Unfortunately, these shows tend to portray underground Hip Hop culture in a way that is unrealistic and unauthentic. Many dance organizations are now focusing on reversing this trend by helping young people learn authentically about Hip Hop dancing.

Popular Dances of the 20th Century

popular dances

Modern dance fads have been as varied as the music that inspired them. Some reached global popularity before disappearing in a few short months or weeks. Others endured through the decades and continue to be reinvented today. They have influenced art forms, challenged social norms and traditions, horrified genteel society and thrilled young people.

In the 1920’s during the Roaring Twenties, a time of jazz music and social disillusionment, new dances blossomed in the USA, Britain, and Europe. From jitterbug and the sexy Lindy Hop to foxtrot, they were done everywhere: nightclubs, speakeasies, Charleston contests, hotels, restaurants, and local dance halls. Footwork diagrams and instructional information from such dance instructors as Arthur Murray flooded the mail, giving dancers the tools they needed to step out and show off.

By the 1960’s, hippies twirled to the beat of The Grateful Dead at Woodstock and other jam band concerts. They danced the Gone with the Wind spin and the psychedelic tornado twirl, known as the Hippie Spin, which continues to be popular at jam band festivals.

Hip-hop spawned a dance fad called the Running Man, which requires fast music and plenty of space. It was made famous by acts like Bobby Brown, MC Hammer, and Milli Vanilli. Disco sparked many more dance crazes including the Bump, the Hustle, and the Macarena. Breakdancing, created as a less lethal way to fight between rival African-American street gangs in the 1970’s Bronx area of NYC, resurfaced in worldwide popularity during the 1990’s.

Country Music Star’s Fancy Like Dance Goes Viral on TikTok

fancy like dance

If you’ve listened to a country song in the past two months, chances are it’s “Fancy Like.” The hit single by Walker Hayes has risen on the charts and become a summer staple, thanks in part to a trending dance routine created by the singer’s teen daughter. The dance went viral on TikTok, and now, it’s everywhere—even on late-night TV and in Applebee’s commercials. It’s even inspired copycat videos from fans around the world, including a girl who threw in a bit of wake surfing for good measure.

It’s not often that a singer is given the chance to create a dance trend with his or her daughter, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hayes and his daughter Lela were inundated with time at home. As a way to bond, they started creating dance routines on TikTok and uploading them online. They decided to do a video of their version of the Fancy Like dance, and it took off.

Now, the video has more than 2 million views and a massive following on Hayes’ TikTok account. It’s even gotten the attention of celebrities like Amy Adams, who recreated the dance in a segment on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

The duo’s success has also led to a tour and a whole lot of merchandise. In an exclusive with 93Q, Hayes talked all things TikTok dances and his newfound fame.

How to Plan a Dance Lesson for Your Wedding

dance lesson

Dance lesson is a great activity for children to participate in and can be used as a wonderful way to bring different subjects to life. Especially subjects such as HASS, Literacy and Numeracy can easily link with dancing. There are a variety of ways in which you can plan a dance lesson, however it is important that all your planning is reflective and allows for flexible teaching practices.

You can learn how to dance in a number of places including dance academies and studios, community centers, retirement homes, schools, summer camps, and churches. Many individuals also take dance lessons with an instructor in their own home via videos.

Beginner dance lessons can be overwhelming for many people at first, but if you stay focused and try your best to remember all the new moves being taught to you, you will do just fine. Beginner dance classes are usually fast-paced with a lot of footwork and terminology being introduced.

A dance lesson is an exciting part of the wedding countdown and a fun way to get to know your partner. However, it’s important to choose a professional instructor with whom you can share your vision for the first dance and help you reach your goals. Also, be sure to account for factors that can interfere with your regular dance lessons, such as family emergencies and work trips. This will prevent your lessons from becoming stressful rather than a pleasant part of the wedding planning process.

Dances Tips and Tricks

dances tips and tricks

Dances Tips and Tricks

Whether you’re an experienced dancer or a complete beginner, there are always little tricks and tips that can help improve your dancing. This article contains a few of our favorite tips and tricks to help you take your dancing up a notch!

Practice in an area with plenty of room. This will save you from injury and it also gives you the freedom to explore movements you may not have done before. If you are unsure about how to do something, watch other dancers. You don’t want to copy what they are doing exactly, but it can be a good way to get ideas and see how a figure is done.

Make eye contact with your partner (but don’t be a creep!). Keeping eye contact with your partner helps them feel engaged and it also reduces dizziness during sustained turns. Try to look at their ear, chin, or forehead instead of at the floor or walls; looking at the wall or floor while spinning is practically guaranteed to make you dizzy!

Remember that everyone, even the most experience dancers, makes mistakes during a set. Do not be embarrassed to ask for, or accept, help from other dancers if you have spaced out or made a mistake; it is better to be helped than to continue to make mistakes! Just be sure to offer and receive help with a cheerful disposition; it isn’t fair to either party if you are angry or snappy.

