How to chicago step dance for beginners


Learn to Step Chicago Style - livingthe8count

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So… you want to learn to step Chicago-style? Welcome! Chicago Stepping is a social partner dance, but if you’re single or starting this adventure on your own don’t worry… instructors teach individuals and couples. We are a close-knit community. You’ll meet tons of new people quickly and you won’t learn alone. Here, you can find a class and instructor. Read what instructors have to say about Chicago Stepping. Also, find the tidbits I share on culture, history, and etiquette – the keys to our Chicago Stepping community. Beginners, intermediate, and advanced dancers can learn to step Chicago-style.

If You Want to Learn to Step, You Can

For everyone who wants to learn about Chicago Stepping, here are some things to know.

  • Find a good instructor and learn a solid foundation from one person. As a beginner, it can be confusing to learn from more than one instructor
  • Multiple workshops with different instructors are no good substitute for regular classes with an instructor. Go to class regularly. At home, practice, practice, practice!
  • The right instructor for you to learn to step is up to you. Dance for your personal goals and style. If you want to enter contests, know that social dancing and contest dancing are different
  • Knowing the history and origin of Chicago Stepping can help to enrich your learning experience and understanding
  • Don’t be afraid to step and practice with the best. Dancing with advanced steppers can teach you something new. And, when you are well on your way to dancing remember to pay it forward to other beginners.

Stepping Classes

Start your Chicago Stepping journey. Many instructors in different cities offer classes and privates to people who love to dance.

Etiquette and Lifestyle

Steppers are ladies and gentlemen. Learn about etiquette, the social dance scene, contests, and events in the nationwide Stepping community.

Subscribe to Chicago Stepping News by eMail from Sonji

Welcome! I am the writer Sonji Stewart. These are my travel stories about my Chicago Stepping experiences traveling from city to city to dance. I hope my stories encourage you to join me in the adventure.

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Chicago DJ who coined "Steppin' music" term on South Side explains dance's importance during Black History Month 2022

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A Chicago DJ who coined the 'Steppin' music' term on the city's South Side explained the dance's importance during Black History Month 2022.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- If you've lived in the Chicago area long enough, you've probably heard the word "Steppin'."

It's a popular dance that incorporates smooth steps, a good partner and a whole lot of swag. People are now Steppin' around the world, and it started right here in Chicago, thanks to DJ Sam Chatman.

Some of Chicago's smoothest dancers have come to Family Den on the South Side to show off their best moves. This style of dance originated from "The Bop," which started in the 1940s.

But as a young, up-and-coming DJ, Chatman noticed the dance evolving into something much different. ABC 7's Samantha Chatman sat down with her dad to talk about the origins of Steppin' music.

"Well, I had a friend of mine who would be dancing and he would break away from his partner and he would sort of like, walk back to her. It was like he was stepping. So, I kept saying Steppin' and Steppin' and the word Steppin' just caught on," Chatman said. "The rest is history!"

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The Steppin' movement took Black Chicagoans by storm in the 1970s. If you didn't know how to step, you wanted to learn. But leading up to its popularity, Chatman admitted some other DJs had their doubts.

"They laughed at me all over the city. They said, 'this guy is going to just play this music? Nobody's going to go there and hear this old music, slow music,'" he said.

It didn't take long for people to catch on, though. Chatman's steppers sets soon became the go-to spot for dancers. At his sets, Chatman even managed to broker peace between South Side and West Side gangs.

"If you were West Sider you couldn't come to The Dungeon. If you were a South Sider, you couldn't go to the Keyman's Club. So, what I did was, I got a group of guys who are great dancers, and also gang members. I took the South Side guys to the West Side and introduced them to the West Side guys," Chatman said. "Originally, the West Side guys wanted to do something to them. I introduced them. I explained what it was all about and let them know that on Sunday, they could come to the South Side. I was able to merge these gangs, some of them Gang Disciples or Black Stone Rangers. These same leaders back then 15, 16, 17 years old... are 50- and 60-year-old friends today."

If you'd like to learn how to step, instructor Andre Blackwell said practice is key.

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"You must practice," Blackwell said. "For instance, when I first started dancing, I danced every day and started practicing every day in my house, in my basement, every day, everywhere. You practice with the 8-count."

Steppin' is not just in Chicago anymore, though.

"It's in Atlanta, Florida, California, Hawaii, Washington," Chatman said. "They're Steppin' in Greece. They're Steppin' in England. They're Steppin' in Amsterdam. They're Steppin' all over the world, and in my heart, I honestly felt it would be that way."

