Learn how to pop dance
Learn How To Pop, or Hit With Your Body! (Popping Dance)
Do you want to learn how to Pop your neck? How to Pop your arms? Your PECTORALS?
Let's learn about the *Pop (sometimes referred to as a Hit), and practice Popping with different parts of your body.
*We will be using the terms "Pop" in this article.
What is a Pop, or Hit?
A Pop, or Hit, is the most fundamental move in Popping. In fact, some might even say that it is the only move that really defines Popping.
Read about the style here: What Is Popping?
Popping is done by flexing specific muscle groups, usually to beats in music.
Dancers Pop continuously to a steady rhythm, while using different poses and pathways in between Pops.
How do you Pop?
The more energy you put into flexing, within a smaller amount of time, the stronger you Pop will look.
Learning how to Pop requires a lot of repetition and drilling, so practice Popping using one body part at a time.
As a result of conditioning, your body will memorize how to Pop certain body parts in different angles and pictures.
How to Pop your chest
Popping with your chest requires you to control your core. Suck in your lower stomach /diaphragm to push your upper chest out.
The faster you do it, the stronger your hit will look. Also, curve your spine in and out to create an even bigger effect.
How to Pop your neck
To practice neck Popping, use the muscles in the front of your neck to control moving your neck forward, back, and side to side.
While, try to keep your chin level, because isolating your neck will make it easier to see how much your head is moving.
“It should feel like something is tapping you on the back of your head.”
– Boogie Frantick
How to Pop your arms
Start with your arms outstretched, straight front of you (parallel to the ground). Loosen your arms by bending your elbows a bit, then flex everything.
If you want to know how to Pop with your hands, then snap downward with your wrists as your knuckles snap upward.
Pretend like you're revving a motorcycle engine really fast.
Afterwards, you can put all these parts together to create a full arm pop.
How to Pop your legs
Sit on a chair and focus all your energy on flexing your left, then right leg. Then stand up and try to execute the Pop with the same control.
Since it's more comfortable to train on a chair, you'll be able to strengthen your thigh and calf muscles before doing it standing.
All these tips are from Boogie Frantick's Beginner Popping Program on STEEZY Studio.
You'll learn all the basics, so it's perfect for beginners who don't know how to Pop.
He'll go in-depth with each technique, and give you drills that you can practice anywhere, anytime.
If you want to keep practicing your Pops/Hits, then take Clay's 7 Days of Hits Program on STEEZY Studio.
Each day, you'll practice hitting with a different part of your body, or learn a new concept like textures or timing. Try it now for free!
How To Learn Popping – The Ultimate Popping Training Guide
Want a clear, easy-to-follow guide to learn Popping? This 8-week Popping Training Guide is the perfect way for beginners to cover all the major Popping techniques.
The Popping training guide is divided up like this:
Week 1: Hitting, Arm Waves
Week 2: Body Waves, Glides
Week 3: Review, Freestyle
Week 4: Isolation, Animation
Week 5: Fresno, Flexes Week
6: Review, Freestyle Week
7: Walk out / Boogaloo, Twist, Tuts
Week 8: Review, Freestyle
Follow this Popping Training Guide to learn and practice all the basic Popping moves you need to know.
You can also download this Popping Training Calendar PDF to custom-plan your schedule:
Download Your 8 Week Training Calendar To Follow Along!
Popping Technique 1: Hitting
Learn how to hit:
Hitting (or popping) is when you flex and release your muscles as quickly and as powerfully as possible. Hitting is done to the beats in music.
For more in-depth instruction, read: Learn How To Pop, Or Hit With Your Body!
Drill Popping hits:
Practice by hitting one body part at a time (arms, legs, chest/torso, neck), in different positions.
Play this song:
- 4 8-counts: Hit with your arms extended straight in front of you, parallel to each other
- 4 8-counts: Hit with your arms extended straight out, perpendicular to the ground
- 1 8-count: From this position, hit as your arm rises up in increments until they are straight up above your head, parallel to each other.