Health Benefits of Dancing

Dancing is a fun, social activity, but it’s also great exercise for both your body and mind. Studies have found that dancing reduces stress, increases levels of the feel-good hormone serotonin, and helps develop new neural connections, especially in regions of the brain responsible for things like decision making and long-term memory. Whether you’re a born mover or more of a wallflower, there are many ways to dance, and everyone can benefit from making it part of their health and wellness routine.

Even the most basic moves can improve your balance, flexibility, and endurance. Start by trying simple exercises at home or in the gym, such as standing in one place bouncing your knees and twisting your torso a bit while swinging your arms around. You’ll soon see that the movements aren’t as hard as they seem. If you watch movies or TV shows where extras are dancing in the background, they’re often doing the same thing.

For those with more limbs to spare, try taking a dance class at a local community center or recreational facility. Dance classes are often geared toward all ages and abilities, including those with physical or cognitive limitations. A large number of studies have found that people who participate in a dance program see improved balance, walking, coordination, pain, mood and cognition. Most of the benefits seen in these studies were realized after about 8 weeks, but some have shown longer-term improvements. These improvements are thought to be a result of the rhythmic, musical and creative nature of dance.

Pop Dance and Popping

pop dance

Pop dance is a style of dance that has its origins in hip hop music. This type of dance is characterized by upbeat rhythms and catchy melodies that are easy to follow. It is also characterized by a variety of different body movements that are often accompanied by hand gestures.

This dance genre has gained popularity throughout the world and is a favorite for people looking to get their groove on. It is often seen on TV shows, movies, and at clubs. It is a great way to express emotions and is very uplifting. Pop dance can be a great workout, as it requires a lot of energy.

Popping is a street dance style that originated in Fresno, California. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to create a jerk in the body, known as a “pop” or “hit.” Closely related illusionary dance styles and techniques, including robot, tutting, and waving, are often integrated with popping to create a more varied performance. However, popping is distinct from breaking and locking, with which it is often confused. It is performed standing up, and is characterized by the use of sharp contrasts in movement between rigid and robotic poses and fluid, gravity defying body motions.

This dance genre is characterized by upbeat rhythms and a variety of different body movements that are accompanied by hand gestures. It is a great workout, as it requires utmost coordination and stamina. This dance genre is often seen on TV shows, movies,and at clubs. It is a great way for people to get their groove on and is a popular choice for those looking for a fun, energetic workout.

Hip Hop Dance

hip hop dance

When it comes to dance, there is no other style that is as globally popular as hip hop. While it originated as street dance, it has moved onto the stage and screen where it is a favorite for music videos and competitions. It is also widely taught in dance studios throughout the world.

The genre has been heavily influenced by both funk and pop dance styles, as well as breaking, locking, and various other urban movements that are a part of the street culture. The different regional versions of hip hop (such as popping and locking in the west and breaking in the east) are sometimes merged into one style, but many dancers keep their original styles separate.

Hip hop is highly competitive. While its origins were in informal dance battles, today’s hip hop dancer can rock the club scene or mesmerize a jury of experts at a dancing competition. Many popular hip hop moves are also used in other styles, such as ballroom dance or jazz.

Hip hop is accessible to people of all ages and body types. It is a fun and exciting way to express creativity and energy, while improving flexibility and endurance. It is also a great way to relieve stress, and according to Stanford Dance, frequent dancing is linked to lower dementia rates in older adults. So why not start your own dance journey? Just go online and search for “hip hop classes near me” to find a studio that offers lessons!

Popular Dances of the Past, Present, and Future

popular dances

Dance fads aren’t always as elegant or timeless as the ballet, but they can still inspire a whirlwind craze that lasts months or even years. They’ve fueled cultural revolutions and shocked genteel society. They’ve also spawned new genres of music, influenced film and television, and thrilled young people.

Some fads simmered in underground scenes for years before being introduced to the masses by a star, a band, or a song. Others, like the limbo and the Watusi, have very dark origins. The limbo, for example, was a slave era dance that required participants to bend over backward while gliding forward under an ever-sinking bar. It became a modern craze after Chubby Checker recorded his hit “Limbo Rock.”

The ’50s saw the Jitterbug, a spin-off of both swing and Lindy hop, become popular, thanks in part to the movie “Cab Calloway’s Jitterbug Party.” The ’60s brought the Twist to the forefront, a solo dance wherein no partner was needed. And the ’70s gave us disco, the Bump, and the Y.M.C.A.

Line dancing made a comeback in the ’80s with dances such as the Madison and the Pony. But it was the ’90s when the MC-directed dance crazes really took off, starting with the Electric Slide and gaining momentum in 1996 with the song “Macarena.” Today, you’ll see people of all ages dancing in unison to songs such as the Cha-Cha Slide at wedding receptions, workout classes, birthday parties, and other celebrations.

