How to dance like bruno mars in uptown funk
How To Dance Like Bruno Mars
We believe Bruno Mars is one of the greatest entertainers of our generation. So, it's only fitting that we'd wanna break down one of his biggest assets: his dancing!
In this blog, we’ll dive into the 3 main ingredients that make Bruno Mars’ dancing so special:
- Not being afraid to imitate
- How he uses his hands
- His Sacramento swagger
Plus, we’ll leave you with some tips to help you dance more like Bruno as you move through your own dance journey.
Speaking of journeys…
Be sure to take a peek at STEEZY Studio for 1500+ classes that'll help you grow as a dancer, including some that'll teach you how to work out like a dancer.
Now let’s jump into it!
Bruno has always proudly imitated his heroes and honored them from the get go.
From being the world's youngest Elvis impersonator at 2 years old, to working as a Michael Jackson impersonator when he was only 15 in high school.
He loved and mimicked these legends, as well as the “Godfather of Soul”, James Brown.
But how the heck did he learn to dance like them? After all, YouTube didn't exist, and there wasn't a STEEZY Studio app to download.
Well, it was actually through video tapes! Bruno's dad would give him VHS tapes of his favorite artists, and he’d watch them, study them, and then do the choreography exactly like in the videos.
Check out the parallels below between Bruno and James Brown, for example:
You'll see further similarities when you watch videos of Bruno and Elvis!
Or Bruno and Michael Jackson!
If you’d ask me, I think it’s admirable that he didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, he saw an opportunity to continue what these legends already brought to the table, and ran with it.
Take-Away Tip:
It’s ok to try to imitate your favorite dancers (just be sure to give credit).
Whether you aspire to be a professional dancer or you've started learning the basics, imitation is a great way to discover what feels good to you.
When we look at Bruno Mars, none of those moves were original but he still manages to make us feel more engaged with his dancing because he’s not hiding the fact that he’s imitating these iconic performers.
So, set aside your fear of looking stupid, awkward, or "not as good as everyone else.
"
Instead, copy with confidence!
For more confidence building, be sure to catch these 6 awesome tips!
Every dancer has a few “go-to” moves or poses that serve as a foundation for their movement style. Then, they add facial performance, timing switches, little shoulder raises – all the things that give those foundations character.
Bruno’s base foundational movements appear in almost every dance that he performs.
He loves hip sways and rolls, body rocks, bounces, and a groovy two step.
All moves and foundations that you can actually learn from the comfort of your own home with STEEZY Studio. ;)
But there is one subtle yet powerful tool Bruno uses that most of us may overlook: his hands.
He uses them in the most relaxed, confident way. No force, just good vibes. They are never tense or stiff. His hands express a relaxed confidence.
You can see it when he playfully signals and gestures at his crew on stage or in music videos.
Or when he is in full dance mode and uses his hands to accent different movements.
Notice how he rarely makes a full, tight fist. He allows his fingers to hover, almost like he just got a fresh manicure.
This allows Bruno to tell a story without singing a word.
Take-Away Tip:
To start off, these hand movements are actually called gesticulation.
These are the movements we use while talking to better express or emphasize our words.
Although most musical artists do use this when they’re singing or talking to the audience, Bruno manages to even integrate playful gesticulation into full out choreographies!
To practice Bruno’s gesticulation style, try this:
1. Stand up straight with your arms and hands hanging down on each side of your body
2. Keep your fingers loose and let the space between them form naturally
3. Bring your hands to the side, lift them half way up with your elbows bent, or lift them above your head – all the while, keep the hands and fingers loose
4.
With some fun music playing, practice making different poses with your body, while focusing on allowing the hands to stay loose and chill
Remember, Bruno literally looked like he had a fresh manicure so handle those babies with care.
3. Master Sacramento swaggerAlthough Bruno wasn’t born and raised in Sacramento, he certainly did make his way to the top by including some of that Sacramento flavor into his performances.
Until around 2014, Mars’ dance style had been mostly based on moves that were popularized by his predecessors.
That is, until the release of his hit song with Mark Ronson, "Uptown Funk."
This was when dancer Phil Tayag, one of the original Jabbawockeez and creator of the Boogie Monsters in Sacramento, started dancing and choreographing for Bruno.
