How long does it take to learn hip hop dance

Hip-Hop Dance Classes in Maryland | Hip-Hop Classes for Kids

Our Maryland Hip-Hop Dance Class Approach

What’s the perfect dance class for people of all ages who want to dance, stay active, and learn how to freestyle? Hip-hop! A break off of African dance, hip-hop will help the dancer loosen up, gain rhythm, and have controlled isolated movements. The latest and greatest moves learned in this class can be seen today on any MTV and BET video.

There are a lot of barriers in place today for families looking for healthy environments. Kids face peer pressure at school, academic stress, and more. Busy parents may sometimes struggle to maintain a healthy balance between their own work and community obligations and raising happy kids. Enrolling kids in dance classes at Dance Makers provides an outlet for them to learn something new and stay healthy. Parents can rest assured that their children are in a safe environment while learning valuable life skills.

Our Maryland Hip-Hop Dance Studio

Dance Makers, Inc. in Maryland offers a variety of dance classes for children to unwind, learn new dance moves, and spend time with peers. Hip-hop dance classes are a popular option for trendy kids looking to keep up with the latest dance moves and music. Trained instructors teach kids how to loosen their movements.

Additionally, students learn controlled dance movements, isolating specific parts of the body. During hip-hop classes in Maryland, children have fun while learning the most popular moves seen in their favorite music videos. A child who loves music and can’t get enough of popular culture will enjoy learning how to get up and dance just like their favorite musical artists.

Considering an after-school dance program but worried about your child’s schoolwork? We also host a program called My S.M.A.R.T.S. Kid that offers homework assistance, tutoring, and support to your little one!

Hip-Hop Dance Class Benefits

Exposing a child to any type of dance offers many benefits, including a structured environment with knowledgeable instructors. Children will stay out of trouble when they can focus on reaching goals and enjoying a passion to dance. Our hip-hop dance class in Maryland teaches children healthy ways to manage the stress that life sometimes throws their way. Our instructors focus on moving to the beat while placing importance on good nutrition to keep the body in ready condition for dancing.

Other benefits associated with hip-hop dance classes include:

Increased strength and flexibility
Improved cardiovascular health
Bonding with peers
Adaptable to all ages
Experience with goal setting
Improved stamina
Improved work ethic
Increased confidence

To learn more about the benefits of hip-hop dance classes, or to experience them for yourself, contact us to schedule a trial class. All you need to do is sign a waiver, and that’s it. If you like it, sign up! If not, thank you for giving us the opportunity to teach you!

Why Enroll Your Child in Hip-Hop Dance Classes in Prince George’s County?

Hip-hop dance offers all the benefits of participating in a team sport or academic organization. Children who love to dance have a way to express themselves while learning real dance moves. Dance Makers, Inc. in Maryland offers a wide range of kids’ dance programs including:

Jazz
Ballet
Floor gymnastics
Tap
And more!

Enrolling in a Maryland Hip-Hop Dance Class

It is never too late to enroll your child in our hip-hop dance class. Let them experience the guidance, health benefits, structure, and fun that comes with dance classes. Conveniently located in Lanham, MD, we draw students from all across Prince George’s County and the Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD metro areas.

To enroll your child, give us a call at (301) 731-0003 or contact us online to fill out a form and one of our representatives will get back to you right away!

Hip-Hop Dance Class FAQs

Do you have Hip-Hop dance classes for beginner dancers?

Dance Makers has dance classes for all ability levels, from beginners to advanced. Our team will help figure out the right class for your child, so they can start learning the techniques of hip-hop dance and get the health benefits as well.

Is Hip Hop dance hard to learn?

Hip-hop is physically challenging, but most kids are able to learn it easily because it is so fun. Taking a class is a great way to learn the techniques and embrace this style of dance.

What are the basics of Hip-Hop dance?

Hip-hop has four basic elements, which are:

Strength
Momentum
Balance
Creativity

All of the popular steps in today’s hip-hop dance combine these four elements. Learning hip-hop starts with learning these basics. This is the foundation of each hip-hop dance class in our Prince George’s County studio.

How long does it take to learn Hip-Hop dance?

Most styles of dance, including hip-hop, take about three to four years to reach a more advanced level with full-time instruction. Our dance studio understands that not all kids will want to strive for the advanced level, and we will be able to teach steps and dances in the very first session your kid takes. Our goal is to help each child reach a level of success as they learn hip-hop. Of course, if your child wants to pursue this high level of skill, our instructors are ready to help.

How can a dancer improve their Hip-Hop skills?

Professional instruction is the best way to improve hip-hop dance skills. Learning to relax the body while dancing will also help improve the overall look of the dance. Dancers need to learn to feel the music while they apply the moves they learn in hip-hop dance class to their very own dances.

Is Hip Hop Dance Hard to Learn?

