How to dance hip hop for men
What Is Hip Hop Dance? Learn the History & Moves at Home
The moves, the style, the music…
From where it all started until now, Hip Hop dance & culture has made, and is still making, a huge impact on our world.
And if you’re a dancer, studying Hip Hop’s undeniably raw and fascinating background should be considered a core part of your education!
To get you started, we’ve put together a Hip Hop dance crash course for you below.
In this article we’ll cover:
- The definition of Hip Hop dance
- The 5 elements of Hip Hop
- The history of Hip Hop Culture
- Types of Hip Hop dance
- Mainstream media’s effect on Hip Hop
- Everything you need to know about Hip Hop dance classes
But first… if you’re looking to do more than read about Hip Hop dance, here’s a shortcut to our online Beginner Hip Hop dance program!
There, your instructor Buddha Stretch will teach you about Hip Hop history in real time, while also showing you the basic moves and foundations of the style, step-by-step.
All right, let’s dive into all things Hip Hop.
What Is Hip Hop Dance?
Hip Hop Dance is a style of movement characterized by bounces and rocks, executed to Hip Hop music. It has deep historical and social roots in African American culture, having emerged in Black communities living in 1970s New York. While frequently referred to as a singular dance style, Hip Hop dance is part of a whole culture of Hip Hop, that includes Deejaying, Graffiti, Emceeing, and Breaking.
The 5 Elements of Hip Hop
Deejaying
Also known as turntabling, this is an art form in which music is made in real time using record players and DJ mixers. DJs in the Hip Hop community are responsible for creating/curating the music that gets people on the dance floor at parties.
Emceeing
MC stands for “Master of Ceremonies” and they’re basically the hype-man of the DJ! The MC gets the crowd going and will sometimes freestyle rap over the music.
Graffiti
This is the art of expressing oneself about everyday life using spray paint on walls/outdoor spaces.
Breaking
Breaking (often called breakdancing by popular media) is the original dance style that came out of the Hip Hop community. It started out with these 5 core movements: Top Rocks, Fast Footwork, Back Rocks, Freezes, and Power Moves.
Knowledge
This element is the thread that weaves all the other elements together. “Knowledge of self” refers to the Afro-diasporic mix of spiritual and political consciousness designed to empower members of oppressed groups by portraying social change and giving back to the minority communities.
While some OG members of the Hip Hop community consider other elements to be part of Hip Hop’s core (such as Beatboxing) all agree – you must participate in the 5 elements above to be considered a member of authentic Hip Hop culture.
The History of Hip Hop Culture
The Bronx in the 70's was a rough, dangerous place to grow up.
The youth were surrounded by drugs, crime, poverty, gang violence, and overall struggle.
Yet they, particularly the African American and Latino youth (minority groups), were neglected by mainstream institutions.
Desperate for a way to escape their everyday struggles, they invented their own art forms.
These art forms, which the youth embodied in the way they dressed, talked, moved, and expressed themselves, soon became a lifestyle. A way to live.
This lifestyle and culture became known as Hip Hop.
KRS-One defines the etymology of "Hip Hop" in this lecture below.
"Hip" = present, "Hop"= action.
So, Hip Hop is a movement that represents the freedom to learn, grow, and evolve.
Despite the negativity and tumult in the South Bronx, Hip Hop heads were able to rise above their environment and create a positive form of release.
Instead of substances and violence, their energy was redirected to values like originality, creativity, identity, respect, and community.
The same way that our religious, ethnic, and familial backgrounds inform our way of being in the world, Hip Hop was the way that people could be in a way that felt right to them.
Deejaying, Emceeing, Breaking and Dancing, and Graffiti weren't just hobbies – they were sanctuaries.
Photo by The Guardian
DJ Kool Herc (AKA the “Father of Hip Hop”) used to start block parties in the West Bronx (AKA the “birthplace of Hip Hop").
He played music on his turntables and the community would come out to mingle and dance.
If you've ever heard of "1520 Sedgwick Avenue" that's the address of the iconic building where many of these first parties took place.
As Kool Herc watched the people party, he noticed that they got the most hype during the breakbeat of a song.
(The breakbeat is the instrumental, percussive section in funk and R&B records.
)
And since his job as a DJ was to keep the energy of the party up, he found a way to extend the breakbeat by isolating it, then using two turntables to play it back to back on a loop.
