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NAME: _________________________________________________________

COURSE AND SECTION: _____________________________________

INSTRUCTOR: ________________________________________________

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PATH-FIT 3 Leslie Marie P. Sanchez, MAEd-PE

PREFINAL COVERAGE Ivy M. Orcullo, PhD
Annie Liza D. Encenzo, Lpt
Rhence A. Tejero, LPT
Johanna Pauline O. Rivas, LPT
Zyrill Almano, LPT

INTRODUCTION
Learning ballroom dance is one of the most exciting and fulfilling
activities that you can get into. Aside from learning a new skill
and dance, it actually benefits your physical and emotional aspects well. You
are able to execute refined moves that you previously were not too keen on
and, in the process, communicate, associate and forge friendships.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:

1. Define and discuss the meaning of ballroom dance.
2. Differentiate and classify the characteristics of different styles of
ballroom dance.
3. Interpret and demonstrate different dance holds/positions in ballroom
dancing.
4. Differentiate and classify the characteristics of different styles of
ballroom dance.
5. Develop good rapport, trust and self-confidence in demonstrating swing
dance.

DISCUSSION

Ballroom Dance defines......

 as a variety of social dances performed by couples in
which there is a conventional pattern of steps.
 also known as social dance because it encourages social
interaction between dance partners.
 the term 'ballroom dancing' is derived from the word
ball, which in turn originates from the Latin word ballare
which means 'to dance' (a ballroom being a large room
specially designed for such dances). In times past,
ballroom dancing was social dancing for the privileged,
leaving folk dancing for the lower classes.
Website:
[Link]

HISTORY OF BALLROOM DANCE

“Ballroom dancing” as a term hails from the Latin word “ballare” which,
coincidentally, means “to dance.” Thus, a ballroom is a room in which to
dance. Makes sense, right?

Centuries ago, ballroom dancing was primarily for the privileged and well-to-
do, while the commoners had to make do with folk dancing; however, these
boundaries have since disappeared, leaving ballroom dancing a fun hobby for
everyone.

Ballroom dancing originated in England in the late 18th and early 19th
centuries in which these dances, such as the waltz, were performed by the
upper and elite classes of society in balls and parties. During the late 19th
to the early 20th centuries, it became a trend among the working and middle
class where they would go to gatherings and events in public dance halls. In

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the early 1920s, ballroom dancing competitions started to boom that in 1924,
an organization was formed called the Ballroom Branch of the Imperial Society
of Teachers of Dancing. The objective of this organization was to standardize
and formalize ballroom dancing techniques, sets of steps and music to which it
was danced to.
In legitimate Dance Sport competitions and in social events, there are five
standard dances. These are the Modern and the Viennese Waltz, the Tango, the
Slow Foxtrot and the Quickstep. These dances are standardized and categorized
into segregated teaching levels and utilize vocabulary, rhythm and tempo and
techniques which are accepted internationally.

Today, ballroom dancing applies to numerous dances in which a “leader” and a

“follower” dance together in close proximity, usually with some degree of
physical contact. This closeness is to permit the leader to get the follower
to, well, follow along.

Early Ballroom Dancing

The first documented authority of early ballroom dancing is Jehan

Thoinot’Arbeau’s Orchesographie (1588) that discussed 16th-century French
social dance. In 1650, Jean-Baptiste Lully introduced the Minuet to Paris—a
dance that would dominate ballroom until the end of the 18th century.

The Waltz came about in England in the early 1800s despite initial opposition
to the closed dance hold. By 1840, the Polka, Mazurka, and Schottische
emerged.

Ballroom Dancing Emerges in the US

In the early 20th century, ballroom dancing experienced massive popularity in

the US with the extremely successful dancing of Fred Astaire and Ginger
Rogers. Even though most of their numbers were meticulously choreographed,
staged, and oft-rehearsed, they influenced greatly ballroom dancing’s acclaim
and acceptance.

