Popping and Locking
Electric Boogie is a style of POPPING called ticking. No, not a tick like the bug! But a tick, as in you hear a clock tick. Well, your body moves to that beat of that clock. You also look as if you were being shocked by electric volts all combined with timing, isolations, discipline, and technique. LOCKING you have more of an even flow and more waves and loose movements, kicks like karate kicks and knee bends and drops that you don't incorporate in Popping. Locking and Popping originated in Los Angeles. It was mastered in the streets of the Bronx in NY and they added a little more street funk to it! The Popping street crew (Ticking) they are called Electric Boogaloo. Locking was made popular by a group that called themselves the LOCKERS! DUH...I figured that out all by myself!... Did you know break dancing was not even born yet the year popping & locking was born? Well now you do! It came sometime after popping and locking. They are both different styles of street dance. For those of you who always say to me, "do you know how to Pop lock?" I said which one? They reply, "huh?" I said again, "which one?" They are 2 different things. They pause & say...."WHAT? I did not know that!" I told you knowledge is contagious...but anyway popping is definitely my favorite even though I have mastered both I do have favorites. But hey I guess you find your nitch and what you're most comfortable doing and then you master it! GET IT! WELL IF YOU DON'T THEN YOU REALLY NEED OUR HELP! THAT IS WHAT THIS WEBSITE IS HERE FOR. WE DON'T WANT TO NOT ONLY ENTERTAIN YOU, BUT TO EDUCATE YOU, THE NEXT RISING STAR! LEARN ALL ABOUT THE ORIGINAL NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS, ROCK STEADY CREW, DON CAMPBELLLOCK,AND MUCH MUCH MORE!
Funk Style Dance Moves: Poppin, Boogaloo, Robot, Etc.
1. BOOGALOO STYLE (ROLLING OF THE HIPS AND SPECIAL DANCE STYLE) - "BOOGALOO SAM" (ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS)
2. TWISTO FLEX (TWISTING THE BODY LIKE A RUBIX CUBE) - "TWISTO FLEX DON" (ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS)
3. THE OLD MAN - "BOOGALOO SAM" WHILE IMITATING THE WALK OF AN OLD MAN
4. BOTTIN (INNOVATED VERSION OF ROBOTIN)- "BOPPIN ANDRE" THE BOPPER
5. COBRA (STYLE OF WAVING ) - "KING COBRA"( MYSTERIOUS POPPERS) TOOK A MOVE FROM BOOGALOO SAM AND INNOVATED IT INTO THE COBRA STYLE OF WAVING
6. CRAZY LEGS (TECHNICAL FEET PATTERNS) - "POPPIN PETE"
7. GROUND MOVES - "BOOGALOO SAM AND POPPIN PETE"
8. EARLY PIONEER OF ROBOTIC DANCE TYPE MOVEMENT - IRON MAN WAS FEATURED IN A LOCAL TV SHOW IN OAKLAND AND PERFORMED PANTOMIME STYLE MOVEMENTS WITH A JAMES BROWN SKATE IN THE LATE 60'S
9. ORIGINAL NAME OF THE BOOGALOOS - THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOO LOCKERS
10. FIRST GROUP TO PIONEER THESE STYLES: Catch on style ; Dominoes; Vertical line
Locking
1. THE LOCKING MOVE "ALPHAS - ALPHA OMEGA ANDERSON
2. SKEETER RABBIT - SKEETER RABBIT
3. WHICH A WAYS - CREATED BY FLUKY LUKE (originally called the iron horse)
4. STOP AND GO'S / QUICKIE - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
5. SCOOBY DOO'S - SCOOBY DOO
6. LOCKIN HAND SHAKE - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
7. SCOOBOT - SCOOBY
8. SCOOBOT HOP HIGH KICK - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
9. SCOOBOT HOP - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
10.PIMP WALK - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
11.GUITAR - DON CAMPBELLOCK JR.
12.RUNNING SPLIT - DON CAMPBELLOCK
13.LAY OUT - DON CAMPBELLOCK
Electric Boogie Style: Strobing
Strobing is based on exactly what the word means. It is based on short stop motion type movements and is done generally with out a pop, but more of a subtle stop between each movement. Imitating the illusions of movements under a strobe light. What your doing is basic movements that you would see in a night club, movements like, walking, looking at your watch, pointing , taking off your hat, dancing, drinking. You can also imitate things like waking up, yawning, ect. to accomplish this style. 1- choose an action or style of movement, lets say for example "combing your hair. 2- now without applying the strobe technique just practice a motion that you would use to comb your hair, and try going from taking a comb out of your front shirt pocket and then combing your hair a few times and putting the comb back. 3-now lets apply the technique of creating a strobe light illusion to this motion. Use short "stop and go" type movements. Keep it very sharp and staccato like. No popping or heavy jerking. The simpler you keep your movement and effect, the better the illusion. Now do the same hair combing movements that you just practice and apply strobing to it.
