Hip hop dancing is fun. The best way to learn is to start with the basic steps. Once you master those, you can add more complicated steps. Before you know it, you'll be impressing your friends and joining in with the best hip hop dancers at school.
The Basics
Stand with your legs apart. Swing each arm out to your sides and point your hands toward the ceiling. Count "one-and" as you raise each arm. Clap your hands and count "two." Swing your right elbow up so your forearm is parallel to the floor. Count "and." Bring your hands back together in front of your chest as if praying. Count "three." Point your hands and swing your head toward the ground. Count "and." Swing your head and hands (still in prayer position) back up. Count "four."
Keep your hands together for counts five and six. Dip your legs and swing your hips from side to side. Count this entire move as "five." Reach high over your head, and then bring your hands back to your chest. Count "six." Turn to your right, bending your right leg while stretching your left behind you. Swing your left elbow up with forearm parallel to the floor. Count "seven." Turn to the front, keeping your left arm up. Bend your right knee, and point your right arm and hand in the center of your body toward the floor. Count "eight."
Note: In all these moves, unless stated otherwise, your hands can be in a loose fist.
Add On
Starting in the same stance with legs apart, kick your right leg in front of your left and cross your arms in front of you. Count "one."
Swing your right leg out to your side as if doing a sidekick and swing both arms to your right side. Count "two."
Stretch your right leg behind you and dip your left knee; swing your left arm behind your left hip; swing your right elbow up so your forearm is parallel to the floor. These moves are done together and counted as "three."
Come back to standing position. Count "and." Clap your hands. Count "four."
The next counts five to eight are a repeat of the steps you just did, only with the other side of your body. In other words, kick and cross your left leg (five). Swing your left leg and arms to the left (six). Stretch your left leg behind and raise your left arm in front (seven). Stand and clap (eight).
Put It Together
Now do the first eight steps and follow with the second eight. That's it.
You've learned the basic steps of hip hop dancing. Work on making the moves smooth and flowing, adding your own style---maybe a slight roll of the shoulders or hips---as you progress. When you're ready, watch other hip hop dancers for ideas for additional steps.
