Hip hop dance is a style of dance that encompasses various moves and styles such as breaking, popping, locking and krumping. It’s also a type of choreography that incorporates movement elements from other types of dance, such as swing dancing and modern jazz.
The foundation of hip hop dance was forged in black and Latin neighborhoods, particularly the Bronx, during the 1970s. Block parties and street dances provided opportunities for young people to socialize with each other, express themselves and move to the beat-based music that was emerging at the time. The combination of funk, disco, rock and roll and soul music fueled this cultural phenomenon that spread to all five boroughs of New York City and beyond.
Founders of hip hop include DJ Kool Herc, who popularized breakbeats by layering tracks together in a way that created a unique rhythm. He’s credited with inspiring the dancers of the Electric Boogaloos crew, which became known for their precise and intricate dancing. The crew incorporated old school, middle school and new school hip hop dance techniques into their routines.
New school hip hop is often more energetic and sexy than the older style. It is usually performed with a partner and involves fluid wave-like movements and sharp twitching of the arms and legs. The style of krumping is another element of new school hip hop that is aggressive and requires a lot of power moves.
Popping and locking are two other elements of hip hop dance that are derived from the Electric Boogaloos crew, which originated in the 1970s in Fresno, California. They were influenced by Chubby Checker, James Brown and cartoons, according to Red Bull. Both styles involve quick contractions and releases of the muscles, resulting in a “popping” effect.