Grandmaster Flash further innovated the art of DJing by using his headphones to pinpoint exactly where the beats started and ended.
This allowed him to “precue” the beats and make seamless transitions between the breaks. (Price 156)
As this happened, the Master of Ceremonies, or MC, or Emcee, would hype up the DJ and the crowd, keeping the energy going.
By the late 1970s, DJs and Emcees were getting together regularly to spin, scratch, cut, and mix for the community.
Photo by Voices of East Anglia
As much as the art forms within Hip Hop have evolved over the decades, the core tenants of the culture remain.
Now that we’re familiar with the history of Hip Hop culture, let’s take a closer look at the two major Hip Hop dance styles – Breaking and Party Dances.
Types of Hip Hop dances
Breaking
Breaking (often referred to by mainstream media as "breakdancing”)" is a style of dance that was born through Hip Hop block parties. It’s an athletic dance style that allows skilled dancers to engage in good-natured battles and displays of one-upmanship.
DJ Kool Herc originally called these dancers break boys (b-boys) and break girls (b-girls) – because they danced to his breakbeats that he looped.
“Standard” techniques include fast footwork, freezes, powermoves, downrocks and toprocks.
Footwork and toprock both require being able to think in three dimensions, the ability to create your own moves, and the originality to imbue every individual movement with style, flavor, and originality. (Rajakumar 19)
The early b-boys and b-girls came from all kinds of backgrounds of movement.
They brought salsa, Cuban mambo and rumba, Brazilian samba, Jazz dance, as well as martial arts like Kung-Fu and Capoeira to influence Breaking.
Breaking battles became tests of athleticism, attitude, originality, and dominance.
Through these battles, dancers earned pride, respect, and a sense of identity and purpose. And instead of asserting themselves with weapons or violence, they did so through dance.
Hip Hop Party Dances
But not everybody could do the athletically demanding moves of Breaking, nor were they interested in competition.
And different types of Hip Hop music prompted people to move a different way – a way that is social, light-hearted, and fun.
With the advent of dancers like Buddha Stretch, Hip Hop party dances were born!
Some examples of these social or party dance moves include the Snake, Chicken-head, Cabbage Patch, Harlem Shake, and Running Man.
As the dance scene expanded, multiple Hip Hop clubs sprang up all over New York. Two popular ones were Latin Quarters and Union Square.
The dances that emerged during this era are usually what people think of when you say “old school Hip Hop” dances.
Then, as we entered the late 90s and early 2000s, Hip Hop music evolved to include different instruments and rap flows, which led to new dances.
The Whip, Nae Nae, Dougie, Cat Daddy are examples of new school party dances that came from recent songs. (Brandon Allen Juezan)
P.S. You can learn all these Hip Hop party dance moves on STEEZY Studio too! Learning single moves can be a great way to delve into Hip Hop in a short amount of time.
Click here to take the classes for free.
Other “Hip Hop” styles?
Styles like Popping/Boogaloo, House, Locking, and Whacking are often incorrectly grouped under the Hip Hop “umbrella.
”
However, these are not Hip Hop styles, but their own individual styles of dance with their own techniques, vocabulary, and origin.
The social dances that developed in the 1980's like Locking and Popping are more accurately described as "West Coast Funk" styles.
Hip Hop dance in the media
Hip Hop started being noticed by the media in the early 1980's.
Films like Wild Style, Style Wars, Beat Street, and Breakin’ were significant in introducing Breaking and street dance culture to a wider audience.
In 1981, a battle between Rock Steady Crew and the Dynamic Rockers at the Lincoln Center gained national exposure.
It was covered by several New York Publications, and even National Geographic.
In 1983, the movie Flashdance featured dancers from Rock Steady Crew (Crazy Legs, Ken Swift, Frosty Freeze, and Mr.
Freeze) in a cameo performance.
Graffiti Rock, though short-lived, was a show that bridged all the foundational elements of Hip Hop together.
"[Graffiti Rock] is still “remembered as one of the pioneers of hip hop culture.” (Rajakumar, 35)
Soul Train, created in the 70s by Don Cornelius, also popularized Hip Hop social dancing along with Popping, Locking, and other styles.
Breakers went on to be featured in commercials for major brands such as Burger King, Pepsi, Coke, and Panasonic, as well as talk shows, news shows, and even the 1984 summer Olympics.