King Tut Style
Inspired by ancient EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS. It was those great positions with the arms in different angles that inspired young funk style dancers to imitate and add on their own styles. Especially a brotha by the name of MARK BENSON aka "KING TUT" who is widely regarded as the creator of this style. It is also said that cartoons like BUGS BUNNY and his famous "ikidy akidy ook" scene that got young dancers trying it, as well as a skit on Saturday Night Live by the famous comedian STEVE MARTIN. While there were many who attributed to the manifestation of KING TUT style into the FUNK STYLE scene; It is still being researched. (refer to WEST COAST DANCE HISTORY page on the "BIRDMAN 2" link for more history) The best way to approach this style is by simply finding a resource for the earliest positions in EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS, and studying them. In KING TUT style you don't have to pop, you can just hit these positions on beat and it is still very respected. But adding a pop to it will also create more ideas and concepts as well. So my advice would be to learn how to POP every angle that you learn.
Things that you should do to learn this style:
1- STUDY ORIGINAL EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS
2- REALLY MASTER THE ANGLES BY MAKING THEM AS PERFECT AND FLAT AND SQUARE AS POSSIBLE, THIS WILL GET YOU MORE RESPECT
3- PRACTICE POPPING EACH POSITION
4- ALWAYS KEEP THEM ON BEAT
5- CREATE COMBINATIONS FOR YOUR ANGLES THAT CONNECT AND MAKE BETTER TRANSITIONS GOING FROM ONE ANGLE TO ANOTHER
6- CREATE RHYTHM PATTERNS FOR YOUR TUTS TO MAKE IT MORE FUNKY
Poppin
While the debate still continues as of who is considered the creator of this dance, in my belief and opinion, I believe that BOOGALOO SAM created the dance called "POPPIN" (that I have grown to love). The style and complexity of this dance is based on continuos flexing of the muscles to the beat while executing precise and funky angles that are based on many styles created by Sam's group THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOO. These angles provide funky and rhythmic positions for a popper to hit while flexing his or her muscles to the beat. Learning how to pop each muscle correctly is very important.
Here is a basic way to learn:
1- always have music on when practicing any dance, and the music for poppin is FUNK, so dig up an old CAMEO, PARLIAMENT, or ZAPP CD that has a classic funk sound.
2- start by practicing poppin a different body part to each entire song on the funk CD. 3-ARM POPS: Stretch your arms out in front of you slightly bent inward. Now flex and relax your arm muscles (forearms, triceps, and biceps) flex on the beat and relax off the beat. We will start with 4 beats per measure, now flex on each beat, and remember to relax in-between each pop. Do this for at least a quarter way through the song. Now do the same thing but double time (8 beats per measure), now play around with this for the entire song, now you must learn a step called the "FRESNO" to really get this right, so leaning side to side pick one arm up and pop it and then lean to the other side and pick that arm up and pop it, and keep it on beat and funky. The FRESNO is a smooth side to side dance movement where you pop on each side your leaning on. Complete the whole song with just arm pops and then stretch your arms out. 3-LEG POPS: Now for this you still need to learn to FRESNO. So letting your CD play to the next song, shift from side to side and on each side that you lean towards, SNAP your knee back as if you were hyper extending it. Do this on each side on beat (4 beats per measure). So now your basically snapping your knee back in a sharp motion to get a good pop. As you are learning , no need to snap your knee too hard, just a soft one until you get used to it. Now do these same knee pops but double time (8 beats per measure). Now do it 2 snaps per knee still double time. Keep it on beat and funky. Complete the entire song doing nothing but knee pops and then stretch your legs out. 4-CHEST AND NECK POPS: Now for this style of poppin your gonna feel a lil weird. But it is a very effective pop. Basically what your doing is flexing and relaxing the neck and chest muscles. To get a good chest pop I suggest doing allot of pushups. Now on the 3rd song on the CD start by flexing and relaxing both your neck and chest muscles. To get an effective neck pop, try adding a slight front neck movement on each beat (sort of like a chicken, but very slight). Also for the chest try sinking in your chest occasionally with your shoulders out and flex it. Now the key secret to getting a good chest pop is like breathing in and out.