Anyone who can move their feet, bend their knees, and step to a beat can dance. Hip hop, in particular, is a great dance style to try if you’re new to dancing – hip hop can range from very basic movements to complex choreography with everything in between. But how difficult is it to learn?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a straight answer for this question. The difficulty level of learning hip hop varies by person and depends entirely on your dedication, starting point, sense of rhythm, and physique. For instance, someone who has experience dancing in other styles and has a good sense of rhythm would most definitely have an easier time than someone who has never danced at all, lives a sedentary lifestyle, and can’t find the beat in music.

If you’re a total newbie to dancing, have no fear. All you’ll need is a little more practice to get it down, and here are some key points to help you determine if it’s a feat you’d like to take on.

Can anyone learn to dance hip hop?

Almost anyone can definitely learn to dance hip hop – though it is much easier with a strong sense of rhythm and a strong body. If you don’t have a good sense of rhythm, it’s not impossible to learn, but it will be a little more difficult. When learning to dance in any style, dance movements are assigned to numbers in what dancers call an “eight count” with each number falling on a beat to the music (while counting, once you get to eight the sequence starts over). Counting in this way is a huge help for people who have a harder time finding the beat in music. It’s simply counting! And the more you practice, the easier it will get.

The next step in figuring out whether hip hop is something you’d like to learn is simply to try it. This YouTube video is a great beginner’s hip hop routine that could help you in determining if hip hop is the right dance style for you. If this particular video isn’t right for you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the whole dance style isn’t your cup of tea, as hip hop encompasses a wide range of styles in and of itself. Do some online sleuthing to find some different ones; there are a large number of different hip hop tutorials that you can try out that give you a variety of different dance moves, hip hop styles, and music to choose from.

The last avenue you could take is to simply take a class (if they are offered in your area). Gyms and rec centers often have dance cardio workout classes that incorporate many hip hop moves, or your local dance studio might offer adult classes or private lessons.

How long will it take to learn hip hop dance?

Once again, it varies, but it’s mostly determined by how much you practice. Most dance studios (if you’re going this route) offer weekly classes for kids, and the classes run seasonally, typically coinciding with the school year with end-of-year recitals happening around June.

With a weekly class over the course of a whole school year, kids often pick up the basics in no time, with the ability to advance levels every 1-2 years. Eventually these kids will be learning routines with complicated choreography and a variety of stunts like flips, freezes, headstands, and more by the time they reach adolescence (or, if they started a little older, possibly by adulthood).

Adult classes are typically offered less often than for kids (much to my dismay), and so learning the skill and making progress can take a bit longer and require more effort. If a class is not offered near you, there are all sorts of online programs that may be of assistance. Hip hop tutorials on YouTube (like the aforementioned hip hop videos) or exercise programs such as the CIZE program via Beach Body on Demand are excellent to learn the basics.

As you advance in your dancing abilities, there are also other online programs to help you progress, such as CLI Studios, which grants you access to on-demand dance classes and even virtual live classes over Zoom! Whichever avenue you choose, these methods are super helpful for beginners because they allow you to rewind the videos and/or rewatch them as many times as you need to master the routine.

While the self-teaching method works fabulously for the basics, there is only so far we can take ourselves without help with dancing. In my experience, you really need someone to tell you if you are doing the movements correctly, and it certainly helps if that person is a professional. Luckily, some dance studios do offer one-on-one lessons for people who are serious about mastering the dance style, and with help from a professional, you could become a teacher yourself one day!

Can you learn hip hop dance at any age?

Yes! Classes for young kids are offered in almost every dance studio, in almost every dance style. There is really no limit to how young you can start your kids, and there are some very young, very talented kids who can do amazing things in hip hop. Some kids can dance before they can walk! Here is a video of a six-year-old named Aiden Xiong who looks like one of these cases (the dancing starts at 1:45 in the video).

And if you are not a kindergartener anymore, this very entertaining video showcases a dance teacher dancing with her students at age 60, and she’s not exactly taking it easy! There is obviously very little that this woman cannot do, from high kicks to even headstands. She is my idol. Needless to say, she is a dance teacher and has most likely been dancing for years.

If you are starting out at a higher level of life, it may be prudent to start with a bit easier levels and not push yourself too hard. Once again, it matters how much flexibility, stamina, and strength your body has, so make sure that you don’t take on a routine that is too much for your body to handle.

To prove that anyone at any age can dance hip hop, this dance crew called Hip Op-eration Crew is composed entirely of more mature adults and even competes at dance competitions with their hip hop routines. Their members range in age from the 60’s to the 90’s! Their dance moves are a bit limited due to their age and physical abilities, but their style is authentically hip hop. Read more about their dance crew here!

What steps should a person take to begin learning?

If you have done your research, assessed your physical abilities, and decided that you don’t hate hip hop music, then good news: hip hop dance might be the right style for you to learn!

