| Hip hop dances comprise numerous styles, moves | | | | the dance move, only to perform a new lock shortly |
| and methods. It remains a fundamental aspect of | | | | after. Robot dancing is closely related to locking. |
| urban culture, moving its way out from the street to | | | | The third style is Popping, which began in Fresno, CA. |
| the clubs to the mainstream. Let's look at the most | | | | To Pop means to create a jerk in the body that |
| popular hip hop dances and their history (as well as | | | | corresponds to the beat. Like breaking, there are |
| where to find dance lessons and videos). | | | | two hip hop dances that fit into this dance style; |
| The three most popular hip hop dances are breaking, | | | | gliding, which focuses on smooth footwork to appear |
| locking and popping. Breaking originated in the Bronx, | | | | like the dancer is gliding; and tutting, which involves |
| New York in the early 1970's and is based upon four | | | | upper body dance moves that incorporate shapes |
| signature dance moves: the toprock, which are | | | | with the arms, shoulders and head. |
| footwork moves executed standing up; downrock, | | | | For anyone interested in hip hop dances, there are |
| dance moves performed on the ground; freezes, | | | | several online tutorials and videos that can help, |
| where the dancer pauses while performing a | | | | regardless of your current ability. MikesMoves is a |
| handstand or during a downrock; and power moves, | | | | website that offers dance videos on a number of |
| which are acrobatic feats performed at any time of | | | | styles, including the Moonwalk, Popping, Crip Walk and |
| a dance. When breaking in a battle two opposing | | | | the Glide. Their beginner videos are free, while the |
| teams face off against each other in what is known | | | | more advanced tutorials are a few dollars each. They |
| as an Apache Line. | | | | provide both text and video dance lessons. |
| Locking was developed on the west coast by a Los | | | | Another online dance school is the Hip Hop Dance |
| Angeles crew named The Lockers. Unlike Popping- | | | | Spot, which also includes a variety of dance moves |
| which focuses on fluid dance steps and ground work- | | | | you can bust out the next time you're in the club. |
| Locking is based upon a series of pauses known as | | | | Check out these two sites and start stepping up |
| locks (a longer held version of the freeze), where | | | | your dance moves! |
| the dancer holds his lock before erupting back into | | | | |