Hip-hop combines elements of traditional African dance with tap, swing, and modern styles. It features rhythmic, fast-paced, and high-energy movements often performed to hip-hop music. If your child expresses an interest in taking hip-hop dance lessons, you might want to know more about the history of this dance form. Here's more about its beginnings and how it transformed over time. 

Origins

Hip-hop dance started in the U.S. during the late 1960s and early 1970s. On the east coast, DJ Kool Herc hosted block parties in Brooklyn and played music for the people who attended them. He noticed that dancers would wait until "breaks" in songs, when the vocals dropped out, before taking the floor. He extended these breaks to encourage dancers to showcase their moves, which prompted them to come up with more elaborate poses, spins, and acrobatics. This marked the birth of the hip-hop technique known as break dancing or breaking.

In Southern California, dancer and choreographer Don “Campbellock” Campbell started a dance group known as The Lockers. Their trademark move consisted of freezing in the middle of a fast movement, briefly holding the body in a motionless position, then resuming the rapid motion. Known as "locking," this quickly became another essential technique in hip-hop dance. 

Another dancer, known as Boogaloo Sam, made pioneering strides in hip-hop on the west coast. After starting the Electric Boogaloo dance group, he invented a movement known as "popping," which involves tensing up the muscles then quickly releasing them. These jerky, snappy motions became another characteristic feature of hip-hop dancing. 

Evolution

Though east and west coast styles were created independently, they merged throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Dancers engaged in informal battles on streets and basketball courts that combined breaking, locking, and popping. Hip-hop clubs started advertising and hosting formal competitions that encouraged freestyle dancers to show off their talents and try to outdo one another while surrounded by cheering fans. This helped to popularize hip-hop dance. Additionally, music videos emerged in the 80s and frequently featured this dance style, which brought it into the homes of millions throughout the nation. 

Present Day

Today, hip-hop remains a dance style commonly performed on concert stages, in music videos, and as part of cinematic productions. Dance studios frequently include hip-hop dance lessons in their schedules and showcase this style at recitals and competitions. Hip-hop still features distinctive moves such as breaking, popping, and locking, along with contemporary movements, acrobatics, and improvisation. This energetic form of dance lets kids express their individuality, get some extra exercise, and meet people from all walks of life, which is why it remains so widely beloved.

If your children are interested in taking hip-hop dance lessons, visit Performing Dance Center in Salt Lake City, UT. This dance studio provides instruction in hip-hop for kids ages six and up. They also offer ballet, jazz, and tap lessons. Visit the website to learn more about them, or call (801) 463-4684 to sign your kids up for dance classes.