One of the most important tips I have for you to start learning is to STRETCH. If your muscles are not stretched and loose, then there is a greater possibility for injury if you try something that is a bit out of your range. Stretching also improves your flexibility, allowing you to progress in your dancing and you can expand your range of movements that you could be able to do in the future.

Next, find one of the methods mentioned above and go for it! If one method doesn’t work, try another one. In the case of hip hop, or any other dance style for that matter, persistence really pays off. Once you feel comfortable and excel at the level you started with, find something more difficult and see what you’re capable of. Then as soon as you feel confident in your hip hop abilities, see if there is a hip hop dance crew in your area that’s looking for new members. You never know, you could be competing in local dance competitions with your crew one day!

The main thing that really matters is that you give it your best shot and keep practicing. Even if it turns out to be supremely difficult at first, stick with it and it will gradually begin to get easier and before you know it you’ll be popping and locking in your sleep.

teaching basic movements and dance features

Contents

Hip-hop, like any other dance direction, is better to learn in a professional school. After all, only a qualified teacher will find an individual approach to a new student and teach the necessary movements. But if this is not possible, or if you want to come to class prepared, you can try to master the direction of hip-hop at home. How to dance the first movements, now we will tell.

Like any dance, hip-hop training includes getting acquainted not only with the basic movements of the style, but also with a certain philosophy. And in this direction it is special. Hip-hop came to us in the second half of the last century from the most disadvantaged areas of New York and Los Angeles. Tired of injustice, aggression and blood, teenagers, who mostly did not have the cleanest reputation, invented their own special way to resolve conflicts - with the help of dance battles and rap parties. Hip-hop is a free dance, a challenge to society and a protest against any inequality. That is why the main thing in this style is not at all the clarity of the learned movements, but the sense of rhythm, improvisation and expression of the individuality of the performer.

Getting Started: Preparation and Basic Movements

Before learning hip-hop for beginners, you should make sure that you feel comfortable doing it. According to experienced dancers, three things will help you relax and start learning:

Appropriate environment: flat floor, spacious room, full-length mirror.
Loose clothing and comfortable shoes. Nothing should hinder movement.
Hip-hop rhythmic music.

A little ritual will help you tune yourself into the wave of hip-hop: stand with your legs apart, put your hands down and close your eyes. Listen carefully to the sound of the music and try to learn to hear the beat. Rock to the beat. And now you have already mastered the first movement. Congratulations! It's time to move on to more complex elements.

The basic movements of hip-hop are swing and step. You are already familiar with the first one. Now try to put your right foot to the side and stretch your right hand up. Bend your right leg, transferring your body weight to it, and lower your arm to shoulder level. Turn the body to the left, bend the left leg, and put the right leg on the toe. Now lower your right knee, arch your back and reach your hands to the floor. When you manage to complete this combination, consider yourself a good start in hip-hop.

Here are some more basic hip-hop moves for beginners:

Starting position - standing, feet shoulder-width apart, and arms along the body. We squeeze the brushes into a fist and alternately bring forward one hand, then the other. Then we connect the legs bent at the knee: left hand - right leg, right leg - left hand.
Starting position - standing. We jump in place and cross our legs, and bend our arms as if we were rowing.
Starting position - standing, feet slightly wider than shoulders. We put the right leg a little back, bend the legs at the knees, which at the same time look straight. With the right hand we cover the face, with the left, folded into a fist, we put it in the region of the heart. Then at the same time we tilt our head to the right and unclench the left hand, and after that we turn the right knee and right hand to the right.
Starting position - standing, feet firmly pressed to the floor, knees slightly bent. We put the spread fingers of the right hand on the chest, keep the elbow parallel to the floor. We bend in an arc, as if we received a blow right in the heart. Then we make two turns in different directions, straighten our back and return to the starting position. The hand at this time falls from the heart to the waist. At the end, we throw the pelvis forward again, round the back and tighten the buttocks.

You can achieve the first results quite quickly. But when you start to study closely how to dance hip hop, you will soon notice that there are no clear movements and rules in this direction. Having mastered a few basic elements, dancers begin to improvise, create their own combinations and dance, as creative fantasy suggests.

How to continue: choosing a style

If you have mastered the first movements of hip-hop from videos and photos on the Internet, it's time to choose the direction in which you will develop further. Hip-hop culture is a wide range of dance styles that differ from each other both in elements and in general mood. The main ones are:

Breakdance is still popular basic style of hip-hop, on which the direction originated.
Popping - rhythmic contraction of various muscle groups to the music so that it looks like jolts on the performer's body;
Wave - smooth and plastic movements of the body, the most famous of which is the wave with hands;
Afro-jazz - shaking mainly the lower and most prominent part of the body in women;
Crump - energetic shaking of various limbs to the music so that it seems as if someone has moved into the dancer;
New Style, also known as freestyle, is an improvisational dance that combines not only hip-hop movements, but also elements borrowed from more than a dozen other dance styles.
La Style - Hip-hop, where the emphasis is on entertainment, so this style is used mainly in videos and when staging shows.
Ragga jazz is a dance tuned to the music: the performer's legs work under the drums, and the hands become active during the recitative.
Locking - an energetic dance with "locks" - freezing in different positions for a few seconds or periodically slowing down the movement.
Power move is a spectacular style that includes complex acrobatic elements, handstands, various twists, and transitions.
C-walk is a “language” dance with a criminal past that emphasizes intense and very dynamic footwork.