When Samantha asked whether Steppin' is still alive, Sam said it's just the beginning.

"Excuse me! We haven't even scratched the surface," Chatman said. "Let's go to work, steppers. Let's go to work!"

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Initial deep house dance lessons.

How to learn to dance street dance

Everyone wants to feel confident on the dance floor in the club. No incendiary party is complete without a house dance. Thanks to his energy and positivity, he turns on both the performer and the audience.

House dance originated in the 1980s in clubs in Chicago. At the same time, the music of the same name arose. Rhythmic body movements fascinated the regulars and kings of parties throughout the city. Later, the Hausa movements could not be resisted by New Yorkers. Now, the whole of Europe is learning the elements of an interesting and popular style.

Let's look at the basic moves of house and succumb to its stunning rhythm.

Video lesson "House dance"

House is a mix of movements of different dance styles. It includes elements of tap, latin, breakdance, jazz, hip-hop and disco. Isn't it an interesting combination?

The dance technique has changed over time. At first, there were sharp and aggressive movements of the body, the whole body was kept in tension. Later, they were replaced by soft movements of the legs, relaxed and free vibrations of the body. The style and manner of dance changes in step with the times and is constantly being improved. Probably, this is what he won the hearts of modern dancers.

IMPORTANT. Before starting a workout, you need to warm up the muscles so as not to injure them.

Basic moves House:

  1. Pas De Bourree. Consists of 3 steps, legs alternate (left-right-left or right-left-right).
  2. Criss Cross. We cross our legs, alternating them (movements are performed wide, voluminous and springy).
  3. Step House. Consists of 2 movements: put the heel forward and return to its original position.

By combining movements and adding a drop of energy and positive to them, you will undoubtedly have a positive effect on others. Do not be afraid of experiments, free movements of the arms and body will only complement the dance. Good luck with your learning!

The popular dance house (House) appeared in the disco era of the 70s and 80s of the 20th century. House is built, first of all, on the complete control of your body and energy. It is released in an explosive wave or carefully restrained.

Differences of house from other styles. House is often confused with other dances, however, it has its own unique history and characteristics. The reasons for the similarity lie, most likely, in the partial coincidence of some elements from other dance cultures. Many consider house a direct descendant of hip-hop, but, in fact, this is not so. Hip-hop, of course, influenced the formation of house, brought many elements and emotions to it, but significant changes in music in the 80s played the main role in the emergence of house. House is woven from a variety of styles, but does not have clear canons of movement performance at its core.

House was born on the basis of Old School Hip-hop and many elements from other styles. To date, there are various varieties in house: jacking (body work), footwork (footwork), stomping (jumping elements), lofting (parterre work), as well as stocking - playing with a partner.

But the basis of the dance is precisely the individual perception of music by the dancer, his feelings and emotions - it is no coincidence that the style did not have the original name and was simply designated as Freestyle dancing.

One of the best dancers in New York, Ejoe Willson, says that "what makes hayc different from hip-hop is that when you dance hayc, you subordinate your body to the music itself, and not to the musical beat, as in hip-hop."

Feelings, emotions, sensations are very important in Hausa. It should be noted that house is still more of a club dance than a theatrical one, so the technical execution of all movements is considered the main one. House helps to improve the dancer's flexibility, balance and physical abilities.


House catches the eye of the public with its energy and fun atmosphere. The features of this dance make it one of the most popular at any party.

As in any other style, House Dance also includes improvisation, where each dancer can express himself.

If you look at the video of the performances of house dancers, you can see that they have a unique quality and perform all movements easily and seem to spring on their feet. The speed of the dance performance speaks for itself, since energetic music with smooth transitions requires the realization of wide plastic abilities.

House dance culture implies that each dancer perceives music in his own way and expresses his perception in dance movements. House is based on several modern original trends. Initially, house was positioned as freestyle - this is the art of energetic street dance, which, first of all, allows the dancer to express his feelings and emotions following the perception of music.

On the dance floor in all its glory, for others - a love for such dances and a desire to develop in this area, for example, create your own team or become a coach. In the first case, it will be enough for you to watch video lessons and repeat after the teacher. In the second case, it is better to choose a school where professional performance is taught, and also do not forget to learn as much as possible about such directions.

Why are they called street?