Ballroom versus Latin Dances

Although commonly classified together as “ballroom” dancing, there are notable

differences between ballroom and Latin dance. The “ballroom” dances are
generally “smooth” dances like:

 Waltz
 Foxtrot
 Tango
 Quickstep
 Viennese Waltz

“Latin” dances are more rhythmic and include:

 Rumba
 Swing/Jive
 Samba
 Cha Cha
 Mambo
 Merengue
 Bolero
 Salsa

Regardless of their "proper" classification, they are all extremely fun and
fairly easy to learn.

Competitive Ballroom Dancing

In addition to its wide appeal as a hobby, competitive ballroom dancing has

also emerged. Competition enables less advanced dancers of different levels to
compete against their peers with a professional partner/instructor. The fame

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of television shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can
Dance highlights the growing trend of competitive ballroom dancing.

Fundamental Movement Skills in Ballroom Dancing

Social ballroom dance involves a range of fundamental movement skills that are
essential to performing the various dance styles. Some of the key fundamental
movement skills in social ballroom dance include:

1. Walking - In social ballroom dance, walking is an essential

fundamental movement skill that is used to move around the dance
floor. This involves the basic step pattern, which involves stepping
forward with one foot, bringing the other foot to meet it, and then
stepping forward with the first foot again.
2. Turning - Turning is another fundamental movement skill in social
ballroom dance, which involves pivoting on one foot to change
direction. This can be used to execute a range of turns and spins in
various dance styles, such as the waltz, foxtrot, and salsa.
3. Swiveling - Swiveling is a movement skill that involves rotating the
hips while keeping the feet in the same position. This is commonly
used in dances such as the cha-cha and the rumba.
4. Rocking - Rocking is a movement skill that involves shifting the
weight from one foot to the other while staying in place. This is used
in dances such as the swing and the mambo.
5. Dipping and Rising - Dipping and rising are movement skills that
involve lowering and raising the body, respectively. These movements
are often used to create dramatic moments in dances such as the tango
and the waltz.
6. Partnering - Partnering is a fundamental movement skill that involves
dancing in tandem with a partner. This requires the ability to
maintain a connection with the partner, anticipate their movements,
and respond accordingly.
7.
Overall, mastering these fundamental movement skills is crucial to becoming a
proficient social ballroom dancer, and they form the foundation for more
advanced dance techniques and styles.

MOVEMENT CONCEPT

Body Awareness

What body parts move and in what way do they move.

When you practice a skill for a sport or an activity, one of the things you
are doing is helping your body be aware of how to move to achieve your desired
outcome.

• Deals with the relationship created between the mover and other movers, and
between the mover and objects.
•With Myself - Body-part identification - Body shapes
•With Other Movers and Objects - Roles - refers to relational concepts -
Locations - refers to objects or mover relationships based on positions

Learning to catch a ball is a good example. As a child when you first learned
to catch you were probably unsuccessful. You had to train yourself to move
your arms and body to get yourself into a position to be able to catch the
ball.

Space Awareness

I am learning where my body can move.

• Divisions
Self-space - the space immediately surrounding an individual as if encased
inside a bubble.

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Shared space - all of the designated play space that can be used by everyone

• Dimensions
Direction - the path of a movement
Levels - the height in relation to the floor of movements, body segments, and
equipment.
Pathways - the floor pattern or path that the movement requires.

Spatial Awareness

Where does the body move?

Given the environment you are in (a gym, a backyard, a field, a pool)

where can you move to achieve your goal?

Effort Awareness

How does the body move? How fast do you need to go, how slow?

Relationship

How do you move in relation to the environment, other people, the equipment?

Think of a soccer game. You not only need to think about your contact
with the ball, but also other people on your team, on the other team. You
need to understand where your goal is, where the opposing goal is. These
are all relationships.

When you put all these concepts together (body awareness, spatial awareness,
effort awareness, and relationship) together you can then evolve into creating
movement strategies.