- 1 8-count: Then bring them back down, still hitting on beat. (repeat this up-down motion as many times as you wish)
- 4 8-counts: Hit with your torso/chest
- 4 8-counts: Sit in a chair, and hit with your neck
- 4 8-counts: Stay in the chair, and hit with your legs
- 2 8-counts: Stand on one leg, and hit with the other leg slightly extended out
- 2 8 counts: Stand on the other leg, and hit with the other leg slightly extended out
OR,
Just take Clay's 7 Days of Hits Program on STEEZY Studio!
Things to remember:
You want your hits to pack in as much power as possible, in the shortest amount of time possible.
You can hit on the 1 (boom), or the 2 (ka), both, or “ride through” the 1 beat to the 2.
Popping Technique 2: Arm Waves
Learn how to do the Arm Wave:
The 12-point arm wave can be broken down like this
Drill Popping Arm Waves:
Practice the 12-Point Arm Wave with Boogie Frantick
More practice:
- Practice the 12-point arm wave with your arms straight out, reversing directions each 8 count. Do this 4 8 counts slowly, 4 8 counts tempo.
- Then, do it with one arm only for 4 8 counts.
- Switch arms, repeat for 4 8 counts.
- Wave both arms inward towards your chest for 4 8 counts, then reverse it out toward your fingertips for 4 8 counts
- Wave any or both arms in any direction for 4 8 counts. Get creative! You want your arms to “memorize” the pathway of the wave in as many positions as possible.
Things to remember:
It’s important to break down each point of the 12-point wave before blending it all together to create a smooth movement.
This builds your arm’s muscle memory. Keep your hands loose and fluid, and rotate your elbows to create a smoother wave.
Practice facing a mirror; how the wave looks from your POV might not be how it looks to someone watching!
You can practice waving your arms in any / all positions, not just the angles given.
Popping Technique 3: Body Waves
Learn how to body wave:
The 8-point body wave: move in one direction, starting with your head, shoulders, hip, knee, other knee, back to your hip, shoulders, up to your head.
The wave should move down one side of your body, then back up the other.
Drill Popping body waves:
Wave down one side of your body for 4 counts, then back up for 4 counts.
Do this for this entire song:
Things to remember:
It’s important to start and complete your full body waves.
Drill how to isolate the different parts of the wave, but incorporate it into your grooves.
You can start the full body wave from different body parts (like from the ground-up).
Technique 4: Glides
Learn how to Glide:
Do the step-glide by stepping out with one foot, then sliding it back.
Do the over-under/under-over glide by lifting the heel of one foot, and sliding the other foot in front of it. Take that same foot, and slide it behind the other foot.
Drill Popping glides:
Practice the Step Glide with Boogie Frantick with this free YouTube drill:
More practice:
- Do the over-under/under-over glide 4 times in one direction, then 4 times in the opposite direction
Things to remember:
Footwork doesn’t mean your upper body isn’t doing anything! Add your own flavor with grooves or head looks, etc.
Gliding is all about shifting your weight on your feet. Pay attention to which foot and where (heel/toe) your weight is.
Review: Hitting, Arm Waves, Body Waves, Glides
Re-visit the techniques from weeks 1 and 2. Combine all the techniques that you learned in a guided freestyle.
Play this song:
- 2 8-counts: Hit with your arms in any position
- 2 8-counts: Wave both arms in any angle
- 2 8-counts: Do the body wave
- 2 8-counts: Do the step-glide in any direction
- 2 8-counts: Hit with your chest
- 1 8-count: Wave only 1 arm, in our out
- 1 8-counts: Wave with the other arm, in our out
- 2 8-counts: Body wave as you step out with your feet
- 2 8-counts: Do the over-under glide
- Remainder of the song: Combine any of the techniques in your own freestyle
Popping Technique 5: Isolations / Fixed Points
Learn how to do isolations and fixed points:
Isolate one body part and move it while the rest of your body stays still, or
Keep one body part at a fixed point as the rest of your body moves around it.