Women's and men's hip-hop

The next step in how to learn hip-hop without leaving home is to bring a little femininity or, conversely, brutality into your existing skills - depending on your gender accessories. The thing is that female and male hip-hop are somewhat different from each other, and, therefore, representatives of the beautiful and strong half are trained in this direction in different ways.

Hip-hop dancing for beginner girls is based on plasticity, flexibility and unobtrusive sexuality. Girls wear baggy sweatpants and hoodies on a par with men, perform sweeping movements, but their execution looks different: hips, legs and shoulders are more involved, the elements are a little smoother and sexier.

Male hip-hop, on the contrary, is more daring, energetic and sometimes even aggressive. The focus is on the work of the arms and body, acrobatic elements and movements that require strength and male endurance.

If you prefer to learn this difficult direction from videos, it is better to initially choose hip hop training, where the movements will be performed by a dancer of your gender. Together with the right technique, you will be able to capture the gender characteristics of the choreographic elements.

A few more secrets

Learning to dance hip-hop at home, without classes with a professional teacher, is not easy, but real. Especially if you add training with a few more components. Here, as in learning a foreign language, only complete immersion in the culture will help. So, here are some tips from “experienced” hiphopers who have mastered a lot not under the guidance of a qualified mentor, but at home by the mirror:

Videos with basic exercises will help you master some of the moves, but for additional skills, it is better to turn to online courses. Hip-hop lessons for beginners are regularly held online, often live.
Hiphop parties and hangouts will help you melt into this culture and make new acquaintances. Yes, of course, everyone will laugh at your first dances, but no one drags you to the center of the circle. While you're learning, watch the pros dance, adopt a style, and memorize some moves to practice at home.
Clear training regimen. Only with regular practice can you achieve results. In addition, our body is set to a certain schedule, and if you exercise at a certain time, it will prepare for stress. As experienced dancers note, the optimal duration of even home workouts is two hours. This is enough for warming up, and for the lesson itself, and for stretching after.
Additional physical activities. If you are in the mood not just for basic hip-hop movements, but for serious hip-hop elements with tricks, strengthening the muscles of the whole body is indispensable. You will need strong arms, strong core muscles, and no extra weight. This can be achieved by exercising in the gym or additional weight training at home.
Compliance with safety regulations. Be sure to dance in comfortable non-slip shoes and loose clothing. Do not start training without a proper warm-up, and when practicing acrobatic elements, lay something soft on the floor.

Video tutorials will be enough to learn how to dance hip-hop. But to become a real dancer, you need to study the subculture from the inside. It is believed that a hiphoper has achieved true mastery when he is in perfect control of his body, does not “slow down” on the dance floor, knows how to improvise and select universal movements for any music. Hip-hop dance lends itself only to the very persistent and disciplined, those who are able to understand and accept its "philosophy of freedom".

Do not forget that there are many professionals around who are ready to help you take your first steps in hip-hop or improve the skills you learned at home. Qualified teachers of the La Boca dance club will find an individual approach to you, work out with you the technique of performing movements and even acrobatic elements. You don't have to go far: "La Boca" is located in the very center of St. Petersburg - on "Petrogradka"

Video: basic hip-hop movements

video tutorials for those who are not afraid to try. Can you learn to dance on your own? At the disco? According to video lessons

HOW LONG CAN YOU LEARN TO DANCE ORIENTAL DANCES?

Or: "How long will it take me to learn to dance from you?" - a stranger asks me on the phone, wanting to sign up.
To be honest, in the top of the most stupid questions - this is number 1.

Because in order to answer it - the teacher must be at least a telepath and a clairvoyant in one person! And by the power of his teaching genius, he must determine in half a second by his voice: whether you have dance or other physical training, or not; Your age; how well do you feel the tempo-rhythm; what is your motor and musical memory; and finally, what are your goals.
Because only on the basis of these - primary - data can you predict how long it will take you to learn to dance.
The item "Your Goals" is special. In other words, what does "LEARN TO DANCE" mean to you? - because dozens and hundreds of people answered this question differently. As a result, such a picture emerged.

