Breaking it down on the floor

Have you ever seen an Usher video, as he flashes his six-pack, busting moves while girls at his Manhattan penthouse party ogle him? Or watched as the The Black Eyed Peas have a dance-off in a warehouse? Do you know what sort of dancing that is? It's called hip hop.

A universally popular dance form

Developed in the US in the late 70s by black and Latino city kids to match the new style of "hippoty-hoppity" street music, hip hop dance today influences millions of people around the world.

Hip hop music, fashion and dancing is easily the biggest youth genre in the world. There are countless artists whose music and dancing is steeped and styled on hip hop. Justin Timberlake's guest spot on Madonna's 4 Minutes single is a prime example. And don't forget about such stars as Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. That's without even mentioning artists who are purely hip hop - like Kanye West, Missy Elliot or Snoop Dogg.

Perhaps the reason why hip hop dance is so big in youth culture is that people can watch their favourite hip hop videos, have some fun practising at home and then show off their moves in nightclubs at the weekend. But to us more mature types, the whole thing is perhaps a bit of a mystery.

"Few people actually know what hip hop dance is," said dance instructor Darika Sangnak (Khru Tai) from House of Pro Studio, who has a degree in Western Dance and has trained at the Broadway Dance Center in New York. "Most students come to us saying they want to learn how to dance like famous artists who they have seen in concert and music videos. But many refer to hip hop dance as K-pop dance, because they watched a Korean pop singer perform hip hop."

What differentiates hip hop dancing from other forms

Darika believes the most important reason hip hop dance has a worldwide appeal is its freestyle nature.

It allows people to express their creativity in a very personal way. In fact, personal interpretation is encouraged, freeing people from strict rules about how to execute the movement "perfectly".

"You just concentrate on how your own moves look and come up with your own edge with the beat," she said.

Hip hop techniques

Hip hop dance involves a kaleidoscope of styles as well as specific moves and techniques. Funk dancing, freaking, krumping, tutting, waving, twatting and gliding are synonymous with hip hop dance. But it is never complete without the three pillars of styles.

BREAKING This is the cornerstone of hip hop dance and comprises four fundamental dances. Toprock - footwork orientated steps performed while standing. Downrock - footwork performed on the floor using the hands to support a dancer's weight. Freezes - smart poses performed on the hands. And power moves - difficult acrobatic moves.

POPPING This is done by quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to make a jerk in the dancer's body so that the body movements actually look fluid.

LOCKING A technique that depends on fast and distinct arm and hand movements combined with more relaxed hips and legs.

Dressing up

An enormous part of hip hop is the fashion. Apart from sportswear, loose T-shirts and chunky jewellery, a huge emphasis is placed on stylish, edgy club clothes. But if you want to learn hip hop dance, remember to dress as if taking any other form of vigorous exercise.

"Avoid leggings when performing hip hop dance," Darika said. "And never try hip hop with bare feet. If you do, it will put enormous strain on your joints. Better get yourself a good pair of sneakers if you take your dancing seriously."

Having a dance

So, if you think hip hop dance looks like a cool way to have fun and keep fit, but don't know where to start, why not take lessons.

At Darika's school, there are four levels from basic to beginner through to intermediate and finally advanced classes.

BASIC students will learn how to build steps and rhythm, dance at a certain pace and basic balancing.

BEGINNER they will be educated on routines, balancing techniques and speeding up their moves.

INTERMEDIATE learning moves in detail in order to improve dancing.

ADVANCE a more specialist class.

Let's get started

Warming up plays a crucial part in any kind of exercise and hip hop dance is no exception. Warming up in hip hop classes can vary a lot, and many instructors apply the "Jazz style" warm up or isolation exercises.

Isolation exercises involve moving one body part at a time, keeping the rest of the body in place. It also allows dancers to concentrate on moving their body in sequence.

Courses in a nutshell

Darika's school charges students according to their age. For under 10s, a 10-class course costs 4,200 baht. Over 10s are charged 5,200 baht. Each session lasts 90 minutes and there are never more than 10 students in a class.

Studying hip hop dance requires a mix of several skills and different levels of physical fitness. It is ideally suited for children over 10.

"Students should be mature enough to understand and follow instructions and know how to control their muscles. Having a sense of self-responsibility, firm commitment and effort are also essential," Darika said.

Howto be a good hip hop dancer

❚ Students should have an eye for detail. Always concentrate on what the instructors perform.

❚ Studying only in class is not enough. Practising in your own time is a must. Try out your steps at home regularly.

❚ Frequently listen to hip hop music in order to get used to the beats.

❚ Don’t be shy. You shouldn’t feel left behind in class, so always ask questions.

❚ Being a good dancer is not an easy task. Take your time practising and don’t give up.

Why hip hop?

Two people shared their opinion on hip hop dance.

‘Lyle Benisa and Gigi are my hip hop idols. But Touch Na Takuatung, a Thai rapper, inspired me to dance even though at that time, I didn’t even know what the style of the dance was. At the beginning, I watched the way he moved and copied his steps. To make it more professional, I decided to attend classes.

Dancing is my religion. It matches my personality, which is active and cheerful. I have dreamed of being a professional dancer, butmy father, who is a song producer, didn’t want me to enter the entertainment industry. In his opinion, a dancing career is insecure. However, I never give up and keep dancing.’’

‘Tome,hiphopdanceisaformof entertainment and a hobby. I usually optimisemyfree time during weekends by attending classes. I have studiedmanymusical instruments and voice classes.

What inspired me to attend a hip hop dance class was watching other students performing some fun and lively moves.

It was quite hard formeat the beginning because I don’t have any background in dancing. After a couple of months of studying, however, I found that it was very entertaining and motivational. It is a fantastic way to learn dancing. Studying hip hop is a way to be active and fit. It helps enhance a great sense of performance and develops social skills.’’

Relate Search: The Black Eyed Peas, House of Pro Studio, Darika Sangnak