Hip Hop Dance Fundamentals

Are you considering hip hop-style dance class in your local San Diego fitness center? You may be frightened by the intricacy of this dance type and believe that you are too old to start breakdancing. There’s no need to get discouraged! Hip hop is not as stringent as the majority of other dance types, and it may be your preferred fitness club class over spin class or something else.

Hip hop dance and its many variations have an entire background story. The dance is part of an abundant subculture and one doesn’t go without the other.

Have a look at how hip hop dance happened, how it was established, and how you can take up this exciting workout in your local San Diego gym.

How it all began

Hip hop originated in the late 60s and early 70s in New York, more particularly in the South Bronx amongst African American and Latino ghettos. Dancers-to-be took it to the streets and started dancing to the beat intuitively. None of them had any dance training. In fact, the movements looked like a mix of gymnastics and kung-fu rather than” standard” dance moves we can see in ballet.

The founder

DJ Kool Herc is regarded as the creator of hip hop. After he moved from Jamaica to New York, he started DJ-ing and developing distinct rhythms that laid the foundation for hip hop dance. He extended the dance sections in songs so there would be a longer interlude for dancers to show off their moves.

Other components of hip hop culture

Apart from dancing, the growing subculture included elements such as rapping, graffiti and dancing competitors.

Breakdance battles

A breakdance battle is a popular form of hip hop dance competitors. At the beginning, the competition would take place in the street, where two dancers or groups of dancers would “battle each” other, or try to “outdance” each other.

In time, the street scene moved to more official dance locations, however the competitive nature of hip hop remained. Even hip hop classes integrate some form of dancing in their workout routine.

Popular steps

Over the years, several steps have actually become the most popular, consisting of: pops, chest pops, body rolls, break-dancing, krumping, gliding, tutting, arm wave, windmills, infant freeze and six-step.

Get into the groove with hip hop workout

If you wish to find out the basic steps in an enjoyable and appealing way while doing cardio workout, try our Cardio Hip Hop at Fit Gym Downtown San Diego, Carmel Mountain and bikram yoga and Fit Gym Solana Beach. Our experienced trainers will break the steps down to you so you can master them rapidly, while engaging in a full-body workout. Pay us a visit today and get your free Fit Pass!