TYPES OF DANCES

STANDARD DANCES

Waltz is one of the smoothest ballroom dance. It is a

progressive dance marked by long, flowing movements,
continuous turns, and "rise and fall." The dance is
so graceful and elegant; Waltz dancers appear to
glide around the floor with almost no effort.
Waltz - the Romantic "Pink Cloud" Dance

The real origin of the Waltz is rather obscure, but

a dance of turns and glides, leaping and stamping
appeared in various parts of Europe at the end of
the 17th and beginning of the 18th century. In Italy
it was the Volta, France had its Volte, Germany the
Weller, and Austria had its Landler. These were round dances but at the end of
the dance itself there was a short period in which the circle would break up
into couples who would whirl madly round and round and finish with a jump in
the air. In the Landler the hopping gave way more to a gliding motion and that
is why it is considered the forerunner of the Waltz. The Waltz can be traced
back as far as 400 years. The Waltz regained its real popularity in the 20th
century. Waltz develops balance and control. The basic Waltz steps are the
foundation patterns used in most ballroom dances. Correct posture, rise and
fall, and flowing movements should be stressed to achieve good styling. The
elegant sweeping movement of the Waltz gives dancers a chance to practice
balance and to move lightly with ease.

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Tango is one of the most fascinating of

all ballroom dance. This sensual
ballroom dance originated in South
America in the early twentieth century.

Tango - the Dancer's Dance

The Tango is one of the most beautiful

of all the dances. It is characterized
by earthy and dramatic movements. In
order to achieve the distinctive style
of Tango, it is important to develop
controlled staccato footwork along with
fluid graceful movements. The unique
rhythm of the music is great training for timing and phrasing which develops
as the dancer becomes more proficient. Tango practice is essential towards
becoming a good dancer. Tango music originated from Argentine, Brazilian and
Spanish influences. The earliest traces of the Tango date back to the latter
half of the 19th century-to the Milonga, an Argentine folk dance with Moorish,
Arabic and Spanish ancestry. Years later, the Argentine Gauchos (streetwise
single men) danced a modified version of the Milonga, in the seedy bars and
bordellos of Buenos Aires. The Milonguero dance hold in Argentine Tango is
called "close embrace", where the couple are literally dancing chest to chest.
It gives Tango an immediate intimacy that the other dances not have. This was
considered far too risky for polite society.

Quickstep is a quick version of the Foxtrot. It is a ballroom dance comprised

of extremely quick stepping,
syncopated feet rhythms, and runs
of quick steps. The Quickstep is
exciting to watch, but among the
most difficult of all the ballroom
dance.

Has quick hopping steps set in with

the smoother gliding figures. It is
very popular in Europe as a
competition dance. It ranks among
the "Big Five."Just as American
Swing has spread throughout the
world because of it's gay, stimulating rhythm, the lively English Quickstep is
popular with good dancers everywhere. The patterns are such fun to dance!

Foxtrot is a smooth dance in which

dancers make long, flowing movements
across the floor. Foxtrot has lots of
fun and simple to learn an excellent
dance for beginners.

Foxtrot - the International Must

Fox Trot is a basic dance from which

you can acquire a foundation. Learning
to combine dance steps easily and
smoothly teaches variety and
maneuverability. The Fox Trot posture
is attractive in appearance and helpful
to all other dances. Being able to dance to slow, medium, and fast tempos will
add confidence to your dancing and will assure fun and relaxation for your
partner. The Fox Trot provides a good foundation for all dances and is often
called the "get-acquainted" or "first impression". The Foxtrot originated in
the summer of 1914 by Vaudeville actor Harry Fox.

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LATIN DANCES

Cha cha cha is a lively, flirtatious

ballroom dance full of passion and
energy. The classic "Cuban motion"
gives the Cha cha cha its unique
style. Partners work together to
synchronize each movement in perfect
alignment.