Ironically, ballet and salsa can also be adapted to this style. Street dances - assorted from a variety of directions. They are not danced in choreographic halls, but are performed in the yards of schools and institutes, in nightclubs and on the streets. The main thing in them is to reveal the individuality, express the character, feelings of the dancer and show his uniqueness. Therefore, be sure to try street dancing at home, perhaps it will become your life's work.

Street dance styles

Hip-Hop - less aggression and more freedom of expression. The fine jumping technique is what sets him apart from others.

Free Style - as you can see from the name, there are no hard and fast rules. Relaxed improvisation and combination of movements to your taste are the basis of the style.

New Jack - acrobatics included.

Pop Locking is a synchronized dance that requires a lot of stamina.

Dab Step - dance to the music of the same name. Combines a mix of all areas of street dancing.

Locking - movements in full force and maximum dedication. Reversals, swings, rotations are presented.

House - in this style, the body is subordinate to the melody, while in hip-hop you are subordinate to the musical beat.

R&B - "Rhythm and Blues" is more complex and complex than hip-hop.

Trance is a dance not only of the body, but also of the soul.

How to street dance at home

1. Choose loose clothing and comfortable shoes. Nothing should interfere and annoy.

2. To understand faster, listen to more music of the desired direction, listen to the rhythm.

3. The most important thing in achieving success is desire, diligence and diligence. Don't stop there, even if you don't see results (yet). If you study with a teacher, do not compare yourself with him. Naturally, he will dance better than you. The main thing is to compare yourself with your previous results.

4. How to learn to dance street dancing and where to start? Learn the basic steps first. This will be the base. But before that, determine the style that you like. If you want to develop sexuality - stop at R&B, if you want to relax and have fun - Hip-Hop can become your style, if you want striptease, but more chaste - choose Go-Go, Locking will help increase stamina and improve physical fitness.

5. Before learning how to dance street dance at home, decide on videos. Nothing can replace a professional trainer, even if that trainer shows the exercises on You Tube. So learn from famous dancers.

6. Remember the basic rule: constant practice is the key to an amazing result! At first, it may not work at all. Do not get depressed, you will see that one day everything became simple and clear, and your movement looks polished and natural.

7. Having learned the basic elements, mix them to your taste - improvisation is an indispensable street dance technique.

House dance performance is based on rhythmic and fast footwork combined with relaxed body movements. This direction originates in Chicago, it arose after the appearance of the musical style of the same name. House has been influenced by many movements: the dance contains elements of martial arts, Latin American incendiary dances, wog, waking and breakdancing. Much of this style adopted from hip-hop culture. You can learn how to dance house for beginners and beginners in Moscow at the best dance school-studio.

Would you like to learn how to dance house? Rock with us We are not just a school, we are a real dance family, the best and largest in Russia. We will be glad to see you in our team. We teach the most experienced choreographers who will help to reveal the full potential. They have repeatedly proved their skills at various European, Russian and even world competitions. Step by step, they will guide you into the wonderful world of house.

You can learn how to dance house for guys and boys quite quickly. Within a few months you will feel confident in the dance. Conquer the dance floors, become the star of music videos, participate in contests and competitions, stand out from the crowd! We invite everyone aged 10 years to

Learning how to dance house for girls is easy and simple, you just have to start. Movements perfectly develop coordination of movement and make the female body elegant and truly beautiful. And self-confidence increases with each new step.

Learning how to dance house is easy: everyone has talent

Do not be shy if you have never tried dancing. Better all the fears and doubts and just try. You can learn new things at any age: be it 10 years old or even 110. If you have enthusiasm and a desire to develop, you will become a true professional.

We have some of the strongest trainers in Moscow. Along with professional training, teaching house at our school is a number of undeniable advantages:

  • the opportunity to learn how to dance house from scratch to the level of a pro;
  • creation of creative teams, participation in the filming of commercials and video clips, international and regional performances and competitions;
  • friendly and truly united team;
  • comfortable, bright, spacious and comfortable rooms;
  • it will only take a minute to reach us from the nearest metro station;
  • You don't have to pay for a trial lesson.

Learning how to dance house for kids and teenagers at Trix-Family is the right decision. Finding us is easy! You can get to the studio from the Dubrovka metro station in one or two minutes. Everyone can learn how to dance house, if there is a desire. Our studio is located near the Krestyanskaya Zastava and Proletarskaya stations. You can also quickly get from the Volgogradsky Prospekt and Avtozavodskaya metro stations. It will be convenient for you to come to classes if you live in the South-Eastern Administrative District or in the Central Administrative District. And while the first lesson is free for everyone, do not hesitate. Forward, for the dream!