Phil “SB '' Tayag, the SB standing for Sac Boy, noticeably transformed Bruno’s movement as it became lighter with more of a delicate upwards groove.
Then, Phil’s original move, the Sacboy, became a staple in Mars’ new and improved dance vocabulary.
Soon after, Bay Area moves like the Yike and even the Smeeze (created by Chonkie of the Turf Feinz) also made their way to his grand performances.
Take-Away Tip:
Just like Bruno, spot the people who can support you in becoming a better dancer.
Having someone to coach you into finding your unique style can be a huge help.
And if you wanna dance just like Bruno, try learning from some Sacramento-based dancers!
Another great way to start your Bruno-based dance journey?
Learn how to dance like Bruno Mars by dancing to his songs! Check out these classes to get down to some Bruno beats on STEEZY Studio.
There’s a 7-day free trial so you don’t have to commit to anything, but we’d love it if you gave your dance skills a chance to thrive.
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BRUNO MARS' 13 BEST DANCE MOVES
Right before Bruno Mars became a superstar sensual hitmaker dude, he was just a songwriter with perfect pitch and incredible swag. Except there was no way Bruno wasn't going to blow up—with the voice of a sexy angel, the face of, well, also an angel, and the moves of a young, funky version of Justin Timberlake, it wasn't long before Bruno took up permanent residence in our hearts.
To give you a preview what you might see on Bruno's 24K Magic World tour 2017, we're focusing on 13 of those suave dance moves. From his "Uptown Funk" choreographed dance to his Grammy Awards flair, Bruno is always bumpin' to somethin'. Let's dig into Mars' inimitable moves:
1. The Super Split
When Bruno Mars performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, he pulled off this super split with little to no effort. So smooth.
2. The Hips Don't Lie
An ancient proverb waxes: "A hip thrust is worth a thousand words.
" And there's no one who embodies this totally real saying more than Bruno Mars.
3. The Floppy Scarecrow
When Mars hit up Saturday Night Live, he showed off one of his looser go-tos, with his arms in the air and a slight bounce.
4. The Side-To-Side
Bruno is rarely without a smile when he's performing his more upbeat jams, so during another SNL gig, he was beaming as he busted out his side-step move, his entire crew in sync.
5. The Modified Lawnmower
The "Uptown Funk" video served up choreography in its funkiest form. We're not exactly sure who came up with this move, but Bruno makes it look so good.
6. The Fake Out
Now that we know the kid can dance, this robotic roly move just seems like a modest fake out. You're not fooling anyone, Bruno!
7. The Baller Shuffle
Bruno moves his legs faster than you can blink in the "Uptown Funk" video, and along with pulling off this swaggy shuffle, he's also sipping effortlessly on a gentleman's pour of liquor.
8. The Subtle Boogie
The funk is within him. On The Voice, Mars proved that even the most contained boogie is an infectious one.
9. The Glittery Shoulder Swoop
When teaching James Corden how to channel his mojo on Carpool Karaoke, Mars walked him through his signature shoulder roll without flaw.
10. The Groovy Goof
Even when Bruno is being a dork, he still has it. Don't believe me? Just watch.
11. The Elvis Presley
Even when Bruno was a little kid impersonating Elvis Presley in Hawaii, he was still possessed by DANCE. Look at him showing off for Pauly Shore on MTV!
12. The Spanker
Slap it on the left. Slap it on the right. So goes Bruno Mars at the BRIT Awards.
13. The Gobble Wobble
No one can be Prince, but Bruno can do a pretty good job at honoring his swag level. When Bruno paid tribute to the late legend at the Grammy Awards, he injected some Bruno body and a killer guitar solo.
Mark Ronson feat.
Bruno Mars This hit that ice cold
Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold
This one for them hood girls
Them good girls straight masterpieces
Stylin', whilen, livin' it up in the city
Got Chucks on with Saint Laurent
Got kiss myself, I'm so pretty
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Called a police and a fireman
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Make a dragon wanna retire man
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Am I bad 'bout that money, break it down
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
Saturday night and we in the spot
Don't believe me just watch (come on)
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Hey, hey, hey, oh
Stop, wait a minute
Fill my cup, put some liquor in it
Take a sip, sign a check
Julio, get the stretch
Ride to Harlem, Hollywood
Jackson, Mississippi
If we show up, we gon' show out
Smoother than a fresh dry skippy
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Called a police and a fireman
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Make a dragon wanna retire man
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Bitch say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Am I bad 'bout that money
Break it down
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
Saturday night and we in the spot
Don't believe me just watch (come on)
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Hey, hey, hey, oh
Before we leave
Lemmy tell y'all a lil' something
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up uh
I said uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Come on, dance, jump on it
If you sexy then flaunt it
If you freaky then own it
Don't brag about it, come show me
Come on, dance
Jump on it
If you sexy then flaunt it
Well it's Saturday night and we in the spot
Don't believe me just watch come on!