Cha-Cha-cha - the key to self-

expression

From the less inhibited night clubs

and dance halls the mambo underwent
subtle changes. It was triple Mambo, and then peculiar scraping and shuffling
sounds during the “tripling” produced the imitative sound of Cha Cha Cha. This
then became a dance in itself. Mambo or triple Mambo or Cha-Cha as it is now
called, is but an advanced stage in interpretive social dancing born of the
fusion of progressive American and Latin music. The Cha-Cha adds fun to your
dancing through its syncopated steps and many open movements. When you can
dance many interesting combinations with ease, you and your partner will be
able to feel the pulsating Latin rhythms which make this dance so fascinating.
The energetic rhythm of the Cha-Cha encourages you to cut loose and let your
personality show.

Mambo is one of the most sensual and

emotional Latin American ballroom dances.
Swaying hip movements, facial expressions,
arm movements and holds add to the
sensuality of the dance.

Mambo - the Latin Sophisticate

Mambo is a fusion of Cuban and American

dancing. The music is characterized by a
stirring Afro-Cuban beat. Mambo is an
exciting dance which allows you to develop
your own feeling and expression. Because Mambo is such a fun dance, good Mambo
dancers are always popular and in demand as partners. The wild exciting music
and rhythmical body movements make the earthy Mambo irresistible.

Jive is an American dance that evolved from a dance

called the Jitterbug by removing the lifts and
acrobatic elements. Dancers use a more bouncy type
movement using the balls of the feet. A lot of
kicks are used in jive. Jive is a very fast,
energy-consuming dance.

Rumba is considered by many to be the most

romantic and sensual of all Latin ballroom
dance. It is often referred to as the
"Grandfather of the Latin dances." A
moderately slow Latin dance with plenty of
wraps, under arm turns and a truck load of
flirtation. It is often called as the “Dance
of Love”.

The "rumba influence" came in the 16th century with the black slaves imported
from Africa. The native Rumba folk dance is essentially a sex pantomime danced
extremely fast with exaggerated hip movements and with a sensually aggressive

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attitude on the part of the man and a defensive attitude on the part of the
woman. The music is played with a staccato beat in keeping with the vigorous
expressive movements of the dancers. Accompanying instruments include the
maracas, the claves, the marimbola, and the drums. As recently as the second
world war, the "Son" was the popular dance of middle class Cuba. It is a
modified slower and more refined version of the native Rumba. Still slower is
the "Danzon", the dance of wealthy Cuban society. Very small steps are taken,
with the women producing a very subtle tilting of the hips by alternately
bending and straightening the knees.

The American Rumba is a modified version of the "Son". The first serious
attempt to introduce the rumba to the United States was by Lew Quinn and Joan
Sawyer in 1913. Ten years later band leader Emil Coleman imported some rumba
musicians and a pair of rumba dancers to New York. In 1925 Benito Collada
opened the Club El Chico in Greenwich Village and found that New Yorkers did
not know what Rumba was all about. Real interest in Latin music began about
1929. In the late 1920's, Xavier Cugat formed an orchestra that specialized in
Latin American music. He opened at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and
appeared in early sound movies such as "In Gay Madrid". Later in the 1930's,
Cugat played at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. By the end of the
decade he was recognized as having the outstanding Latin orchestra of the day.

Samba is popular with young people as well as

older generations. Samba can be performed solo or
with a partner. Possibly the most popular of all
Brazilian ballroom dance.

Samba - the Champagne Sparkle

This Brazilian dance was first introduced in 1917 but was finally adopted by
Brazilian society in 1930 as a ballroom dance. It is sometimes referred to as
a Samba, Carioca a Baion or a Batucado. The difference is mostly in the tempo
played since the steps in all three dances are very similar. The style is to
bounce steadily and smoothly in 2/4 meter. They say that the Samba was
introduced in the United States in 1939 by the late Carmen Miranda. Samba
improves the flexibility of the body and helps achieve easy movement and
lightness. The Samba rolling action teaches the body to be supple. To move
lightly, quickly, and smoothly without effort takes study but only at the
start. Although considered a good exercise, Samba should be danced smoothly
and in a relaxed manner giving the appearance of effortless movement.
Sometimes called the South American Waltz, the Samba pulsates to a unique
Latin rhythm.