The Fancy Like Dance on TikTok Has Generated Over 10 Million Views in a Few Days

fancy like dance

Walker Hayes was already a big poster on TikTok and had a pretty decent following but he never expected to get the viral dance videos that his song Fancy Like has received. Originally released on June 4th, the video of him and his daughter dancing together to the track skyrocketed to over 10 million views in a few days and really opened up his audience.

The video features the pair putting their best fancy foot forward while reenacting the choreographed dance. The catchy summer tune is a fun take on some of the less glamorous aspects of life and was quickly embraced by fans for its relatability. It spent 16 weeks at number one on the country charts and has proven that TikTok can have an impact even with a country song.

But it wasn’t just the song itself that made it so popular — it was also the way it was accompanied by the viral dance. The dance is a simple one, which makes it easy for people of all ages to pick up and learn. It’s a style that is reminiscent of classic line dances and the hip-hop moves that have dominated the social media platform lately.

As such, the video has inspired plenty of copycats and has reached a huge audience on TikTok alone. Several people have been posting their own videos of themselves dancing to the track, including this girl who danced while wakesurfing. Even a Pittsburgh-based chiropractor who shares stretching tips on the app got in on the act and posted a video of himself doing the dance.

How to Create a Great Dance Lesson

dance lesson

Dance helps students become more connected and supportive to others. It’s the perfect way to work on building community, and can be used in a variety of ways in a classroom. It has the potential to be a powerful social and emotional learning tool for all learners, but is still underutilized in the classroom.

Whether students are exploring their personal identities, or identifying ways they could make the world a better place, dancing and movement can be an incredible vehicle for understanding the bigger concepts that are being addressed. Dance provides the opportunity to explore ideas like empathy, leadership, problem-solving and how to work together.

The best dance lesson starts with a clear idea of the stimulus, theme or topic that will be explored by students. This can be something you are already working on with the students, or it can be a topic you want them to explore.

It is also important to consider what the dance is going to achieve in terms of HASS or curriculum goals. This can be as simple as discovering what students know or understand, through asking questions or allowing them to communicate their learning through different contexts.

For example, a student may feel uncomfortable with close embrace in partner dancing or sustained direct eye contact. In this case you may need to meet the student where they are, and allow them to work at a pace that feels comfortable for them. You might also need to be more generous with your appraisal of students who are demonstrating a stronger understanding of the dance.

Tips and Tricks for Memorizing Dances

dances tips and tricks

As a dancer, you need to be able to remember your choreography. It can be challenging to do this at first, but with practice you will get better and better at it. There are a few simple tips and tricks that you can use to improve your memory when it comes to dancing.

1. Make eye contact with your partner.

This might seem a bit silly at first, but it is actually really helpful for both leads and followers. When you make eye contact it signals to your partner that you are ready for them to start the figure. This helps reduce the amount of confusion that can occur when dancing and also makes it much easier to communicate with your partner while in motion.

2. Feel the Music and Count the Beats

Contra dances are written to fit the rhythm of the song. If you can, try to listen to the song without the cd so that you can feel the beat of it and hear the downbeats. It’s also a good idea to count the beats to yourself to help you stay on phrase as you move from one figure to the next.

3. Don’t be afraid to Fall Out of the Turns

Everyone, even seasoned professionals, will occasionally space out during a dance and miss the next figure or do something else completely unintentional. If this happens to you or someone close to you, be sure to offer (or accept) gentle and cheerful help getting back on track. Never yank, shove, or bark at a confused dancer, though; it will only cause more trouble and create tension between you and your partner.

Why Dancing Is Good For You

dancing

Dance is not only great exercise, but also increases stamina, reduces stress, sculpts the body, and even improves your memory. It’s a skill that can be learned at any age and it’s important to try different styles of dancing. It is also believed that keeping an active lifestyle, including dance, into your senior years will slow down the onset of dementia.

Dancers can express a broad range of emotions with their movements, and their facial expressions and body language can communicate a whole array of feelings. Movement can show a sense of weight (heavy or light), speed, momentum, attack or decay, and quality of line (sharp and sudden or smooth and flowing).

The body is in constant motion when performing a dance and it’s important to focus on how each movement flows together. You should also be aware of the different aspects of space: orientation, pathway (curved, straight, zigzagged), size, and relationship to one another (behind, in front of, over, under, alone).

When learning a new sequence of dance steps, you might find it helpful to break down the dance into small chunks that are easier to learn. It’s often a good idea to have your instructor or other dancers show you the entire sequence once before practicing it on your own so that you can get a feel for how it should be executed.

