How to Dance Hip Hop

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Get and down and loose with these classic hip hop dances

Co-authored by Yolanda Thomas

Last Updated: August 27, 2024 Approved

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Getting the Basics Down

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Mastering the Moves

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Perfecting Your Moves

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"Hip hop" refers to a variety of forms of music that began with African-American and Latino youth in the South Bronx and Harlem in the 1970s. You can come across this form of music at the club, at a school dance, or pretty much anywhere. We'll show you how to loosen up, master 10 iconic moves, and perfect your groove so you can get on the dance floor.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Getting the Basics Down

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This is a safe bet for when you're starting to dance to hip hop music. This neutral position will make it easy for you to try any dance move you want to try. Your knees should be slightly bent, which will make it easier for you to dance and will keep you from looking too stiff or formal.^{[1]
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Wear comfortable clothes and relax. You want your clothes to be loose and comfortable when you're practicing.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor

Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.} Just relax and put on some good hip hop music, like OutKast, Lil John, Kanye West, or anybody else who makes your feet want to move on their own.
- Wear shoes that do not grip the floor too hard. You want to be able to slip and spin easily. If your soles catch on the ground during a fast move, you could fall down, or even twist an ankle.
- You don't want to look stiff when you're dancing hip hop. Look relaxed, with your body comfortable instead of standing up too tall or looking like your head and neck are too stiff.
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Don't cross your arms over your chest or fidget with your hands. Just keep your arms and hands nice and loose at your sides, staying relaxed as you start to move to the music.
When you're dancing hip hop, it's important to get your hips into it. You'll need to move those hips to the right, to the left, to the front, or to the back along with the flow of the music. This can be one of the first things you do as you're getting ready to bust out some killer moves.
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Start moving. You don't have to follow how other people dance, but know the moves. There's no set way to dance to hip hop music. Your best bet is to relax, move your hips, and to find whatever dance moves feel right to you. You can steal elements of popular dances or make up your own, and mix and match between different moves as much as you like. See the next section to get inspired to do a variety of dance moves.
- Remember, it doesn't matter if you look like you know what you're doing. If you act confident and like you do know what's what, then people will have faith in your hip hop dancing skills.

Part 2

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Mastering the Moves

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Do the Dougie. Learning the whole "My Dougie" dance can be helpful in a pinch if the song comes on. Knowing the main moves in the dance, which require you to move your arms and shoulders from left to right, can also add a nice touch to your dance moves. You can incorporate a move from this dance into your hip hop moves at any time. You do not have to do the whole dance; you can just do it for a few seconds before you transition into another move.^{[3]
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Do the Stanky Leg. This is another fun dance move that makes it look as if one of your legs doesn't work properly, hence, the term "stanky." Though these moves are part of a dance, you can just do the stanky leg any time. All you've got to do is stick one foot out and lean in the opposite direction, moving the foot that's out in a way that makes it look "stuck" or stanky. After a few seconds, you can move to the other side and repeat the move with the other leg.^{[4]
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Body popping is another classic hip-hop move where you isolate one part of your body at a time, making it "pop". You can pop your arms, your shoulders, your chest, or any other part of your body while you're on the dance floor. This is a great move that you can use from time to time, without putting too much emphasis on it.^{[5]
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Do the Helicopter. The Helicopter is a classic break dance move where you squat down on the ground, with your hands on the floor, and move one leg all the way around your body. To pull this off, you'll have to lift your hands and jump just at the right time, so your feet don't run in to your hands and other leg. This is a great move to do on the dance floor, especially if you're dancing in a circle.^{[6]
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This dance move looks just like it sounds. First, you pop one part of your body, then you lock it all into place. After that, you get low and drop it, with your feet wide. You can do this any time in the middle of any dance move.
Shuffle your feet. You can learn to do the basic T-step, master the Running Man, or even bring these moves together. The shuffle is a classic move that requires you to have good coordination and nimble feet. If you know how to do it, you'll look like a pro on the dance floor in no time.
This dance move requires you to bend your knees, move your arms up and down, and cross them behind you. Elements of this dance can be perfect for any hip hop beat.^{[7]
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Do the Moonwalk. Michael Jackson would be proud if he saw you out on the dance floor, busting out his classic move in the middle of a song. All you have to do is master the footwork, making it look like you're moving forward when you're really moving backward. This classic dance move can be done in the middle of any song, even if you only do it for a few seconds.
Twerk. Don't be afraid to do this. Although many people are nervous to pull it off, through the years it has become a very universally used hip hop move. If Big Freedia can do it, so can you. All you've got to do is get comfortable, lean forward, and shake what you've got up and down. Shake from the hips, not the legs. If you really aren't comfortable, it's alright. Hip hop isn't just about twerking.^{[8]
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Grind with a partner. Hip hop music is made for grinding. Don't be afraid to grab a partner, sync hips, and grind facing each other and away from each other. If you're not comfortable getting so cozy, you can still keep your distance and have a great time dancing to the music.