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Hey, hey, hey, oh
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
U
This hit, this ice cold
Michelle Pfeiffer, white gold
This is for them girls from the hood
Them good girls, straight masterpieces
Stilin while living in the city
Got Chucky with Saint Laurent
Kiss yourself, I'm so beautiful
I'm too hot (hell)
Call the police and fireman
I'm too hot (damn)
Make the dragon retire
I'm too hot (damn)
Say my name, you know who I am
I'm too hot (damn)
I'm bad at these money, break it
Girls hit you hallelujah (hey)
Girls hit you hallelujah (hey)
Girls hit you hallelujah (hey)
Cause uptown funk will give it to you
Cause uptown funk will give it to you
Because funk on outskirts of town will give it to you
Saturday night and we're there
Don't trust me, just look (come on)
Don't trust me, just look
Don't trust me, just look
Don't trust me, just look
Don't trust me just watch
Don't believe me, just watch
Hey hey hey oh
Stop, wait a minute
Fill my cup, pour some liquor into it.
Take a sip, sign a check
Julio, stretch
Drive to Harlem, Hollywood
Jackson, Mississippi
If we show up, we'll show up
Smoother than a fresh dry skippy
I'm too hot (damn it)
Called the police 900 and the fireman
I'm Too Hot (Damn)
Make the Dragon Retire
I'm Too Hot (Damn)
Bitch say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (damn)
I'm bad at this money
Break
Girls hit you hallelujah (hey)
Girls hit you hallelujah (hey)
Girls hit you hallelujah (hey)
Because uptown funk will give it to you
Because uptown funk will give it to you
Because uptown funk will give it to you
Saturday night and we're there
Don't believe me, just watch (come on) )
Don't trust me, just watch
Don't trust me, just watch
Don't trust me, just watch
Don't trust me, just watch
Don't trust me, just watch
Hey hey hey oh
Before we go
Lemmy tell you something
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown Funk you up uh
I said you'd be on the outskirts of town
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Come on, dance, jump on it
If you're sexy then flaunt it
If you're crazy then own it.
Don't brag about it, let's show it to me
Let's dance
Jump on it
If you're sexy, then flaunt it
Well, it's Saturday night and we're there
Don't believe me, just watch, come on!
Don't trust me, just look
Don't trust me, just look
Don't trust me, just look
Don't trust me, just look
Don't believe me, just watch
Hey hey hey oh
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you (say what?)
Uptown scare you (say what?)
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you (say what?)
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you (say what?)
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you
Uptown scare you (say what?)
U
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
-
uptow funk
All lyrics Mark Ronson feat.
Bruno Mars >>>
Poll: Is the lyrics correct? Yes Not
Bruno Mars | SRSLY.RU
Facts
The guy got the nickname Bruno at the age of two because of his strong resemblance to the American wrestler Bruno Sammartino. And Mars - because he was often told that he was from another planet
Bruno's height is only 165 cm. To hide this fact, he wears big hats and arranges the frame in a certain way when shooting videos
Person's recommendations
(1985, 37 years old)
Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Music
Music
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Biography
Funk messiah, always high boy, songwriting genius and disco dancer.
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voice acting
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Quotes
To write a song, you need to have imagination.
And to have imagination, you have to be free.
Music is not mathematics, it is science. You just keep mixing stuff until it all explodes or turns into some kind of bomb brew.
Hawaii is heaven on earth. Sounds silly, but there's literally music in the air.
I wish I knew what I was doing. Then I would write hits every minute.
I constantly wind myself up. I'm not the one who screams "This is a masterpiece!" every time he finishes working on a song.
My mother has an incredible voice, my sisters also sing, my uncles are good singers and guitarists. So this has always been my habitat.
Biography
Bruno
Mars
Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Funk messiah, always high boy, songwriting genius and disco dancer.