If you still haven't learned how to move your body like Rihanna or Miley Cyrus, you're hopelessly out of fashion. Fortunately, twerk is so popular that finding instructional videos on YouTube is not a problem at all. Choose those where there are few words, but a lot of movement. It is better to train in front of a mirror, so you can better examine your body and understand how it works. And yes, feel free to be frank, that's the whole point of the dance.

House

Dance appeared along with the musical direction of the same name. Its characteristic features are dynamism, constant movement of the whole body and special footwork, which, as it were, build a certain pattern on the floor. Body movements can be both smooth, wavy, and sharp and very intermittent. House is various combinations of three basic movements (a characteristic swaying of the torso, a peculiar technique of rearranging the legs and sharp movements of the arms) and, of course, a lot of improvisation.

Don't expect this dance to be a thing of the past. Sexy body movements to rhythmic music will never go out of style. If you have no idea or vaguely remember what this R&B is and what it looks like, remember Beyoncé in her Single Ladies video - this is exactly it. The dance is full of expression and feelings, and, despite its characteristic rhythmic movements, the overall pattern of the dance is plastic and smooth.

Dancehall

The history of this dance begins in sultry Jamaica, where it was danced back in 1970s to the thunder of drums and loud songs. Today, the dancehall has gone beyond South America and moved to the most popular dance floors in the world, as well as to the clips of many famous performers. The main movement of the dance is vigorous rotation of the hips and special wave-like movements of the body. Basically, dancehall is something like a combination of hip-hop and R&B. But only a hundred times hotter.

Go-go is a dance of girls who set the rhythm for visitors in clubs. Usually they stand on the podiums and movements that rise above the dance floor and raise the degree of looseness and fun with their drive. Go-go is a very peculiar and characteristic dance. It is easy to learn and quite simple to learn, but keep in mind that it requires a certain amount of physical fitness and takes a lot of energy. No wonder the go-go dancers are all model-like. For an hour of such dances, you can work out not a single dessert.

Best Jam dance school » RuDance

About us:

Best Jam ® dance school was founded in 1996 and stands at the origins of dance club culture. During this time, the school has developed its own style, style and is always one step ahead, introducing new dance directions, corresponding to the development of dance club culture and music.
School of dance "Best Jam" ® is training in club, modern dances (house, techno, trance, disco, locking, jazz-modern, free style, go-go dancer (PJs), strip plastic, elektro (tecktonik ), breakdance), all comers, beginners from scratch and those who wish to continue their education and improve their dancing level. Dance lessons are held in groups and individually, do not depend on a partner, but depend on your desire and perseverance.

Anyone of any age can devote themselves to dancing and embark on a straight path to bodily improvement. By joining the dance, you will gain not only health, a beautiful figure, but also an interesting activity, peace of mind, harmony with yourself and just enjoy it.
The soloists of the group "Best Jam" ®, with experience in teaching and performing on stage, will help you learn how to dance.
Our students take part in various events and competitions, and we invite the best ones to participate in our dance projects and show ballets.

Dance styles of our dance school:

House, Techno (House, techno) is a trendy dance direction all over the world today! Music and movement culture comes from New York and Chicago. These are movements with a clear fixation, tense arms and legs at the end of the trajectory, fast, beautiful, often changing, wide amplitude movements; speed, drive, technique is very dynamic.

Trance (trance) is a house style - plus waves, according to trance music.

Disco - softer style, no sharp points, more hip movement.

Go-go dancer (PJ) is a dance direction with free improvisation to modern club music, with the individual style of each dancer. This is a mixture and variations of techniques from different dance styles: House, Hip-Hop, Strip dance, Club dance, Club Latin, Jazz Modern, Freestyle, Street dance and many other modern club styles.

Modern Jazz - arose in the 70-80s of the XX century. It has absorbed almost all modern dance styles - it is a dynamic fusion of street dances (hip-hop, break) and club dances (R-n-b, club latin) with elements of rock and roll, funk, techno, step, which managed to combine diversity African, Latin American, Arabic and other rhythms. Jazz-modern is the basis of well-known musicals (“Chikago”, “Notrdame de Paris”), being the main dance direction for training professional dancers in Europe and America.

Tecktonik (electro) is a mixture of breakdance, hip-hop and techno. These are smooth, but clear and fast movements of the arms and incredibly fast movements of the legs!

Break dance (break dance) - there is an upper and lower.


Learn more

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