Or sucking in your stomach when flexing, and blowing your stomach out when relaxing. Every time you bring your chest up flex right at the peak of that motion. Do this just like the arms exorcise. First on 4 beats per measure and then double up to 8 beats per measure. Pop your chest for the entire song and then relax and stretch.
5-ALL TOGETHER NOW: Now you are ready to put it all together. So on the 4th song, start by just popping your arms (side to side in the FRESNO style motion leaning on one side and lifting that arm and popping it, and then leaning on the other side and lifting that arm and poppin it), now start adding your knee pops, and keep that side to side motion going (the Fresno. Leaning to one side and poppin the knee and arm of that side and then repeating this on the other side). Now add the neck and chest, keep playing around with mixing all three styles of poppin during the song.
Back Knee Slide
This is a move that was created by accident. It was way back in like 1981. I heard a rumor that POPPIN PETE did a knee slide that was incredible, so someone else decided to basically try the move from their own flava it looked different.(what they called a moonwalk back then) but instead of doing it on your feet, you execute this on your knees.
This move was done in the movie BEAT STREET as well as in a performance on TV for the president, and it became famous.
Poppin Pete did a move known as the ET walk, which became part of the foundation for today's ground moves. Well for the knee glide you will need knee pads
NOW BEFORE YOU START DOING THIS MOVE, I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING IT AT YOUR OWN RISK, SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER WORK THIS MOVE, AND TAKE IT EASY. IF YOU FEEL A LOT OF PAIN DO NOT CONTINUE PRACTICING THIS MOVE. YOU SHOULD LEARN SOME STRETCHES AND KNEE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES BEFORE YOU TRY THIS MOVE AS WELL.
Basically you should practice your back slide standing up first and focus on the foot movement that your doing because it's the same exact movement but on your knees
then:
1-get on your knees
2-put your left foot flat on the floor and raise your right foot
3- now slide your left foot back
4-now switch your feet at the same time,(drop the right foot flat and raise the left foot)
5-now slide the right foot back
6-now switch your feet again (drop the left foot flat and raise the right foot again)
7- now slide the left foot back again and keep repeating this format over and over again
8- tips: start out with knee pads doing this movement very slow and eventually when you memorize the movements speed it up, and if you feel any sharp pain on your knees, then stop and take a break.
peace
Floating and Gliding
The history of floating seems to be a lil cloudy as far as the origins of the exact heel toe movement. I've seen similar movements done by HOOFER'S, MIMES and even the famed Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse. It seems that this type of move might probably even go further back in time for all we know, but the first POPPER that i have seen to introduce this move to the FUNK STYLES world was CREEPIN CID of the ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS, and it was the version that he did on a famous SOUL TRAIN episode back in the late 70's that popularized the FLOAT. When CID did this move he also made the illusion look like a dance by floating on beat and adding a side to side rock that made it real funky. And of course from the float came the even more popular and exaggerated illusion called the GLIDE. The glide takes floating to the next level in illusion. if you have seen singers like USHER, GENUWINE, and of course MJ do this move. It is because it is such an instant crowd pleaser. But before anyone can really learn a good glide, i would first advise them to learn how to FLOAT correctly. so here is a basic breakdown for FLOATING to the right: 1- make both feet point inward and flat on the ground 2- at the same time raise your right toe and left heel up (with your left toe and right heel down) 3- now shift your right toe and left heel to the right and your feet should now be pointing outward and both flat on the ground 4- now at the same time raise your left toe and right heel (with your right toe and left heel down) 5- now shift them both over to the right again and your feet should be flat on the ground and pointing inward 6- now keep repeating this over and over again now for the GLIDE going to the right: (the glide is done with the same motion as the float, but with an added push and pull with the movement) 1- make both feet point inward and flat on the ground 2- at the same time raise your right toe and left heel up (with your left toe and right heel down) 3- now push off of your left toe and slide your right foot (heel) to the right 4- now shift your right toe and left heel to the right and your feet should now be pointing outward and both flat on the ground 5- now at the same time raise your left toe and right heel (with your right toe and left heel down) 6- now pull your left foot (heel) across to the right with your right toe 5- now shift them both over to the right again and your feet should be flat on the ground and pointing inward 6- now keep repeating this over and over again ARM WAVE exercise
The history of waves from my research go back to the Bay area and Oakland with a move called the TIDAL WAVE, which was also a popular dance as seen in the Michael Jackson "Beat It" video. There have been similar moves done in MIME as well as in dance style from the East. Which brings us to an important Pioneer from the early Cotton Club era. Earl Tucker ("Snake Hips") was a performer at the Cotton Club during the days of Duke Ellington. His style of dance is definitely related that of waving that you see young Hip Hop dancers still doing today. (read more about Snake Hips.) The ARM WAVE is just one aspect of waving, And while it is difficult to teach this move without visuals, I will explain a technique I used as a kid to get a good wave. 1- Sit by a flat table like surface.