Charles “Cholly” Atkins and James Brown popularized several dance moves that would later influence the future Hip Hop generation (Durden).
Elite Force, a dance crew from the 90s, was made of Hip Hop heads that also worked as professional dancers.
Elite Force, a dance crew from the 90s, was made of Hip Hop heads that also worked as professional dancers.
All of these Hip Hop dancers were getting more exposure and opportunities, but the style and culture were depicted in a watered-down and commercialized manner when it was performed for the masses.
“Critics now find flaws in the films as examples of the early commercialization of breakdancing diluting the intensity of the socioeconomic roots of the origins of breakdancing and hip hop culture – part athletic creativity and part struggle for meaning in the midst of poverty and social alienation.” (Rajakumar, 38)
After all, it’s difficult to make anything appeal to a mass market while fully preserving its authenticity.
Many dance and fitness studios use the term “Hip Hop” to describe their classes, despite the fact that the movements are not based on Hip Hop’s foundational grooves or culture.
And all of these misuses of the term “Hip Hop” have led people to believe that any choreography danced to Hip Hop, Rap, and R&B music is considered Hip Hop dance, which
Modern shows like America’s Best Dance Crew, Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, and movies like Save The Last Dance, You Got Served, and the Step Up series further popularized street style movement to younger dancers, but depicted underground Hip Hop culture in a way that was packaged to be palatable for the screen.
Today, dance organizations and community groups around the world are working to reverse this appropriation by practicing, teaching, and living all things Hip Hop as authentically and preserving the culture in its purest form.
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Hip Hop Dance Classes
As we previously mentioned, coming across an authentically taught Hip Hop dance class can be tough – especially if you live in smaller cities where that culture never had the chance to take root.
However, while you search for a class, you can always start your training by building your knowledge – it’s one of the 5 elements of Hip Hop after all!
We recommend that you train all of the background dance skills that’ll aid you in an in-person Hip Hop class by reading this article: How To Dance Hip Hop For Beginners
And for a deeper dive on all the things you might wanna know before taking any street style class, our post How To Start Dancing will give you info on everything from freestyling to getting involved in your local dance community.
Now, let’s talk about how to actually find a good Hip Hop class in your area.
- Start simple by Googling. Look up “Hip Hop dance classes near me” and check out dance studios or events that have great reviews.
- Once you find a few solid-looking studios, check out their social media (Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook tend to be best) to get a sense of what the classes actually look like.
- Check out the studio websites.
As you’re doing all of this digging, you should be looking for a couple of things!
First, you should be making sure that the classes are truly Hip Hop, not a mix of styles that has been artificially labeled.
To do this, look for classic moves listed in their website descriptions/executed in their videos. Also look for language about “bounces and rocks,” “old school,” or “new school” dance moves.
Lastly, research the instructor! Does it seem like they’re a member of the wider Hip Hop community? Do they talk about the culture and history like we’ve done in this article? Or do they talk mostly about superficial, commercialized things?
Use your best judgement!
And if you can't find Hip Hop dance classes near you, or you just wanna learn in the comfort of home, we have plenty of authentically taught classes and programs for you on STEEZY Studio.
Our Beginner Hip Hop program is taught by OG Hip Hop dancer Buddha Stretch. Step-by-step, he’ll guide you through the basics of rhythm, technique, performance skills, and more.
Click here to start the Beginner Hip Hop Program on STEEZY.
If you’re looking for something a little more bite-sized, check out our FREE classes with Brandon Beastboi Juezan! Each class covers a classic Hip Hop move or one of the more recent viral moves of the 2000s.
Lastly, if you’re an intermediate/advanced dancer, you might be ready to explore Hip Hop in a more personal way.
Check out these 5 tips on how to find your own flavor in Hip Hop dance.
And as for choreography?
Though Open Style Choreography (once referred to as Urban Dance) is not Hip Hop dance, we can trace some of its movements and techniques to Hip Hop and street styles.
If choreography is what you’re actually looking for, STEEZY made it a priority to give that style of movement its own category!
You can check out our Open Style Choreography classes here, and you can find out more about the differences between "Urban Dance" and Hip Hop here.
What Hip Hop dance means to us
As a part of our jobs as dance educators and because of our personal understanding of how deep dance cultures root back, STEEZY does everything we can to preserve and share the right information – especially with the younger generation of dancers.