1. "A la Zhadi".
You will laugh, but for half of those who regularly call me, "learn to dance" means to portray something similar to the "East", wearing a bunch of bracelets and wrapped in monists, so that, moving their hips, just to amuse / amaze colleagues at a New Year's corporate party or similar event. They will be able to teach you this in a couple of weeks or even days - depending on how you grasp. You can even just type "belly dance" for beginners into the search engine - and soon you will definitely be able to portray "two stomp - we turn the booty." Especially if you tie ringing scarves with monists on your ass)))) Appropriate makeup, accessories - beads, earrings, bracelets - and you are the star of the corporate dance floor.
...Only it's not "learning to dance".

2. "Surprise for the Sultan" - or "already something."
Dance a composition more or less meaningful to your body as a surprise to your loved one. Effectively.
This will already require a competent teacher and - either a group of beginners / hobbies, or individual lessons, which, of course, are more expensive - but the effectiveness is increased significantly. For the teacher is completely focused on you. Practicing twice a week, for 2-5 months (everywhere and for everyone in different ways), it is quite possible to master the basics of oriental dance and learn the setting of a zero degree of difficulty, even if you have never danced in your life.

3. "Basic level".
In a year and a half of group lessons, you will master the basic and medium complexity elements, be able to dance 4-6-8 dances (again, in each studio in different ways), master the basics of choreography. You will begin to distinguish Arabic music from Indian, classical from pop music. At the sounds of the tabla, wherever it is, it “breaks into shaking” and the blood starts to boil))))))
You are dancing in the school reporter. Perhaps you are participating in the first competitions.
The realization is hatching that "belly dance" is not so easy as it seemed at first. Palaces, sultans, palm trees and incense from the fairy tales of Scheherazade are fading - in their place, the native dance hall is increasingly stubbornly appearing)))

4. "Advanced level": 2-3 years of study in a group + individual training, participation in the reporting end of the school and other cultural events, sit tight on the adrenaline buzz of the stage. An obsessive desire to constantly improve technique and performance level, broadening one's horizons. Recognize the top Arab performers of classical, instrumental, pop music; know the stars of bellydance. Master classes, competitions, costumes and strasses are a separate item of expenditure in your budget. Start saving up for Egyptian festivals.

Further, dancing becomes more and more a way of life, you like to improvise more and more, and the more you learn, the deeper the understanding comes: you can learn bellydance all your life, it is inexhaustible, like any Art...

Everyone - dance inspiration !

After six years of dancing, Masha Botvinina found out whether it is possible to lose weight while dancing, and which part of the body usually hinders the dancer the most. Her advice to beginners is invaluable.
A few years ago, I enrolled in a dance school. Just. Quite by accident I saw an ad in the LiveJournal feed. I didn’t have global tasks like “lose weight here” or “pump up here”. I needed a boring physical activity - and I suddenly decided that dancing was what I needed.

And recently it suddenly dawned on me: I have been studying for the sixth year. I mentally went over the last few years: I changed 3 jobs and 4 guys, but dancing has not gone away!

Therefore, if you are also starting to dance or are thinking about it, here are practical tips that have been tested on personal experience.

1. By exercising 1-2 times a week, you can completely tone the muscles, pump up some, and even pump up some very well. But not all. Systems that are not involved in dancing (for example, biceps-triceps) will stand out deplorably against the background of those that are involved.

2. Lose some weight - yes, you can. But radically, you can't. Dancing is not a gym, so you, cheers, will have excellent muscles, and on top, alas, your own fat.

3. All beginners are usually worried about the question “Will I be able to dance cool at the disco later?” It all depends on you and the dance. If you learn to dance hip-hop - and go to a hip-hop club - yes. But my Irish dances will help only in a pub)))

4. Everyone can learn to dance. You too. If your teacher says that dancing is not for you, you can safely burn him with a look: this is not your teacher, and indeed not a teacher at all.

5. It's never too late to learn how to dance. In modern schools there is no age limit. Even ballet schools have groups for adults. So what do you have to lose?

It's never too late to dance!

6. If you came to the first lesson and your group was full of people, don't be alarmed: a third won't come to the second lesson, because they won't like the unusually large workload. In a month, another third will not come, whose desire to study will be broken by the realization that “like in Riverdance” something did not work out in a month ... Then from those who remained, there will be another third - the rest will stretch something for themselves, break, move to another city or just get killed. This is how natural selection and reduction of groups to normal numbers is carried out.

7. You will surely have a part of the body that will constantly get in the way and strive to do what you do not want. For example, in my Irish they are hands. Here they are needed to tie shoelaces, but the rest of the time they are not. You may sometimes want to tear them off. At such moments, remember that tying shoelaces with your teeth is not at all comme il faut. And there is also a chance that you will gather for group Irish dances. There are rumors that they move their hands there too.

