How to Become a Hip Hop Dancer

Hip hop dancing, once referred to as urban street jazz, is arguably the most popular dance form in the world today. Televisions shows like "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Step It Up and Dance" have made hip hop, once only the province of inner-city street kids, accessible to everyone. Find out how you can become a professional hip hop dancer.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Take dance classes, not only in hip hop, but in other forms of dance as well. Hip hop draws on almost every type of dance-jazz, tap, ballet, modern and interpretive-so it's essential that hip hop dancers become well-versed in all genres.

2. Choreograph dance routines for yourself and others. Teaching is one of the best ways to learn and choreographing routines helps you stay creative and fresh. Dance schools and dance teams always need talented choreographers.

3. Join a hip hop dance crew. You'll learn new and challenging choreography, train with fellow dancers and sharpen your skills in competition. Talent scouts often watch street dance crews for up-and-coming dancers.

4. Work out to build strength, stamina, flexibility and a long, lean physique. Hip hop dance requires difficult "isolations"--holding contorted poses in midair for several seconds at a time. You also need strength and flexibility to perform the complicated stunts and acrobatics that are a hallmark of hip hop dance. Remember that a hip hop dance routine is comparable to running at top speed for four minutes or longer.

5. Be persistent. Professional dancers have a difficult life, with constant rehearsals, auditions, rejections, workouts and diets. Hip Hop Dancer