How to Choreograph a Hip Hop Routine

Hip hop choreography allows hip hop dancers to express themselves in an organized, professional manner. Usually, a hip hop routine is designed for background dancers of big touring stars.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Multiple mirrors
• Plenty of space

Choreograph the Hip Hop Moves

1. Learn to dance in the hip hop style. You cannot choreograph a hip hop routine if you cannot dance it yourself. Take a couple classes to hone your moves.

2. Find inspiration by watching music videos, seeing live performances or checking out the local nightclubs. You will need a wide range of moves for a full routine.

3. Get familiar with the song of choice. Listen to it over and over and dance to it. Know every twist and turn of the song. Know when the chorus starts and ends. Know when the background singers chime in.

4. Brainstorm what moves you think would work for the chosen song. Make a list of possible steps you can picture working on a stage. Examples of some basic moves are dropping down low, breaking and popping and locking.

5. Play the song alone in your room and start to dance. Try out the steps that you considered earlier. Have mirrors set up at different angles so you can see what the moves look like from different angles. Once you are happy with a step, write it down.

Choreograph the Hip Hop Routine

6. Add stylistic details to the moves. Arm movements, which are usually very arbitrary in hip hop dance, should be choreographed for the changes in the song.

7. Add group based details if the routine is for multiple people. Set up a structure for the group. A general good idea is to put the more talented dancers in the front.

8. Alternate the group boy and girl. Have the girls dance in sync while the boys dance another part in sync. Then mix it up. The possibilities are endless, but you will need to settle on a plan.

9. Make sure everything is cohesive. There should be no dead time in between complicated moves. There should be no wasted movement or difficulty being in the right spot at the right time.

10. Perform the routine with or for a friend. Listen to your friend's input and improve your steps.

Tips & Warnings

• Hip hop is very loose and open. It is not constrained to defined styles like ballet or jazz. Hip hop dancing can incorporate many types of movements. Even martial arts or everyday activities can be seen in a hip hop routine.