This is me. I think how hands interfere)))

8. You will most likely need special footwear. If, again, you go to the Irish dances that I go to, you will need at least 2 pairs of shoes: step shoes and soft leather slippers. If you bought shoes and they seem comfortable to you, go to class in them. If you still think that they are comfortable, this is not your shoe. When looking at exactly your shoes, you should want to wrap your legs with a band-aid up to the knee. If these sacrifices are not for you, try dancing in sneakers or even barefoot.

Step shoes, they are also "hard", they are also step shoes

9. After six months of training, you will learn how to pathetically jump over puddles. This is one of the biggest bonuses. However, in a couple of years you will carefully sidestep all the puddles, because for jumping you need to warm up, be in the right shoes, and in general this is a street, not a stage.

10. Subway is the best place to practice turning your toes. In addition, at the sight of your face during this activity, even pregnant grandmothers will give you a seat.

11. If you saw a colorful glittery dress at a competition and thought that you would never wear such bad taste in your life, just wait. In a year or two, you yourself will choose rhinestones for the same.

Dresses for Irish dances are always “very”: very bright, very shiny and very short

Ballroom dancing also has its own fashion, very peculiar)

12. Dancing competitions are practically the only place where adult aunts can wear crowns, tiaras and rhinestones, and also paint her face so that mom does not grieve. In the end, isn't this a reason to participate?))

13. Judges at competitions are very cunning and can reduce marks because of all sorts of garbage. For example, if you have slipped one sock. Cunning Irish dancers for the sake of medals even came up with glue for socks! Now you have seen everything)

Glue for socks is not fiction, but a harsh reality

14. No, not all. The wig and bun are also an important part of the costume. Do you want to dance on stage with a ponytail?

There are special wigs for Irish dancers with crazy curls

15. You will know the taste of victory and defeat. Why not stand on a pedestal, if possible? True, only you will know how hard these places get.

By the way, if one day you decide to participate in competitions, you will most likely have to forget about ordinary rest - your entire travel schedule will be subject to the competition schedule. That is why I have been going on vacation in April for the third year, and have not been to the warm sea for about the same amount! And all because in April my dance association - the World Irish Dance Association - holds a big event: World Championships, European Championships and Grade Feis (“Big Competitions”) - and all this cake with candles at once in 3-4 days somewhere in Europe. I don’t participate in the championships yet, but with Grade Feis I have two silver medals 🙂

I didn't have time to attend my own award ceremony due to scheduling problems! I had to climb onto the pedestal when everyone had already left!

For all my achievements, many thanks to my teacher and founder of the “Moscow School of Irish Dance Maria Singal” - Masha Singal and all the other teachers, because over these 6 years I managed to work out with everyone, and I know for sure that they are wonderful 🙂

I'm sure there are many dancers among our readers. What are you dancing?

Salsa and bachata are best suited for any non-restricting clothing, always clean, and comfortable shoes for you (replacement shoes are welcome, in autumn and winter they are required). Since the dances are paired, make sure that your appearance is pleasant to the partner with whom you will dance.

In the first classes, most likely, you will absolutely not think that you need any special clothes or shoes for this purpose. At the beginning of the training, the program is very easy and no special equipment is needed to complete it. But it is best to buy shoes with small heels or wedges, but sneakers with rubber inserts on the sole will not work. They will be hard to turn.

But if you decide to seriously engage in dance direction and want to approach the matter with all thoroughness, then it is better to purchase specially designed dancing shoes. The design of such shoes can have a positive effect on the success in doing the elements of dance, on posture and on the style of movement.

Salsa shoes does not have to be purchased from a specialized store. It can also be bought at a regular outlet, the main thing is that these shoes do not slip off the foot, have good elasticity, a comfortable shoe, and do not hinder movement. But, after analyzing all these requirements, we can come to the conclusion that it is easier to find suitable shoes in a special store.

2. Do you have classes for children?

There are currently no salsa classes for children. But in adult groups we take students from the age of seventeen.

3. Is it possible to learn to dance by yourself? At the disco? Video tutorials?

Of course, you can learn how to dance on the dance floor of discos and video lessons. It all depends on your perseverance and the results you want to achieve. Now on the net you can find many training lessons for all dances. However, video lessons are rather an additional element to ongoing classes in schools. First you need to visit a dance school to get basic knowledge and skills. The whole process will be led by a professional teacher who has some experience, he will be able to point out mistakes and give good advice, he will show the necessary advice and correct you where mistakes are made. Thanks to this, you can quickly learn to dance.

Bachate is much easier to learn from video tutorials. There are not so many complex movements in this dance, you can master them yourself, but, of course, it is better to either have a little experience in dancing, or communicate and learn some skills from the teacher. If you take an interest in the history of the emergence and development of bachata, you can see that everyone danced it without any preparation. This dance belongs to social dances, it was invented for everyone without exception, it has very simple movements. But still there are movements that are quite problematic, and sometimes impossible to catch on video. And in a dance school with group training it is much more interesting than at home alone.

