HIP-HOP Dance History 

First of all, hip-hop dance refers to street dance styles primarily performed to hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture.

It includes a wide range of styles primarily:

• breaking
• locking
• popping.

These hip-hop dance styles were created in the 1970s and made popular by dance crews in the United States.

Hip-HOp Dance cult series

Secondly, the 1980s saw the emergence of hip-hop dance cult series, films and shows.

Indeed, the television show Soul Train and the 1980s films Breakin’, Beat Street, and Wildstyle showcased these crews and dancing styles in their early stages. Therefore, it gave hip-hop mainstream exposure.

Furthermore, the dance industry responded with a commercial, studio-based version of hip-hop (called new style). This new hip-hop style influenced the jazz dance style called jazz-funk. Classically trained dancers develop these studio styles, in order to create choreography from the hip-hop dances seen on the street. Because of this development, hip-hop dance is practised in both dance studios and outdoor spaces.

Then, the commercialization of hip-hop dance continues into the 1990s and 2000s with the production of several other television shows and films such as:

• The Grind
• Planet B-Boy
• Rize
• StreetDance 3D
• America’s Best Dance Crew
• Saigon Electric
• Step Up film series
• The LXD web series.

I personally discovered this B-Girl film that may not be cult series but is also very cool.

As for these LXD (Legion of Extraordinary Dancers) hip-hop dance cult series, they show strong similarities with the story plot from the Diversity Digital Tour 2013. You will also find in this film a diversity of dance styles reminding you the last Step Up series.

Check out “The LXD: the uprising begins’ now:

The EVOLUTION

Although the dance is established in entertainment, it maintains a strong presence in urban neighbourhoods. This led to the creation of street dance derivatives such as:

• turfing
• krumping
• and jerkin’.

The television shows and the Internet have contributed to introducing hip-hop dance outside of the USA.

Here is a good example of turfing dance “Turf Feinz RipD Rich Dancing in the Rain Oakland Street (California)”:

Additionally, what distinguishes hip-hop dance from other forms of dance is its freestyle (improvisational) in nature. Crews often engage in freestyle dance competitions, referred to as battles. Crews, freestyling, and battles are identifiers of this style.

Finally, since its exposure, educational opportunities and competitions have helped to maintain its presence abroad. Europe host several international hip-hop dance competitions such as:

• UK B-Boy Championships
• Juste Debout
• EuroBattle.

Lastly, you will find several videos of Juste Debout World Championships (All styles 2013 -2014):

https://www.youtube.com/user/emelinej1/videos