This guy was the kind of guy who just loves funk. Born in Hawaii, Bruno with his mother's milk absorbed a sense of rhythm and remarkable musicality. With its irrepressible energy, you can light up cities, with songs you can heal the autumn blues, and from the collection of Mars hats you can build a raft, return to the past and save Jack.
In other words, this guy lives on chill and relax. And we should all take an example from him.
Bruno's real name is Peter Gene Hernandez, but no one has called him that for a long time. The guy has the blood of Puerto Ricans and Ashkenazi Jews (Jews from Eastern Europe), as well as Spaniards and Filipinos. His mom and dad met in Hawaii, where little Bruno Mars was born. The family was large and very musical. His parents, five siblings and several uncles formed The Love Notes, eventually headlining all the local scenes. Bruno had no choice: from the age of four he performed with an indefatigable family, sang and endlessly parodied Elvis Presley. In the role of little Elvis, Bruno managed to shine at the Hawaiian version of the Super Bowl at 1991st and a year later appear in the film "Honeymoon in Las Vegas" with Sarah Jessica Parker herself. The success of the little star ended when he was twelve. Bruno's parents divorced, the family band fell apart, and for the next few years, the poor man, along with his father and brother, spent the night in the back seat of a car, on rooftops and in an abandoned bird zoo.
Having survived all this nightmare, unbroken young Mars, following the advice of Aunt Kelly Clarkson, became stronger. So much so that already in high school he ignited Hawaiian parties and corporate parties with might and main, earning his first adult cash.
Well, then everything went like clockwork. Bruno's sister showed his demo to a producer in Los Angeles, who was delighted and immediately began to make a star out of Peter. Mars has been through a lot. At first, he sang in a cover band, learned how to create hits, developed his own image and acquired a bunch of new useful acquaintances in the musical environment of Los Angeles. As a no-name, he wrote songs for Adam Levine, Travis McCoy and Birdie. Gradually, Mars gained confidence in his abilities and recorded a couple of features - Nothin' on You with B.o.B and Billionaire with McCoy, which became the very golden ticket to the world of popularity, contracts and crazy royalties.
In 2010, Bruno released his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, with a scattering of hits Just the Way You Are, Greenade, Talking to the Moon, Count on Me inside.
The disc topped several world charts, bringing Mars one statuette and six Grammy nominations. And one of the songs of the album became the soundtrack to the penultimate part of "Twilight". Bruno's second record, Unorthodox Jukebox, was also commercially successful. And then the guy was bitten by a disco bee: in 2014, the track Uptown Funk was released, which achieved dizzying success around the globe. So many years have passed, and the song is still playing at every second wedding and is on the call for a good half of humanity.
In 2016, Bruno made a guest appearance at Super Bowl 50 alongside Beyoncé and Coldplay. His third album, 24K Magic, was already infused with relaxed dance-pop disco-pop from That's What I Like to Versace on the Floor. In a word, the guy found his genre niche, and that's great. In 2021, Mars and his music mate Anderson .Paak organized the Silk Sonic superduo, released the singles Leave The Door Open (and even won a Grammy for it!), Skate and Smokin Out The Window, which broke the top charts, and the album An Evening With Silk Sonic.
It is curious that the history of Silk Sonic began back in 2017, when the musicians toured with the 24K Magic tour. Once they had a jam session and even then they thought about feats. Shortly before the pandemic, Mars called Puck: “Remember our old idea? Let's do it." As a result, one studio session grew into a full-fledged joint project, culminating in a "rock setlist" and a bunch of awards, including the Billboard Music Awards.
In Bruno's videos, the picture is always the same: surrounded by homies, Mars in sunglasses and a bright shirt dances energetically, immersed in the multi-colored atmosphere of the eighties. Such is his philosophy: forget your worries and “go visa the flow” - in a word, solid Hakuna Matata. So much so that in 2010, Mars was arrested in Las Vegas for possession of powders and almost went to jail for four years, but got off with a fine and never did that again. However, Bruno's work capacity does not hold: he wrote for a whole galaxy of artists, including Adele and Ed Sheeran, fit with Mark Ronson and Cardi B, received a total of fifteen Grammy awards, nine American Music Awards and appeared in the Guinness Book of Records three times - well, just incredibly diligent young man.