4. How long does it take to learn how to dance salsa?

It is rather difficult to answer this question. And it can depend on many conditions. All people have different capabilities and abilities. The first one may need one single lesson to understand the specifics of the movements, catch the rhythm of the music, learn several movements in the aggregate, then the second will spend a large amount of his time on this. The second condition for the speed of learning is the frequency of attendance at dance classes. And what does the phrase mean - I learned to dance? You can hone your skills and craftsmanship endlessly.

But still, based on the experience of the teachers of our dance school, we can name the average time for which the training takes place. This period can be divided into three levels. At the first level, a sense of rhythm is captured, and the main movements are fixed. It lasts one month. At the second level, which lasts two months, there is work with a partner. And the middle level, at which complex ligaments are studied. The duration of this level is 4 months.

Therefore, in a period of up to 6 months, you can learn the basics of salsa. And to improve your movements - endlessly!

5. Is it difficult to learn how to dance salsa?

The phrase "learn to dance salsa" has two components: "dance" and "salsa". So “dancing” is much more difficult than “salsa”.

There are two categories of people who attend dance schools - those who want to learn how to dance salsa perfectly and those who just want salsa . Yes, yes, exactly just salsa . In this case, you can remember a lot of movements, ligaments, but still not learn how to dance. And the results of such training, alas, are noticeable even to non-professionals.

Learning how to dance salsa is more difficult than just salsa. For example, there is a desire to “burn out” in discos, then learning to dance is not at all necessary, since here you will have to spend a lot of effort, spend a lot of time at school. This is necessary in order to feel the rhythm of the melody, control your body, acquire some skills and comprehend the basics of the art of dance, that is, stock up on some experience. But it will take a lot of hard work.

Everyone answers the question whether all this is necessary. But if you still decide learn how to dance salsa , then the results will be excellent. And for you and your partner. After all, it will be much more fun to dance with you, and even learn something. However, there are many examples who wanted to dance salsa , but their desire quickly dried up. And such students leave the dance school. And then they repeat the movements in the clubs in such a way as it turned out to learn. And there are many such examples. And even if you are busy looking for a new school, nothing will change until you start learning to dance.

How long does it take to learn how to dance tango?

There is no definite answer to this question. If there is a person who says that in order to learn how to dance tango, you need to spend exactly this or that amount of time, then he is either ignorant in this matter, or he is deceiving you.

Firstly, the very concept of "dancing tango" has a different meaning for everyone. Someone decides that he can dance at the end of the basic course (usually 2-3 months of regular classes), and someone even after 5 years of classes finds something new for himself. The fact is that, like for some other social dances, there are no clear frames and standards here. Each country has its own tango, its own, unique. Even in different years of its existence, tango was different. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was danced in a completely different way than it is danced now. And this means that if you learn to dance according to the canons that were adopted then, then you will most likely not be able to understand those who dance tango today.

It's like cooking - you can't learn to turn on the stove and think you're a great cook now. After all, the cook uses different parameters, of which the simplest are the cooking time or the temperature of the fire. Everything comes into play - ingredients, small components, oil, on which food is cooked and even used utensils.

Or to draw an analogy with a musical instrument - it is important not only to learn the seven musical notes. What matters in music is the method of extracting sound from the instrument, and the playing style, note duration, musical accents, syncopations and much more.

It's the same with Argentine tango - the more time you devote to learning tango, the more opportunities and sensations it opens up for you. Here the music that we hear also matters (each tango orchestra plays in its own style and at its own speed, using its own "musical chips" and sound), the mood with which we dance plays a huge role, the hug in a couple plays an important role , the quality of the step, and even the style of dancing (some people like the tango salon or the tango milonguero, while others only accept the tango nuevo). A common misconception among girls is that you can stop practicing tango in a couple of months, after attending the basic course, and then you can only attend milongas and "study there". Dear girls, this is far from true!

Open yourself to tango, let the tango into you, and it will whisper softly, enclosing you in its gentle but strong embrace. Although there are people who enjoy simple steps on the dance floor to the rhythms of tango, but believe me, the longer we practice tango, attending lessons, techniques, seminars, studying individually with a teacher, going to various tango camps and festivals, the more interesting it becomes. in tango, the more diverse we dance, the more friends and acquaintances we have.

Tango has existed for more than a hundred years, and throughout its existence, tango has evolved, changed, improved. At the moment, there are several varieties of tango and several hundred active tango orchestras. You can fully devote yourself to learning tango, researching the history of tango and orchestras, singers and dancers, learning to dance in different styles, learning different movements, studying with different teachers, and once you are almost sure that "I am about to learn everything about tango" , but each time you will find something new for yourself, and everything will continue on, again and again. After all, tango is a mixture of many cultures. After all, tango is a huge contribution to the dance of a large number of dancers who were looking for new opportunities in dance. Tango is music, once you understand it, you can't erase it from your heart. Tango is not just a dance. Tango is a relationship between two people, tango is forever, tango is beautiful, it's magical, it's divine!