Paso Doble is one of the liveliest ballroom

dance, originating in southern France. It
is modeled after the sound, drama, and
movement of the Spanish bullfight.

The Spanish March or One Step. It makes an

especially good exhibition routine when the
man styles his body movements to look like
a bullfighter's and leads his partner in
and out of the patterns as if she were a
cape. It is in 2/4 time.

CLUB DANCES

Swing dance is a lively style of social

dancing in which a dancer often lifts, spins
and flips his or her partner. Considered
both hip and cool, swing dancing is a
favorite among social dancers of all ages.

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The beauty in the simplicity of line dancing steps is that they are so
adaptable that they can be reworked and reused in a variety of different
dances and dance styles. The steps are very basic and are often repeated
numerous times in the line dance. Adding small twists or variations on the
core steps or utilizing them as transitions in other dances will be an ideal
use of the steps.

Salsa is a very energetic Latin dance,

with spins, sharp movement, and crisp
turns, very popular in Latin clubs along
with merengue. A style varies depending
on where you are from. This dance is
also similar to Mambo.

Merengue is a fast Latin dance that never

slows down. It’s very easy to learn and
often refer to this dance as the
“marching with style”.

BALLROOM DANCE HOLDS/POSITIONS

References

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Andin, C. and Minas, P. (2004). Dance Education in the School Curriculum. Rex Bookstore.

[Link]

[Link]

NAME:
COURSE & SECTION:
INSTRUCTOR: ____________________________________________________

ASSESSMENT

NOTE: kindly return this answer sheet or write your answers in a long bond paper.
For online students: kindly click TURN IN upon submitting your file.
ACTIVITY 1

Direction: Explain your understanding on how SOCIAL BALLROOM

DANCE has been classified in its uniqueness and its importance
(20 points)

ACTIVITY 2

Direction: Using the Venn Diagram compare the similarities

and differences of the different ballroom dance styles.

- -
-
PERFORMANCE 1

Execute properly at least 10 the basic dance holds and position in

ballroom dance and name it accordingly. Output will be in a form of
video to be posted in your facebook group/google
classroom/groupchats.
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PERFORMANCE 2

ANNOUNCEMENT !!!!!!!
Practice and execute properly the figures in SWING DANCE.
Output will be in a form of video to be posted in your facebook
group/google classroom/groupchats.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE

What is contemporary dance?

Contemporary is an important genre of dance performed in societies around the

world, celebrated by people both young and old. Developed during the 20th
century, contemporary dance involves incorporating aspects of movement from
several other genres such as jazz, modern and ballet. While contemporary is a
popular type of dance worldwide, it is most common amongst the U.S and
European countries.

Key features of contemporary dance

Unlike traditional forms of dance, contemporary is considered to be somewhat

unbound by much rigidity and rules. The dancers of this genre have the ability
to transform a performance based on their own interpretations. This is
achieved through honing in on certain techniques, such as focusing on strong
ballet-influenced leg movements, fall and recovery, floor work and further
improvisational elements. More frequently than not, contemporary dance is
performed barefoot to allow for more fluidity in movement and connection to
the dance surface.

One of the most important aspects of contemporary dance is the element of

improvisation. While some forms of dance such as ballet can be quite rigid and
structured, contemporary dance relies on fluidity and improvisational movement
to evoke a range of feelings in the viewer. It also offers the dancer ultimate
creative freedom to perform an emotive piece that identifies with them.

Modern-day contemporary dance is incredibly interpretive and has many

applications. While traditional dance performances are still popular,
contemporary dance has often been used in art, theatre, music videos, movies
and more. The versatility of the genre allows the dancer to use the influence
of a storyline and music to form characters and entire theatrical performances
that stray away from the more traditional methods of storytelling.

When did contemporary dance start and who created it?

While we can’t say that contemporary dance was started by any particular
individual, there were several key pioneers to this movement. As previously
mentioned, modern dance truly took off during the 20th century. Previously,
theatrical dance performances were mostly limited to ballet, which was popular
throughout Europe and the US at the time. This slowly began to change, with
renowned dancers of the time beginning to move away from the methods of
traditional ballet.

