Hip Hop Dance

Hip hop dance is a fun and energetic style of dancing. It began on the streets of New York City in the 1970s. People dance to hip hop music with cool moves like popping, locking, and breaking. Anyone can learn hip hop dance and make it their own.

How It Started

Hip hop dance began in African American and Latino neighborhoods in New York. Young people danced at block parties and in the streets. They created new moves to match the beats of hip hop music. Over time, hip hop dance spread all around the world.

A breakdancer doing a cool move on the floor at a big event.
A breakdancer doing a cool move on the floor at a big event. (Alexander Zabara / Wikimedia Commons)

Cool Moves

Breakdancing is a famous hip hop style with spins and floor moves. Popping makes a dancer's body look like it is jerking to the beat. Locking uses quick stops and fun poses. Dancers often make up their own moves too.

Fun Facts

  • Breakdancing became an Olympic sport in 2024.
  • Hip hop dancers are sometimes called b-boys and b-girls.
  • Dance battles are contests where dancers try to outdo each other.

Did You Know?

The first hip hop dance crews often practiced on flattened cardboard boxes on the sidewalk.