In all of our styles programs on STEEZY Studio, whether it's:
Slim Boogie’s Beginner Popping Program
Jojo Diggs' Beginner House Program
Lorena Valenzuela's Beginner Whacking Program
Tango Leadaz' Beginner Dancehall Program
Mr. YouTube’s Beginner Lite Feet Program
Bboy Machine’s Beginner Breaking Program
we make sure to
- Work with dope dancers/teachers who are also respected ambassadors of each dance culture
- Include History as a part of teaching the dance moves (because the moves came from the history)
Head over to STEEZY now to try our Hip Hop classes from home, and learn about the style from authentic educators in the Hip Hop community.
This article about Hip Hop Dance is far from perfect, and I fantasize of one day writing one all-inclusive piece that accurately, thoroughly covers every little thing about Hip Hop.
But Hip Hop's story contains so many moving parts (some of which conflict), stories of several people's personal lives, and so many details that are still being uncovered to this day...
It's nearly impossible to capture all of that in one package...
Unless it's a package of Encyclopedias?
Alas, I accepted that I can't write the perfect story, and instead embraced the opportunity to simply create dialogue.
If you disagree with something, then write to me ([email protected]) and let me know.
Or if you have something to add, can connect me with people to interview, have any questions to ask, please don't hesitate to reach out.
We're all learning together. That's what this is really about.
Sources:
Hip Hop, by Christopher A. Miller and Rebecca A Ferrell
Hip Hop Culture, Emmett G.
Price III, Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO 2006
Hip Hop Dance, Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar
Underground Dance Masters: Final History Of A Forgotten Era, Thomas Guzman-Sanchez
Hip-Hop Dance in Context Jazz Dance: A History of the Roots and Branches E. Moncell Durden
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teaching basic movements and features of dance
Contents
Hip-hop, like any other dance direction, is best studied at 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.
Sign up for a trial lesson
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, the 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 the hands;
- Afro-jazz - shaking mainly the lower and most prominent part of the body in women;
- Crump - vigorous 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
Street dance
Hip Hop, Disco, House, Breakdance, Lady Style Dance
OK TSC AJAX #RedPanthersCrew
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Basic dance terms in street directions
Swing - rhythmic movement of the body that connects the dancer with the music.
The basic swing is done in the knees. However, it can be in the lower back, and neck, in the chest, and so on.
Bounce - aka quality. An elastic rhythmic movement in the knees that connects the dancer with the music.
Groove - feeling in the body from how the music "rocks" you.
Isolation - movement of one part of the body while completely "freezing" everything else. It is the basis for all the illusory effects in the dance, and also helps to make the movements clearer and more spectacular.
Eight - eight counts in music. A repeating fragment that makes up musical compositions. The figure eight consists of 2 cycles (4 counts). Four eights form a "square".
Routine - pre-prepared dance piece. Often done in sync by a group of dancers. But it can also be performed solo.
Jam - dance party, when dancers stand in a circle and take turns showing their skills
Battle - dance duel.
It happens one on one, two on two or team on team. Opponents are trying to dance each other. Usually the winner is determined by the judges. Sometimes the audience by the noise of applause and shouting.
Byte - plagiarism. When one dancer shows movements that are a recognizable part of the manner of another. Not welcome among dancers
Vibe - atmosphere, impression of the event, dancer or event.
Street dance in ORTO (IDO). General
Directions in this category:
• Breakdance • Electric Boogie • Hip Hop • Hip Hop Solo and Team Battles • Disco • Disco Free Style • Street Dance Show • Techno
Unless otherwise provided by the rules of specific disciplines, the following categories are presented in Street Dance disciplines:
Solo Men
Solo Women
Duets - two men, two women or a man and a woman nomination Disco Adults)
Small groups/Teams - 3-7 people
Formation - 8-24 people
Large Production - 25 people and more
General provisions - Street Dance
There are special rules for each specific discipline of Street Dance, which are located in the relevant sections of the disciplines.
The rules given below apply to all disciplines of Street Dance. All exceptions are given in each rule. If there is an exception for a discipline, refer to the special rules of the relevant discipline.