Undoubtedly the most prolific contributor, Merce Cunningham is an American

choreographer and dancer who was at the very forefront of American modern
dance for over half a century during the 1900s.

His early choreography pushed the boundaries of modern dance and attempted to
bridge the gap between music and dance. Over the years, his technique
developed to be referred to as the Cunningham Technique, which was
specifically used to train dancers for his company. This refined technique
brought together several key elements of contemporary dance, such as torso and
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legwork coordination, spatial awareness, rhythmic accuracy and erratic changes

in speed and direction.

Other well-known names in contemporary dance include Isadora Duncan, Jose

Limon, Ruth St. Denis and Alvin Ailey.

Today's Contemporary Dance

Today's contemporary dance is an eclectic mix of styles, with choreographers

drawing from ballet, modern, and "post-modern" (structureless) forms of dance.
While some contemporary dancers create characters, theatrical events, or
stories, others perform entirely new creations as they improvise in their own
unique style.

8 ELEMENTS

THEME – most basic element of a dance.

DESIGN – pattern of movement in time and space
MOVEMENT – the bodily actions of the dancer that incudes his steps
TECHNIQUE- the skill of movement executed by the dancer
MUSIC – the auditory background to which a dancer moves
COSTUME and BODY PARAPHERLANIA- properties worn by the dancer that help
reflect the message, customs and beliefs.
CHOREOGRAPHY – the figures and steps in dancing that enable the dancers to
perform in an organized manner
SCENERY – the background or setting where the dance is performed to make it
more realistic and enriching.

Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham are the pioneers of
contemporary dance. They believe that “dancers should have freedom of
movement, allowing their bodies to freely express their innermost feelings and
thoughts”

BASIC STEPS AND PROPER TECHNIQUES

1. Lateral
2. Stag Leap
3. Stag Turn

OTHER BASIC STEPS AND PROPER TECHNIQUES

1. Primitive Squat
2. Hinge
3. Contraction
4. The release

MODERN DANCE
Modern dance may have started as a rejection of classical ballet techniques,
but it is now a recognizable art form that stands on its own.

What Is Modern Dance?

Modern dance is a highly expressive style of dance that challenges the
structured dance technique of classical ballet. The focus of modern dance is
expression, rather than following a rigid set of postures or technical
positions that ballet dancers are trained in. Modern dance movements are
considered freeform and fluid, and are often inspired by other dance styles—
like African dance, ballet, and folk dance. Though modern dance technique is
considered more relaxed and natural than ballet, it can require considerable
core work and strength. Modern dancers often perform barefoot, in tight
costumes that showcase the shapes of their bodies.

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A Brief History of Modern Dance

By the end of the nineteenth century, modern dance emerged as a new performing
art that rebelled against the tight structure of traditional ballet. In the
late 1800s and early 1900s, dancers Isadora Duncan and Loie Fuller popularized
the dance form as a new style of artistry and entertainment with their
lyrical, emotional performances.

Other modern dance pioneers include Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, who founded
the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts in 1915 in Los Angeles. The
Denishawn School trained the next generation of modern dancers such as Martha
Graham, Charles Weidman, and Doris Humphrey, who took the Denishawn techniques
and turned them into today’s American modern dance.

By the mid-twentieth century, modern dance became a popular form of dance that
would spawn other styles of modern movement such as lyrical dance and
contemporary dance, as well as birth a legacy of legendary performers—like
Alvin Ailey, Katherine Dunham, and Twyla Tharp. Today, dance schools around
the world offer modern dance classes to people of all ages.

What Classifies a Routine as Modern Dance?

Some recognizable traits of modern dance include:

1. 1. Freeform and improvisational. Modern dance is often described as

fluid and freeform, alternating between long, languid movements, and
jerky ones that show the contraction and expansion of the body. Some
dancers create their own unique moves for routines or even use
improvisation during their performances.
2. 2. It’s emotional. Modern dance expresses the emotion that the music
evokes in the dances. Dancers essentially perform their feelings to
music, conveying a raw or impassioned display.
3. 3. It rejects convention. Rather than striving for the weightlessness
and grace of ballet, modern dancers use their body weight to propel
themselves across the floor, often falling, tumbling, or rolling to
express rhythm.

