Things You'll Need:
- Hip Hop videos, preferably with breaking incorporated in them
- Underground and mainstream hip hop music
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Step 1
JabbaWockeez, the winners of "America's Best Dance Crew"Bring something unique to the dance floor. Popping and two-stepping are okay at a club, but in a dance routine, those common moves get old quickly. The most powerful crews in dance shows like "America's Best Dance Crew" were the crews who brought something that viewers don't regularly see in mainstream rap videos. Status Quo used gymnastic stunts and funk to wow the crowd. The JabbaWockeez used humor, breaking, fluid movement, synchronized steps, and charisma to win the competition.
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Step 2
Doing the Cabbage PatchAvoid doing old dance moves unless they fit the music. Doing the Cabbage Patch, the Troop, or the Wop might get you a few chuckles, but if you're seriously competing in a dance competition, keep up with the latest moves. If you can break, that's always a good thing because, for a hardcore hip hop audience, they will appreciate you for honoring one of the four elements in hip hop culture.
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Step 3
University of Hip Hop (Chicago)If there is an African dance school or hip hop performance area in your neighborhood, visit and/or join it. Even superstar Michael Jackson learned and adopted the Moonwalk from hanging out with breakers who were doing the electric boogaloo, sliding, and locking. You will learn so much just from observation, specifically the gritty attitude, strength, and power in hip hop moves. If you're smiling while you're doing hip hop moves, chances are you're doing them wrong.
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Step 4
Popping, a common hip hop danceBecome fluid with your moves. It is more than obvious when someone can really dance and when they are dancing by counting steps. Technically, R&B dancers like Omarion, Marques Houston, and Justin Timberlake can do hip hop moves. However, their moves are mechanical, and if you look at their faces, it looks like they're counting steps. Then look at Usher, Chris Brown, Ciara, Sean Paul, Nelly, or Missy Elliot. Learning a move is the easy part. Making it look natural takes practice.