Age category
Age category
Mini Kids 7 years and younger
Children 11 years and younger
Juniors 12-15 years old
Adults 1 16 years old and over
Adults 2 31 years old and over
From time to time, the Organizers may hold competitions in Street Dance disciplines in the category Adults 2 (31 years old and over), without exception. This category is presented only in the Small Groups and Formation nominations.
Dancers cannot compete against themselves.
Music
Participants in many (but not all) disciplines perform to the music of the Organizers.
Exceptions: Disco Formation, Hip Hop Formation, Techno Formation, Hip Hop Team Battles (Round 1), Breakdance Teams (Round 1) and all Street Dance Show nominations.
Duration of performance: See Rules for specific disciplines. In each discipline, when participants perform to the music of the Organizers, dancers are required to respect the allotted time limits. In the event that the participant does not fully use the allotted time, the participant is given a warning. If the performer does not fully use the time allotted to him, then this leads to the immediate disqualification of the dancer. In some cases, when the competitor is unable to continue the competition, he is automatically awarded the last place in the corresponding stage of the competition. (Changes to the Rules of September 1, 2015)
In the Children category, the time limit is 2:30 minimum and 3:00 maximum. This rule applies to all disciplines, unless otherwise provided by the rules of specific disciplines.
Props
Approved for use in some but not all disciplines.
Hats, coats, sweaters, shawls, etc. may be used as long as they remain part of the costume for the remainder of the performance.
These items of clothing can be turned inside out, held in hands, passed to partners in the performance, but it is FORBIDDEN to throw them during the performance.
Props other than clothing cannot be used in the performance. These props are:
• walking sticks • umbrellas • balloons • skateboards • bags • headphones • masks • sunglasses/fashion glasses
etc.
Exceptions: Street Dance Show - all nominations. The use of props is allowed if the dancer can carry them onto the stage in one go. Dancers are required to carry props without assistance.
Bulky props are not allowed at IDO events in any of the dances, categories, styles or directions.
Lifts
Lifts are movements/figures in which both of the dancer's feet do not touch the floor and are performed with the help/support of another dancer.
Lifts are allowed in some but not all dance disciplines. This information should be specified in the sections of the rules for the relevant disciplines.
Supports are NOT allowed in the Children category.
Acrobatic Movements: Acrobatic movements are movements in which the dancer's body rotates on a vertical or horizontal axis, such as somersaults, wheels, etc. Acrobatic moves are allowed in some but not all dance disciplines. This information should be specified in the sections of the rules for the relevant disciplines.
Performing acrobatic movements does not always involve the award of additional points, but on the contrary, it can contribute to the reduction of points if the movements are performed technically incorrectly.
Hip-Hop categories and battles (according to the rules of ORTO)
Hip-Hop
The following categories are presented in this discipline:
Solo men, Solo women, Duets, Small groups and Formation.
Male Solo, Female Solo and Duets
1. The duration of the performance is 1 minute (to the music of the Organizers).
2. Tempo: 27-28 beats per minute (108-112 beats per minute).
3. Characteristics of the dance: Hip-hop includes movements of various styles - Hype Dance, New-Jack-Swing, Jamming, etc., as well as such elements as stops (pauses), jokes, flashes, fast abrupt movements and etc. The use of Electric Boogie elements in the dance is allowed, however, they should not dominate the movements of the main style. Hip-Hop is usually performed for eight counts using characteristic jumping movements.
4. Acrobatic Movements: The use of acrobatic elements is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations for the Disciplines of Street Dance, but such movements must not dominate the dance.
5. Lifts: Prohibited in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance.
6. Props: Prohibited in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance.
7. Note for the Duets category: Both dancers must dance together, not just in turns.
The dance must have simultaneous steps of both dancers, such as Follow the Leader, etc.
8. Competition procedure: In each round, participants dance 3 times. Each group of speakers begins and ends with a one-minute joint performance in each round. For the number of participants on the dance floor during the second minute of the performance, see Section 3.12.2 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Competition.
The opening and closing minutes of the performance are used to allow judges to compare competitors.
Judges should walk around the dance floor during the opening and final performances to avoid the risk of injury.
Small groups
1. The duration of the performance is 2 minutes (to the music of the Organizers).
2. Tempo: 27-28 beats per minute (108-112 beats per minute).
3. Groups dance together, two or three groups at a time. In the final, the groups perform in turn.
4. Musicality (rhythm, pauses), variety and originality of movements, individual choreography, as well as the correct execution of elements are evaluated.