HIP HOP AND FUNK DANCE

What Is Hip Hop Dance?

Hip Hop Dance is a style of movement characterized by bounces and rocks,
executed to Hip Hop music. It has deep historical and social roots in African
American culture, having emerged in Black communities living in 1970s New
York. While frequently referred to as a singular dance style, Hip Hop dance is
part of a whole culture of Hip Hop, that includes Deejaying, Graffiti,
Emceeing, and Breaking.

The 5 Elements of Hip Hop

Deejaying

Also known as turntabling, this is an art form in which music is made in real
time using record players and DJ mixers. DJs in the Hip Hop community are
responsible for creating/curating the music that gets people on the dance
floor at parties.

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Emceeing

MC stands for “Master of Ceremonies” and they’re basically the hype-man of the
DJ! The MC gets the crowd going and will sometimes freestyle rap over the
music.

Graffiti

This is the art of expressing oneself about everyday life using spray paint on
walls/outdoor spaces.

Breaking

Breaking (often called breakdancing by popular media) is the original dance

style that came out of the Hip Hop community. It started out with these 5 core
movements: Top Rocks, Fast Footwork, Back Rocks, Freezes, and Power Moves.

Knowledge

This element is the thread that weaves all the other elements together.
“Knowledge of self” refers to the Afro-diasporic mix of spiritual and
political consciousness designed to empower members of oppressed groups by
portraying social change and giving back to the minority communities.

While some OG members of the Hip Hop community consider other elements to be
part of Hip Hop’s core (such as Beatboxing) all agree – you must participate
in the 5 elements above to be considered a member of authentic Hip
Hop culture.

The History of Hip Hop Culture

The Bronx in the 70's was a rough, dangerous place to grow up. The youth were
surrounded by drugs, crime, poverty, gang violence, and overall struggle.

Yet they, particularly the African American and Latino youth (minority
groups), were neglected by mainstream institutions.

Desperate for a way to escape their everyday struggles, they invented their
own art forms.

These art forms, which the youth embodied in the way they dressed, talked,
moved, and expressed themselves, soon became a lifestyle. A way to live.

This lifestyle and culture became known as Hip Hop.

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"Hip" = present, "Hop"= action.

So, Hip Hop is a movement that represents the freedom to learn, grow, and
evolve.

Despite the negativity and tumult in the South Bronx, Hip Hop heads were able
to rise above their environment and create a positive form of release.

Instead of substances and violence, their energy was redirected to values like
originality, creativity, identity, respect, and community.

The same way that our religious, ethnic, and familial backgrounds inform our
way of being in the world, Hip Hop was the way that people could be in a way
that felt right to them.

Deejaying, Emceeing, Breaking and Dancing, and Graffiti weren't just hobbies –
they were sanctuaries.

Types of Hip Hop dances

1) B-boying (Breakdancing)

Thought to be one of the very original styles of Hip Hop, B-boying is

characterized by acrobatic Vigour Movements, upright movements, and footwork.
Dancers also punctuate their routines with a movement known as the
Freeze. Break dancing is mostly improvised, with no “standard” routines or
movements. The emphasis is on movement, energy, innovation, comedy, and a hint
of danger. It is intended to represent the harsh world of the streets from
which it is claimed to have emerged. It is also connected with a certain type
of clothing, such as baggy pants or sweatsuits, baseball caps are worn
sideways or backwards, and sneakers.

2) Locking and Popping

While technically two styles, Locking and Popping usually go hand in hand.
Locking requires fast actions, sharp pauses, and extravagant gestures.
Popping, on the other hand, is a bouncy style that demands extreme use of
counter-tempo. For a long time, popping and locking have inspired hip hop,
dubstep, and other modern dance techniques. However, the moves of these two
dancing styles differ. While both dance genres tend to overlap, popping and
locking is a blended style with a separate beat. This one-of-a-kind manoeuvre
combines two movements: the pop and the lock.