Drill Popping isolations and fixed points:
Play this song:
- 4 8-counts: Isolate your head by moving it front and back
- 4 8-counts: Isolate your head by moving it side to side
- 4 8-counts: Isolate your head by moving it in a circular motion, like you’re making a letter “O”
- 4 8-counts: Extend your arms straight in front of you, and create circles with your hands
- 4 8-counts: Keep the same position, then start bending/moving at your wrists and elbows
- 4 8-counts: Isolate your legs by doing an “in-place” glide – keeping one leg planted while the other glides in front of it and back
- 8 8-counts: Fix point different things, like putting your hand on a “wall” and dancing around it, or holding a “ball” and only moving the ball
Things to remember:
Isolations and fixed points are great tools to create concepts, imagery, and stories. Solid balance is key when fix pointing your leg(s) and moving your upper body.
Popping Technique 6: Animation
Learn Popping animation:
Ticking is when you snap into a position with your joints.
Strobing is a faster pace of dime stops; it creates this illusion of leaving a trail of movement (like you’re dancing under a strobe light).
Poppers often strobe in pedestrian movements like walking.
Botting is when you create a “Robot” effect with your whole body using parts of these techniques. It makes your body/movements look “fake.”
Drill Popping animation:
Start this mixtape:
- Tick through the entire 12-point arm wave for 5 minutes straight
- Do the 4-point tick walk: stepping forward with one foot, and ticking the other leg in 4 points as you complete the step
- Strobe as you arm wave, walk, and complete other pedestrian movements (cooking, brushing your teeth)
Things to remember:
Keep your core nice and firm when you’re ticking your limbs and make your dime stops as clean as possible when you strobe.
Popping Technique 7: Fresno
Learn how to do the Fresno:
The Fresno is a part of Popping / Boogaloo technique. Shift your weight from side to side as you hit with each leg and arm.
Drill the Popping Fresno:
Play this mixtape:
- 4 8-counts: Do the Fresno (1 hit makes you move, the 2nd makes you stop)
- 4 8-counts: Hit your bottom right diagonal, bottom mid position, then bottom left diagonal
- 4 8-counts: Do the Fresno in a “single single double double,” AKA your arms hitting right left right right, left right left left
- 8 8-counts: Do the Fresno with variations with your steps (walk outs)
Things to remember:
The Fresno is important because it really teaches you how to stay with the pace of the music. Use your weight to keep balance as you pivot your feet.
Your whole body turns, not just your hip!
Never snap your legs all the way back; use your ankles to buffer the hits.
Popping Technique 8: Flexes
Learn how to do flexes:
The Twist-o-flex is when you put your hands on either side of your hips, then pivot your arms so that your chin is touching one shoulder.
Turn your upper torso to meet the plane of your hand placements there, then step forward to your base position.
The Neck-o-flex is when you touch your chin to a shoulder as you extend it out, then pivot your lower body around your arms as your head stays facing that direction.
Then, turn your upper body and head to the opposite arm.
Drill Popping flexes:
Play this:
- 8 8-counts: Twist-o-flex
- 8 8-counts: Neck-o-flex
- 8 8-counts: combine both flexes in your own freestyle
Review: Isolations, Animation, Fresno, Flexes
Re-visit the techniques from weeks 4 and 5. Combine all the techniques that you learned in a guided freestyle.
Play any song you like.
- 2 8-counts: Isolate any body part
- 2 8-counts: Isolate another body part
- 2 8-counts: Fixed point one body part
- 2 8-counts: Fixed point another body part
- 2 8-counts: Tick the 12-point arm wave
- 2 8-counts: Tick while walking
- 2 8-counts: Strobe from/to any position
- 2 8-counts: Do the Fresno
- 2 8-counts: Do the Twist-o-flex
- 2 8-counts: Do the Neck-o-flex
- Remainder of the song: combine any of the techniques in your own freestyle
Popping Technique 9: Walk Out and Boogaloo
Learn the Walk Out and Boogaloo:
Do the Walk Out by crossing one leg in front and across from you. With that some foot, step toward the other diagonal.
Twist to that direction, then step forward with the back foot. Use the same foot to step behind yourself, then pivot to the front, and bring both feet in.
The Boogaloo is when you do a full body wave, starting from your head rolling all the way around, rolling your shoulders in opposite directions, pushing your chest out, then bringing your hips and knees out and around.