In dance, the music, dance and costumes must be in harmony with each other and emphasize the special character of Hip-Hop.
5. Lifts: Prohibited in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance.
6. Props: Prohibited in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance.
7. The performance of the group is evaluated as a whole. Solo elements are allowed, but they must not dominate the dance.
8. The rest of the rules are the same as for the Solo and Duet categories.
Formation
1. Participants perform to their own music.
2. Performance duration: 2:30 minimum and 3:00 maximum.
3. The dance tempo in this category cannot be faster than 30 beats per minute (120 counts). However, an excess of 30 seconds is allowed. There are no restrictions on the minimum allowable pace.
4. Music: Appropriate music specific to Hip-Hop must be chosen for the dance.
5. The performance of the group is evaluated as a whole.
Solo elements are allowed, but they must not dominate the dance.
6. Lifts: Permitted only in the Junior and Senior Formation categories.
7. Props: Prohibited in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance.
The rest of the rules are the same as for the Solo, Duet and Small Group categories.
Hip-Hop battles
The following categories are presented in this discipline: Solo and Teams.
For age categories, see General Rules for Street Dance Disciplines.
Solo
1. Music: Participants dance to the music of the Organizers in various Hip-Hop styles.
2. Duration of performances: 4-6 performances of 30 seconds-1 minute.
Distribution of music in Hip-Hop battles
1. Mandatory NEW STYLE
2. Different styles:
• Ragga • R&B • House • D.step • Popping
3. Mandatory OLD SCHOOL
Team battles
1. Number of dancers in a team: 3-7.
2. Music: In the 1st round, teams may dance to their own music. In subsequent rounds, participants perform to the music of the Organizers.
Distribution of music in Hip-Hop battles
1. Mandatory NEW STYLE
2. Different styles:
• Ragga • R&B • House • D.step • Popping
3. Mandatory OLD SCHOOL
Team battles
All competition stages 1 0:30-0:40 NEW 2 0:30-0:40 3 0:30-0: 40 4 0:30-0:40 5 0:30-0:40 OLD
3. Performance duration: 150-180 seconds (2:30-3:00) in the first round (Show). In the semi-finals (3rd and 4th places) there are 5 exits of participants (in different styles). In the final battle, up to 7 exits are possible (in different styles).
4. Tempo: No limit.
5. Use of props in this category is allowed.
6. If one team interferes with the performance of another or endangers the health of its members, the team that violates the rules will be deducted points for performance.
Street Dance Show (according to ORTO rules)
The following categories are presented in this discipline:
Solo Men, Solo Women, Duets, Small Groups and Formation.
Solo Men/Women, Duos
1. Duration of performance: 1:45 minimum - 2:15 maximum.
2. Music: Participants perform to their own music. There are no restrictions. The genre of music must be determined by the choreography of the dance and 100% correspond to the disciplines of Street Dance.
3. Movement Characteristics:
• The technique used must match one of the styles listed in the IDO rules under Street Dance: Hip-Hop, Disco, Breakdance, Electric Boogie and Techno.
• Competitors are free to choose whether to use the techniques listed above, pure or mixed. Example: A performance submitted only in the Hip-Hop style will be judged equally with a performance that uses several styles: Hip-Hop, Disco and Techno.
• Each performance must have a theme or idea that is clearly visible throughout the performance.
• Note: Musicality, variety of dance elements, originality, performance quality, individual/original choreography are judged. In a dance number, the idea, music, dance, choreography, costumes and props must be harmoniously combined with each other, since the overall impression of the dance plays a big role in grading.
• In the category Children: a. Any kind of jumping from decorations higher than 1 m is prohibited (such jumps can be just as dangerous as supports). b. Acrobatic movements of Breakdance are prohibited (performing elements while standing on the head).
4. Lifts: Use is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance. Note: Supports are not allowed in the Kids category.
5. Acrobatic Movements: The use of acrobatic movements is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations on the Disciplines of Street Dance.
Small groups (3-7 people)
1. Performance duration: 2:30 minimum - 3:00 maximum (150-180 seconds).
2. Music: Participants perform to their own music. There are no restrictions. The genre of music must be determined by the choreography of the dance and 100% correspond to the disciplines of Street Dance.