Is it difficult to learn to dance?

It's really no more difficult than anything else you're new to. Dance directions are very different from each other. Even if you have mastered one of them, it will be unusual for you to do the other.

However, all dances are connected with the ability to control one's body. And if this is not new to you (for example, you were engaged in martial arts, gymnastics, swimming, and even more so dancing), it will be easier for you to adapt to new movements than a beginner who is not friendly with his body.

Even if you have a fairly wooden body, don't despair. The secret of success is constant practice.

Learning to dance from video lessons is more difficult than from courses. If your body is flexible and obedient, you can still do something similar to the movements of the instructor from the video. If not, you can quickly become disillusioned with dancing: the difference between what is shown in the video and what you will see in the mirror will be too strong.

Still worth a try. At least in order to decide on the right one.

How many times a week do you dance?

Muscles may initially ache after exercise. But, unlike strength training or running, the body does not require a recovery period.

Therefore, you can safely practice dancing all the time. One of my teachers said that you have to dance 25 hours a day. In any case, the more you dance, the more noticeable the progress.

How to learn to dance modern dances

From this direction we have chosen three types that can often be found in the schedules of fitness clubs and dance schools. And the first - plastic and insanely beautiful contemporary.

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Contemporary combines elements of modern jazz, yoga and martial arts, seasoned with improvisation and attention to breathing. This is freedom and plasticity - the natural beauty of movement.

Here is a clip with a contemporary combination. Give it a try, just be sure to warm up and stretch well before you teach.

And here is the second part:

By the way, about the warm-up. In the video below - a full lesson with a warm-up, stretching and analysis of the combination. In English, but everything is clear and without translation.

If you do not have time to repeat or consider how some movement is done, set the speed to 0.25.

If you like combinations but can't repeat them yet, here are some more videos of routine contemporary lessons.

You will most likely have to do the same at the dance school before you can perform beautiful combinations.

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Many people confuse pole exercises and strip plastics. The second is just a sensual dance that can be performed without a pole.

When doing strip plastic, you will not stand at the barre and pull your toe. Everything here is based on the natural sexuality of the female body. Of course, many teachers diversify strip plastic with elements of contemporary or modern, Latin American dances and other areas, but it all depends on the teacher.

How beautiful your dance will look again depends on how well you know how to control your body, how mobile your joints and muscles and tendons are.

In the video below there is an analysis of the combination. Not too simple, but very sensual and beautiful. And you don't have to move on the floor, so your knees don't get hurt.

And here is a playlist with strip plastic lessons from different dance schools. There are both individual movements and combinations.

And one more, simpler combination. Try it if the first one doesn't work.

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This is a sensual and beautiful dance, which, among other things, helps to develop plasticity and even get rid of some health problems.

There are a lot of belly dance lessons on YouTube. Below are some of them.

Basic movements are explained here very clearly:

And the second part:

Below is a playlist with five lessons for beginners from another teacher.

How to learn to dance street dancing

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Hip-hop has only existed for about 50 years. But during this time, many trends and styles have appeared, with different elements, plasticity, and special features.

In addition, modern hip-hop is often complemented by movements from other dance styles, which provides even richer vocabulary and original combinations.

But before you come up with your own combinations, you need to master the basics. In the playlist below you will find basic moves, steps and many combinations. They explain everything in an accessible way. If you can't make it, slow down the video speed.

The videos in the next big playlist explain the concepts of inertia, manipulation and isolation in hip-hop. There's also a story about improvisation, battle behavior if you're up for it, and a few variations of ground hip-hop moves (on the floor) to diversify your combinations.

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Breakdance consists of different elements: tricks and power movements on the floor, waves, fixations, as well as changing the levels at which the dance is performed.

Here on this channel there is training in different styles: Waving, King Tut, Robot, - an analysis of the technique of power elements and basic movements at different levels.

Below is a video detailing the 6 steps element from Footwork.

And here you can see how the "turtle" is performed.

Here is a voluminous playlist, in which there are quite a lot of breakdance elements with a detailed analysis of the technique of dance and strength elements.

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Sexy dance in which you need to actively work the buttocks, hips, stomach and arms. In this playlist you will find several lessons with analysis of twerk movements.

How to learn to dance ballroom dancing

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At least once in your life, you will surely need a waltz. Moreover, it is not so difficult to dance it at an amateur level.

Here are four good lessons that will teach you how to hold your hands and do the basic waltz steps in pairs or individually.

How to learn to dance social dances

Social dances are not designed for competition, but for communication between partners and enjoyment. Improvisation is welcome here, through which the dancer can express himself, his feelings and emotions.