Drill the Walk Out and Boogaloo:
Play this:
- 14 8-counts: Hit all the 7 points of the walk out 4 times each.
- 14 8-counts: Use your opposite foot to start and hit all the 7 points of the walk out 4 times each.
- Repeat hitting during the walk out on each side, but 2 times in each position.
- Repeat again, 1 hit in each position, in tempo with the music.
- Draw a “figure 8” with your knees to prepare to do the Boogaloo roll.
- 8 8-counts: do slow Boogaloo rolls - fill up the full 8-count per roll
- 8 8-counts: medium Boogaloo rolls - 4 counts per roll
- 4 8-counts: fast Boogaloo rolls - 2 counts per roll
Things to remember:
For the walk out, use your opposite arm when you step forward with a leg.
Stay loose with your body as you do the Boogaloo roll.
Popping Technique 10: Twists
Learn Popping twists:
Do the Egyptian Twist by making angular pictures with your arms as you pivot your focus and toes toward different directions.
Drill Popping twists:
Play this:
- 1 8-count of Egyptian twist to your right.
- 1 8-count of Egyptian to your left.
- 2 Egyptian twists to your right, 2 steps to your right.
- 2 Egyptian twists to your left, 2 steps to your left.
Things to remember:
Keep your upper body and shoulders squared to the front, with your face following your toes. Hit with each time you pivot or step.
Popping Technique 11: Tutting
Learn how to Tut:
Tut by creating different lines and shapes with your arms. Bend from the elbows, wrists, and fingers.
Drill tutting exercises:
- Play any song
- From a resting position, bend at your elbow to raise one arm to chest level
- From there, extend it straight up
- Go through this same pathway to bring your arm down
- 8 8-counts: Drill your arms in this up-up-down-down pattern, alternating between arms
- Now raise both arms by the elbows in front of your face, and bend in a 90 degree angle at the wrist
- 8 8-counts: Alternate bending each side
- 4 8-counts: Extend your arms straight out on each side, and bend at the the elbows and wrists at 90 degree angles to create a “Z” then rotate them inward to create a box
Things to remember:
Keep your angles clean! 90, 180 degrees
Review: Boogaloo, Twists, Tutting
Combine all the techniques that you learned in a guided freestyle.
- 2 8-counts: Boogaloo rolls
- 2 8-counts: Egyptian twist
- 2 8-counts: Tut with just your arms
- 2 8-counts: Tut while traveling with footwork (you can just step, or glide)
- 2 8-counts: Walk out and Boogaloo rolls
- 2 8-counts: Egyptian twist in different variations
- Remainder of the song: combine any of the techniques in your own freestyle
Use this guide to train your basic Popping technique within 2 months.
If you want to follow along with a tutorial, STEEZY Studio’s Popping Program (taught by renowned Poppers Boogie Frantick, Kid Boogie, and Slim Boogie) is a much easier way to train.
All you have to do is plan out your schedule and follow along with the videos. Sign up here to try it out for free!
K-pop dance: become a member of the popular girl band
Fandom
If you have long dreamed of learning how to dance like idols from your favorite tracks, then we will help! You know that the easiest way is to watch the instructional videos that the bands themselves release.
Now you can also learn a couple of moves to captivate your subscribers, or learn for yourself just to cheer you up. Almost every girl group has a video clip in which they step by step dismantle and practice the dance. Recently, BLACPINK released such a clip for the new How You Like That.
- Photo
- giphy
But before we move on to practice, here are a few rules for a successful dance lesson:
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Find a free space where you feel comfortable waving your arms. This is very important, because while dancing you need to have fun without fear of crashing into a wall or breaking something;
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See that no one disturbs or distracts you;
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Try to find a bigger mirror. It will be perfect if you have one in full growth. So you can see your mistakes and correct them;
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Wear loose clothing and shoes that are comfortable to dance in;
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While dancing, look at your every move and enjoy the process.
Remember! The first time, it may not turn out the way you wanted it. But constant practice will help you achieve better results. So, let's start our dance lesson!