3) Funk

Funk, which is a coalition of Disco and Soul, uses a blend of fluid and sharp
moves and is usually extremely choreographed. Locking and Popping are also
frequently combined into this dance style. This is a lively dance style that
is frequently seen in video clips and nightclubs. It’s a terrific place to
start for new dancers (especially if you’ve never attended a dance class
before) and it provides a wonderful exercise — you won’t even realise you’re
working out! Break it down to some of the most recent music trends and learn
how to rule the dance floor!

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4) Up rock

Up rock uses a blend of many dance moves to build soulful dances. Uprock is a
competitive, soulful street dance. It is performed to the beats of Soul, Rock,
and Funk music. The dance consists of foot shuffles, spins, turns, freestyle
motions, “jerks” (sudden body movements) and “burns” (hand gestures). Uprock
is believed to require discipline, patience, heart, soul, and knowledge to
master. Nobody used to teach Uprock back in the day. It was all about watching
and studying, then applying what you’d learned in a dancing competition. Every
two weeks, there were contests in Brooklyn, with crews competing. Typically,
this dance style includes:

 Shuffles
 Spins
 Freestyle Movements
 Jerks
 Hand Gestures

5) Liquid Dance

As its title implies, Liquid Dance is a fluid and delicate dance with a centre
on the arms and palms. It may include some forms of pantomime and exceptional
dancers will use a range of body moves. Liquid dancing is an illusion-based
kind of gestural, interpretive dance that is one of the most expressive and
flexible dance genres available today. In other words, it is a dance form that
uses smooth gestures and body motions to create the illusion that the dancer’s
body is as movable as liquid, hence the name of the dance. The arms and hands
are mostly in emphasis, though expert dancers move the entire body. Study the
liquid dance is not easy and takes a lot of practice and learning. It takes
practice to learn how to move your body in such a way that it creates the
illusion of a flowing or moving liquid.

6) Boogaloo

Another fluid-like style, Boogaloo as directed by Hip Hop dance studios near
me, uses the complete body sliding smoothly like butter, often with the
rolling of the hips, head, and knees. The Boogaloo is a lively dancing form
that originated in the 1970s. It is well-known for incorporating a variety of
various street dancing techniques. We’ll show you how to do the most
fundamental boogaloo dance moves in this article. From there, you can hone
your abilities and become a true pro!

7) Reggae

If we had to pick a Hip Hop style that invokes sensuality, it would be Reggae
for its Latin influences mixed with more modern Hip Hop moves set to the
modern evolution of Reggae music. The secret to reggae music is to relax and
do what seems natural, rather than following a tight set of rules. There is no
“correct” way to dance to reggae music; your movements should be a reflection
of how you feel. Approach the dance floor with an open mind, try to
concentrate on the music, and let your body do the rest.

8) Lyrical

Lyrical is a unique style of Hip Hop in that it tells a story and is danced to
the words of the music instead of the beat. It is usually fluid and more
interpretive than other styles of Hip Hop. Lyrical dance got its name from the
definition of the word lyrical, which means “having a poetic, expressive
nature; musical; characterised by or expressing spontaneous, direct feeling;
conveying profound personal emotions or observation; very rhapsodic or
impassioned.” Lyrical dance expresses emotions through movement and is
expressive, nuanced, and dynamic. It combines sophisticated, highly technical,
and pedestrian/naturalistic elements.

9) Stepping

Stepping is a group dance that includes using body actions to create

percussive beats. Synchronized motions and percussive beats are featured in

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the dances. Step dancing is a showcase for a team’s individual style as well
as its cohesiveness. Its origins may be traced back to competitive drill teams
and marching bands, and its movement patterns are inspired by African and
slave dances such as patting juba and ring screams. This is accomplished
through:

 Stomping or Steps
 Clapping or Slapping
 Spoken Word

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