Part 3

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Perfecting Your Moves

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Watch and learn. MTV, YouTube, and the internet are all loaded with great music and videos from people of all skill levels. Whether the talent on those videos are world-class poppers or suburban housewives doesn’t matter! What matters is that you watch their moves. Copy what you can, be inspired by what you can’t.
- Watch a friend rehearse his or her routine, then practice his or her basic routine. Learn the same stunts and practice the whole routine over again adding the stunts. Then add your own style.
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Take some lessons. If you’ve gone far enough on your own, and think you have it, get some lessons. Many dance or even yoga studios offer hip hop dance classes.
- Find an inspirational dancer in your neighborhood and ask if he or she gives lessons.
- Hip hop lessons are a great way to quickly improve as a dancer. Having someone give you personalized feedback on how you can improve is super valuable.^{[9]
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  Yolanda Thomas
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  Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.}
- If you don't have the money to take hip hop classes, you can learn how to do hip hop through YouTube. This is a cheap way to take hip hop dance without paying for classes.
- Check at your local gym. Hip hop dancing is a great way to stay in shape, and it’s fun, too.
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Keep at it. Some people are born to dance. Some have to work at it. It doesn’t matter what group you’re in, what matters is that you work it, and you put yourself into it all the way.
- Practice on your own. Dance alone in a room where nobody one can see you, and where you won’t worry about what others are thinking. Get your body comfortable with the beat. Just let your body flow to your own rhythm!

Expert Q&A

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Question

How can I be more confident when I dance?

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.

Yolanda Thomas

Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

Getting feedback from other people will really help build up your confidence. You can also record yourself dancing and watch it back so you can see what you're doing well and what could use some improvement. Also, try to keep the dialogue in your head positive and confident. If you catch yourself thinking negatively about your dancing, pause and reframe that thought as something positive.

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How can I learn to dance hip hop at home?

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.

Yolanda Thomas

Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

Learning at home can be done with the help of YouTube tutorials. However, you'll definitely learn faster with some in-person coaching. A teacher can give you immediate feedback on your dancing.

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How can I learn to dance hip hop fast?

Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.

Yolanda Thomas

Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

Take hip hop dance classes. You'll start to see a difference in your abilities in as few as three classes. You won't be able to learn everything quickly, but you can build a good foundation in just a few sessions.

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Tips

Don't beat yourself up if you mess up while you're dancing. Other people probably won't notice—just keep moving!^{[10]
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Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.}

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Remember, this is a workout. Stretch before you dance to warm up, focusing on your quads and calves.^{[11]
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Practice the basics first and then move on to the complicated moves.

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Warnings

Once you feel comfortable dancing, find a dance partner. You can support each other, and hold one another for balance when learning awkward moves.

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Start with easier moves to warm up, then follow with moves that are just outside your skill zone.

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If you don't have a great sense of rhythm, or are body shy, have patience, practice. Keep a good attitude. You can become a great hip hop dancer with a combination of heart and hard work.

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Be careful. Like any vigorous athletic activity, there’s always a chance for injury. Warm up and stretch first to prepare yourself, don’t practice when you’re intoxicated, tired, or in dangerous places, and save the hard stuff for when you’re ready.^{[12]
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