Summary Tradisional | Urban Dances

Contextualization

Urban dance sprang up on city streets and within urban communities, primarily in the U.S., during the 1970s and 1980s. It’s become a dynamic form of cultural expression that blends dance, music, and street art. These styles developed as a way for people from diverse backgrounds to communicate and share their stories through movement. Today, urban dances are a central part of popular culture and are practiced around the world, influencing everything from fashion to music and even everyday language.

Styles like Hip Hop, Breakdance, Popping, and Locking aren’t just a series of choreographed moves—they carry deep messages of freedom, creativity, and expression. Each urban dance style boasts its own unique flair and techniques, yet they all share the core idea of using the body as a powerful means of communication and personal expression. Urban dance not only provides a fun way to stay active but also offers a way to celebrate cultural and social identity.

To Remember!

Hip Hop

Hip Hop isn’t merely a dance style; it’s a full-blown culture that includes DJing, MCing, graffiti, and a deep understanding of its cultural roots. Emerging in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York, Hip Hop became a creative outlet for marginalised youth, offering a platform for self-expression and affirmation. The dance is known for its smooth, rhythmic moves—think the Bounce and the Groove—that mirror the beat and energy of Hip Hop music.

Over the years, Hip Hop has absorbed influences from other styles, branching into various sub-genres such as Old School and New School, each with its own techniques but all placing a strong emphasis on improvisation and personal style. Competitions often take the form of dance battles where performers showcase their skills and spontaneity.

What sets Hip Hop apart is its inseparable link to music and culture. Dancers derive inspiration directly from song lyrics and DJ beats, making this a vibrant, ever-evolving art form.

• Started in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York.

• Incorporates elements like DJing, MCing, graffiti, and a deeper cultural awareness.

• Highlights moves such as the Bounce and the Groove.

Breakdance

Breakdance—also known as B-boying or B-girling—is one of the most recognizable forms of urban dance. It began in the Bronx during the 1970s and was popularised by youth from African American and Latino communities. This style is renowned for its acrobatic and floor-based moves, which include Toprock, Downrock, Freezes, and Power Moves. Each of these components allows dancers to display their strength, agility, and ingenuity.

Toprock serves as the introductory sequence with standing movements, while Downrock involves floor work like the Six-Step, which is essential for moving between different phases of the dance. Freezes create dramatic pauses with challenging poses, and Power Moves require spins and acrobatic feats that demand both strength and balance.

A key element of Breakdance is improvisation—dancers must adapt in real time to the music and the actions of competitors, resulting in performances that are both unique and dynamic. Breakdance battles remain a fundamental part of the culture, where dancers earn respect by showcasing their skills.

• Originated in the Bronx in the 1970s.

• Features core moves like Toprock, Downrock, Freezes, and Power Moves.

• Focuses on improvisation and dance battles.

Popping

Popping is an urban dance style that took shape in California during the 1970s. It’s defined by rapid muscle contractions and relaxations that produce those catchy 'pop' or 'hit' movements. Dancers often mix these techniques with other visual effects, like the Wave, Robot, and Tutting, to create stunning, attention-grabbing routines.

In Popping, the technique of quick muscle action makes it seem as if the body is being rhythmically hit by the music. This approach requires superb muscle control as well as a keen sense of rhythm. Popping battles are a common way for dancers to illustrate their knack for syncing complex visual effects with music.

Beyond the technique, Popping cherishes creativity and individuality. Dancers are encouraged to invent their own moves and mix up styles, ensuring that Popping remains a vibrant and ever-adapting form of art.

• Began in California in the 1970s.

• Uses rapid muscle contractions and relaxations to create distinct 'pop' or 'hit' effects.

• Incorporates visual elements like the Wave, Robot, and Tutting.

Locking

Locking—sometimes called Campbellocking—is an urban dance style that also originated in California in the 1970s, created by Don Campbell. It’s distinguished by its quick, exaggerated moves followed by sudden pauses known as 'locks'. These locks are often paired with animated facial expressions and a theatrical presence, making Locking a highly expressive and engaging dance form.

Locking is marked by a blend of fast, synchronized arm and leg movements. Dancers typically interact with the audience, using eye contact, hand gestures, and vivid facial expressions to draw viewers in. The theatrical quality is essential, with dancers encouraged to develop their own unique persona on stage.

Besides the signature 'locking' technique, the style includes moves like the Wrist Roll, the Point, and the Funky Chicken. Together, these movements create vibrant and energetic performances that celebrate spontaneity and joy, highlighting individual creativity and expressive movement.

• Developed by Don Campbell in California in the 1970s.

• Features sharp, exaggerated movements interspersed with sudden 'locks'.

• Focuses on theatricality and active audience engagement.

Key Terms

• Urban Dances: Dance styles that originated in urban settings, blending movement with music and street art.

• Hip Hop: A cultural movement and dance style incorporating DJing, MCing, graffiti, and a deep cultural ethos.

• Breakdance: An urban dance form known for its acrobatic moves including Toprock, Downrock, Freezes, and Power Moves.

• Popping: A dance style that uses rapid muscle contractions to create distinctive 'pop' effects.

• Locking: A dance style defined by energetic, exaggerated moves and sudden pauses, along with expressive, theatrical gestures.

Important Conclusions

In our class, we delved deep into the world of urban dances, exploring styles like Hip Hop, Breakdance, Popping, and Locking. While each style has its own distinct techniques and characteristics, they all celebrate freedom, creativity, and expressive movement. We discussed how these dances, which sprang from urban communities in the 1970s and 1980s in the U.S., have grown to be a vital part of global popular culture.

We came away understanding that urban dances do more than just present choreographed steps—they serve as a dynamic means of communication and personal expression. Whether it’s the cultural roots of Hip Hop, the acrobatic flair of Breakdance, the precise muscle control in Popping, or the dramatic pauses in Locking, these forms of dance allow individuals to embrace and express their cultural and social identities, thereby fostering diversity and inclusion.

What we learned goes beyond the dance floor; urban dances continue to shape trends in fashion, music, and art. I encourage students to keep exploring these dynamic styles to boost their creativity, further develop their dance skills, and connect with the rich cultural histories that shaped them.

Study Tips

• Watch videos of urban dances to see the moves and techniques in action. It’s a great way to visualise and better grasp the concepts we discussed.

• Practice the foundational moves of each style at home. Regular practice is key to building skill and confidence.

• Dive deeper into the history and culture of urban dances. Reading articles, watching documentaries, and attending events can really enrich your understanding and appreciation of the art form.