Pop dance is a funk and street dance style that is characterized by sudden contracting and releasing of a dancer’s muscles (also called hitting) to the rhythm of music. It is closely related to hip hop dancing and often performed in cyphers and battles, as well as being integrated into choreography. It is also one of the oldest dance styles still practiced today. Closely related illusory dance styles and techniques like tutting, waving, liquid, and turfing are often combined with popping to create more varied performances.
Popping originated in the 60’s and 70’s, and was first popularized by a group known as the Electric Boogaloos led by Boogaloo Sam and his brothers Popin’ Pete and Skeeter Rabbit. This group mixed popping with boogaloo and was instrumental in bringing the dance to the mainstream.
While the origins of popping can be debated and OG’s have different accounts and interpretations, there is no question that it was created by teenage friends living in deindustrializing neighborhoods. It was an outlet for them to express themselves and have fun, while gaining a sense of community and identity.
Popping has influenced many other dance genres and is still practiced to this day. It is the foundation for other funk and street dance styles such as locking, waacking, and breaking, and has even been incorporated into the electronica dance scene to some extent. It’s an exciting time for the genre with a new Grammy award category highlighting best pop dance, giving dance/electronic artists a chance to compete alongside their traditional music peers.
