If you’ve ever wondered how hip hop dancers move their bodies, look no further. The style has been gaining popularity since the 1980s, when films like Wild Style began exposing the street dancing scene to a broader audience. The 1981 battle between Dynamic Rockers and Rock Steady Crew brought hip hop dance to a national audience, as the contest was reported by National Geographic and several New York publications. While hip hop dancers are renowned for their flexibility and speed, many dancers prefer to avoid rigid positions or heavy weights.
Hip hop dance was first made popular in the 1990s, when performers like MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice performed hip-hop dances. A music video featuring Michael Jackson used hip-hop in 1992, choreographed by Fatima Robinson, a street dancer who had no formal dance training. Robinson’s first music video job landed her the role of choreographer on the music video. Despite its brief history, hip hop is now taught in cities across the world.
Locking is another hip hop dance style, inspired by the cartoon character Boogaloo Sam, the leader of a group of Electric Boogaloos. It combines hip-hop with disco dance, resulting in a fast-paced and loose style. Locking and popping are two hip hop dance styles, and they are often associated with each other. A fourth dance form derived from hip hop is funk, which is a fusion of disco and soul.