3. Movement Characteristics:
• The technique used must match one of the styles listed in the IDO rules under Street Dance: Hip-Hop, Disco, Breakdance, Electric Boogie and Techno.
• Competitors are free to choose whether to use the techniques listed above, pure or mixed. Example: A performance submitted only in the Hip-Hop style will be judged equally with a performance that uses several styles: Hip-Hop, Disco and Techno.
• Each performance must have a theme or idea that is clearly visible throughout the performance.
• Note: Musicality, variety of dance elements, originality, performance quality, individual/original choreography are judged. In a dance number, the idea, music, dance, choreography, costumes and props must be harmoniously combined with each other, since the overall impression of the dance plays a big role in grading.
• In the category Children: a. Any kind of jumping from decorations higher than 1 m is prohibited (such jumps can be just as dangerous as supports). b. Acrobatic movements of Breakdance are prohibited (performing elements while standing on the head). 4. Lifts: Use is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance.
Note: Supports are not allowed in the Kids category.
5. All dancers of the group perform together. The performance of the group is evaluated as a whole. Solo elements are allowed, but they must not dominate the dance.
6. Acrobatic Movements: The use of acrobatic movements is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations on the Disciplines of Street Dance. The use of gymnastic combinations performed on the floor and consisting of more than 3 acrobatic elements should be kept to a minimum. 7. Props: Use is allowed in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance. One piece of props must not exceed the dimensions of a standard door (200x80 cm).
Formations (8-24 people)
1. Performance duration: 2:30 minimum - 4:00 maximum. In the category Children Formation - a maximum of 3 minutes.
2. Music: Participants perform to their own music. There are no restrictions. The genre of music must be determined by the choreography of the dance and must be 100% consistent with the disciplines of Street Dance.
3. Movement Characteristics:
• The technique used must be one of the styles listed in the IDO rules under Street Dance: Hip-Hop, Disco, Breakdance, Electric Boogie and Techno.
• Competitors are free to choose whether to use the techniques listed above, pure or mixed. Example: A performance submitted only in the Hip-Hop style will be judged equally with a performance that uses several styles: Hip-Hop, Disco and Techno.
• Each performance must have a theme or idea that is clearly visible throughout the performance. Note: Musicality, variety of dance elements, originality, performance quality, individual/original choreography are judged. In a dance number, the idea, music, dance, choreography, costumes and props must be harmoniously combined with each other, since the overall impression of the dance plays a big role in grading.
• In the category Children: a. Any kind of jumping from decorations higher than 1 m is prohibited (such jumps can be just as dangerous as supports).
b. Acrobatic movements of Breakdance are prohibited (performing elements while standing on the head).
4. Lifts: Use is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance. Note: Supports are not allowed in the Kids category.
5. All Formation dancers perform together. The performance is evaluated as a whole. Solo elements are allowed, but they must not dominate the dance.
6. Acrobatic Movements: The use of acrobatic movements is permitted in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance. The use of gymnastic combinations performed on the floor and consisting of more than 3 acrobatic elements should be kept to a minimum.
7. Props: Use is allowed in accordance with the General Regulations on the disciplines of Street Dance. One piece of props must not exceed the dimensions of a standard door (200x80 cm). If the props exceed these dimensions, the participants must contact the Organizer before the competition (no later than 14 days before the start of the competition).
ORTO rules for evaluating performance
At the first stage of the competition, the judges evaluate each performance with points from 1 to 10. The evaluation criteria are as follows: music
• 2 - bad - one or two elements performed correctly, but not in music
• 3 - not bad - dancer's performance of low quality, poor choreography
• 4 - not bad - participant performs various elements / elements of different styles
• 5 - satisfactory - the participant performs various elements / elements of different styles, but there is no development in the dance, or the same element is repeated several times
• 6 - good - the participant performs various elements / elements of different styles, but the technique is not good , or the image is poorly developed in the dance
• 7 - very good - the participant correctly performs all dance elements, but makes small mistakes
• 8 - very good - the participant correctly performs all dance elements, but loses energy by the end of the dance
• 9 - excellent - the participant performs various elements at a sufficiently high level
• 10 - excellent - the participant performs various elements, including other styles, making his personal contribution to the dance Depending on the marks, the judges put letters A, B, C or D and additionally X if the competitor advances to the next round.