1. (G)-IDLE
Not so long ago, a new girl band song was released, which captivated everyone with graceful images and beautiful movements. If you're just getting started in K-Pop, then this is for you. At first glance, the movements may seem difficult, but training will show that they are quite doable. And practice training will help you learn them faster. If you find it difficult to learn from the videos of the idols themselves, then watch the tutorial that will help you understand each movement.
2. ITZY
ITZY is a young group that is considered the next generation of TWICE. Their debut was quite recently - in 2019, but they have already gained popularity and love around the world. Also, ITZY's songs are different from TWICE's concept: they are more energetic and have more choreographic movements.
If you are a beginner, then it is better to learn k-pop dances with TWICE. And then move on to more complex choreography by the talented ITZY. Again, we leave you a tutorial for a better understanding and analysis of movements:
3. TWICE
On June 1, MORE & MORE music video was released. It is from here that we suggest that you study the movements. Why? They are uncomplicated, groovy, and easy to use in a normal dance. Pay special attention to Momo - she has been dancing professionally since childhood, and in the group she takes the place of the lead dancer. So we advise you to repeat exactly her party.
Well, if it's hard to follow an idol in a dance, check out the tutorial here :)
4. IZ*ONE
IZ*ONE is also a young girl group that won the Produce 48 survival show. on the international fan accounts of Korean stars. In the summer, most often K-pop releases singles or videos with dance practices. IZ*ONE is no exception. They recently released a new track that we are happy to recommend you listen to - Secret Story of the Swan.
The dance is graceful and simple. Each movement takes place in time with the music, so learning it will not be so difficult. By the way, the lead dancer in the group is Jena.
And, as always, a tutorial to make it easier for you to understand the movements.
5. MOMOLAND
MOMOLAND debuted back in 2016, but it was the song Bboom Bboom, released in 2018, that brought them a real sensation. And at the beginning of 2020, they released a new track Thumbs Up. In almost every group MV, the idol movements are similar. Take note of this and peep the movements of the girls not only in the latest clip, but also in your favorite hits of the group.
The last tutorial to help you better understand the MOMOLAND dance can be found here:
and most importantly: do not be shy to publish your Dance Cavers and enjoy the Korean pop culture;)
Elizabeth Boboshko
Tags
- Korea
- Iidola
- K-Pop
- Dancings
- BlackKink TWICE
- Momoland
Teaching popping dance in Kazan: beginners/advanced
We teach popping dance in Kazan
Popping is one of the sophisticated styles of street dance that originated in the 70s of the 20th century.
Boogaloo Sam is considered the founder and master of popping.
The name of the dance comes from the English word "pop", meaning a sharp, clear beat. It is based on the technique of fast and serious tension of the muscles - their relaxation and contraction to the beat of the music. The main elements of the popping dance are pop and hit, which create the effect of the dancer's body jerking, in combination with various other postures and movements. The performer of this dance direction is called a popper. For a long time in Russia, popping was mistakenly called the "top break", but this is not entirely true.
Lessons in the direction P Opping for beginners
is conducted by Popping Dance Studio Kingstep Lecturer Denika Denika Denika Denika Denist He will find an approach to every beginner, help to reveal his potential, talent, convince you that anyone can learn to dance Popping , regardless of age, degree of preparedness, skill, if he wants to achieve this and strives to work in a friendly, close-knit team .
Watch video
HERE and get charged for the new season-2020!Different styles of popping
To achieve noticeable mastery in popping, you need to pay great attention to detail, thoroughly study the basic movement of the dance style - pop, when the muscles contract sharply at the end of the pas, and only then move on in learning.
Together with the basic movements, elements of other techniques are used, which makes the dance more varied and original, filling it with new colors. Popping includes different movements:
Gliding - sliding the foot on the dance floor, a well-known element of the "moonwalk";
King Tut , Finger Tut - construction of geometric shapes from the hands and fingers;
Waving - movement that conveys the effect of a wave passing through the body;
Animation is a term for styles that create illusions: vibraton, slow motion, strobbing;
Strobbing - the effect of body movement in the rays of the strobe;
Slow Motion - smooth, slow and continuous motion;
Puppet - imitation of puppet movements.
