Pop dance is a form of rhythmic street/funk dance with influences from various genres. It is characterized by fluid rolling motions of the body and the use of pictures. Dancers create pictures by hitting and strobing with their limbs. They also do a variety of footwork and leg movements like the strut, ticking, roboting and tutting. Popping first entered national consciousness in the mid-to-late 1980s thanks to a series of Hollywood breakdancing films known as “breaksploitation.” These films showcased actual popping dancers (like Poppin Pete) showing off their Holy Ghost spasms, twist-o flexes and dimestops. While popping is related to hip hop dancing and the other street/funk dance styles, it has developed into its own style.
Today, Pop dance can be found in battles and cyphers across the globe as well as being incorporated into choreography. It is a style that continues to evolve and grow. Its OGs have laid the foundation that all popping dancers can build on. It is a style that will never disappear and that all dancers should learn and understand so they can keep it alive for generations to come.
A broad category that blends club rhythms with distinctive pop song structures, it’s often characterized by upbeat grooves and catchy hooks. It can be difficult to differentiate from regular pop music, but dance pop tends to be more structured and radio-friendly than other uptempo electronic genres. It also focuses on a simplistic form with prescribed beats, infectious vocals and bright effects. Monster dance pop acts like Madonna and Michael Jackson strongly impacted the genre in the 1980s with their upbeat hits.