When learning a new dance sequence, it’s easy to get caught up in trying to get every step perfect the first time you practice it. However, even the best professional dancers sometimes fall out of their pirouette or miss a step in the process. This is normal, and it’s actually a good thing — falling out of a turn helps us figure out how to recover!

Pop Dance

pop dance

Pop dance is a style of street dance that uses sudden tensing and releasing (known as hitting) to the rhythm of beats in music. It is most commonly done standing up and can range from a robotic and stiff to fluid and gravity defying. It also incorporates a variety of poses and illusionary styles such as floating, electric boogaloo and tutting. A dancer who performs popping is often referred to as a “popper”.

Popping was invented in the late 1960’s and 70’s and originated among groups of teenage friends who would come up with moves, practice them, and then show off their routines at clubs and dance battles. The dancers’ use of angles, mime style movements and facial expressions give the movement its unique character and set it apart from other dance styles such as breaking and locking.

Popping is usually done to funk and disco music but it has been incorporated in hip hop and electronic dance as well. Its improvisational nature allows the dancer to personalize their performance and create new variations of old and popular moves.

The 2010s saw an increase in dance-pop that blended pop music with a heavier electronic influence and bass-heavy drum beats. Artists like Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Dua Lipa dominated the charts during this time.

Hip Hop Dance Genre

hip hop dance

Hip hop dance is a popular youth-oriented street dance style that generally performs to its own genre of music. Although influenced by jazz, Indian and African dance, it is considered to be unique as a movement style because of its freestyle improvisational nature and competitive edge.

Unlike ballet, tap and jazz dance where specific choreography is rehearsed and performed with a group, hip hop is freestyle based and allows the individual to express themselves through their own personal interpretation of the music and the beat. Despite this, there are many different styles that make up the genre of hip hop dancing, with Breaking, Popping and Locking being some of the most popular.

Breaking began in the late 1960s and early 1970s when individuals without formal dance training brought their innate gift for movement and complex rhythm to the streets. Dancers would often dance in groups, battling each other for recognition. It was at this point that Kool DJ Herc incorporated the concept of counts into the b-boying culture as well as extended the dance sections of songs to give dancers more time to showcase their moves.

This paved the way for more structured hip hop dance to be taught in the dance studios as well as on TV and music videos. While this has been great for promoting the hip hop dance genre and bringing it to more audiences, it is important that parents understand that the style of hip hop being taught in most dance schools today is a commercialized and streamlined version of what originally was a street styled form of hip hop.

The Most Popular Dances of All Time

popular dances

From the gangsta walk to the tango, some dance fads reached global prominence before disappearing in a matter of weeks. Others have lasted through the decades and even spawned whole new movements.

Modern dance owes its origins to a series of cultural revolutions that occurred over the centuries. Periods like the Renaissance, post-French Revolution, prohibition and ragtime brought about many of the modern dances we know today. The waltz, for example, was originally danced at arm’s length between couples but became the close embrace dance that it is today during the 19th century.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, rock ‘n’ roll music helped to create a number of dancing fads. The limbo, for example, required participants to bend backward while sliding under an ever-sinking bar — and it wasn’t easy. The Twist, meanwhile, saw a similar rise to popularity after Chubby Checker introduced it to the world with his hit song “Limbo Rock.”

Hip-hop music and artists in the 1980s and 1990s helped to popularize a style of dance that was as simple as it was explosive. The Running Man, which was the trademark dance of acts like MC Hammer and Milli Vanilli, required fast-paced music and, ideally, parachute pants. More recently, South Korean producer PSY broke over a billion views with his 2012 hit, “Gangnam Style,” which features a goofy, fun, hopping dance that’s reminiscent of both a horse and its rider. And in 2018, 16-year-old TikTok star Charli d’Amelio hopped around to her own soundtrack with her wildly popular viral dance, the Woah.

Country Music’s “Fancy Like Dance”

fancy like dance

There are some songs that just seem to beg for you to show off your dance moves. Country singer Walker Hayes’ song “Fancy Like” is one of those tracks. The catchy tune and dance prompted a viral video of the singer and his daughter that quickly gained traction on TikTok. It also helped the song climb to the top of the country charts, spending sixteen weeks at number one and bolstering Hayes’ career even further.

The video of the father-daughter routine was a surprise to both Hayes and his viewers. He had posted the clip just to pass the time during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it ended up going viral. After just four days, the video had over 4 million views and inspired many others to create their own versions. It was so popular that it even caught the attention of Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY who had to give the dance a try.

It also gained the attention of Applebee’s who decided to feature it in their commercials. Despite all this success, Hayes remains humble and grateful for the response to his song. He credits the success of “Fancy Like” to his family, especially his wife and daughter.

Now, he’s ready to put his new track “AA” out there for everyone to enjoy. He hopes to continue climbing the charts with more hits, bringing his unique style of music to as many people as possible.