2- place your arm from pit to fingertips flat on the table.
3- now starting with the finger tips, bend your first finger digits (while the rest of your arm is completely flat)
4- now bend your hand at the knuckles (straightening your fingers at the same time)
5- now bend at the wrist (the whole point of this exercise is to always keep all other arm joints flat as can be on the table)
6- now bend at the elbow (strengthening your wrist)
7- now touch your chin with your shoulder, and completely straighten your arm out.
8- now reverse this whole exercise back to the finger tips.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop to me is not only a dance it is a culture that started underground in my home town in the streets of New York City. Back in the day, the Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens used to battle in the parks in the form of break dancing, pop & locking for turf respect and to represent their hood! NO VIOLENCE! Just Dancin'! Those were the days! And I want to share with all the new comers this beautiful art form what I had the privilege of witnessing with my own eyes. An art form being created and now evolving to other countries, races, and cultures through song, rap, dance and music. People now-a-days classify Hip Hop as " Old School & New School." But to me Hip Hop is Hip Hop! It is NOT what they now call "commercial" Hip Hop (which is over rated)! It is just jazz with sex appeal so they call it street funk! Hip Hop to me is an art form that paved the way for you & me through clothes, song, dance, trends, radio, fashion, graffiti, calligraphy, card board boxes, B-Boying, B-Gyrls, Gazelles, Kangol hats and freestyle. Now, after 20 years has re-surfaced once again proving itself to be a respected art form created by African & Latin Americans and now studied and embraced BY ALL RACES AND CULTURES! History again repeats itself, AND our HIP HOP CULTURE is more POWERFUL THAN EVER! Do you have a Hip Hop Story to share with the rest of the WORLD? Or are you looking for the WORLD of HIP HOP? Either way you are HOME at DA CRIB where you will be nurtured from Birth till you are a full grown Hip Hop educator!
Underground House
House Music started becoming very popular in NYC in 1988 and now is the universal music for everyone no matter what race you are! It is the dance of freedom for all states & countries. That is where we got freestyle dancing from. DEFINITION: Being you and adding your own style and being a part of a free culture, just feeling like it is just you on the dance floor and you just letting your body go and move to the sounds that you hear in your ear! BE FREE! House is really about you "FREESTYLE" meaning show off what you are made of. In the late 80's a lot of different cultures came together to add on to house such as: Brazilians, Puerto Ricans, Cubans not to mention the jazz & Tap dancers known as Hoofer's. They combined all these dance styles together and came up with one style out of many called: "Latin House freestyle" and I was truly blessed to be around when the art form was being created and mastered! I have over 15 years of mastering it! FREESTYLE IS A JOY FOR ME AND I WANT TO MAKE IT A JOY FOR YOU.... BY TEACHING YOU TO BE YOU! ARE YOU SATISFIED? OR ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR MORE? WELL WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU THE 411..BECOME A MEMBER AND FINALLY SPEAK YOUR MIND TELL OTHERS WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THE THE UNDERGROUND WORLD OF FREESTYLE HOUSE! BE A PART OF OUR REAL FAMILY CCP!
Final Thoughts
To me this is a more subtle form of hip hop combined with jazz and more technique. Hip-hop is really not supposed to be taught with discipline or counts, etc. You're suppose to feel the vibe because Hip Hop is a way of life not just a style of dance like Ballet or Tap. You're also suppose to get assistance from the music and hear the breaks in the music and let your body & soul flow! As for street funk it is more controlled with counts, positions, turns, technique and sex appeal. So I do recommend this class to anyone who has never taken Hip Hop before and are interested in Hip Hop. It's a strong art form. It's sort of like food. You have to have an acquired taste for it! So for those women who feel they are too sexy do not jump into the fire and expect to get out! Just take your time at first. You know what they say you have to crawl before you walk!
DO YOU REALLY WANNA FUNK?? WELL LET US HELP YOU GET "DA FUNK BABY"!
DANCE WIT US...BRING THE FUNK TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT FUNKDAFIED! LET'S GET BUSY! WANNA NO HOW...
Electric Boogie is a style of POPPING called ticking. No, not a tick like the bug! But a tick, as in you hear a clock tick. Well, your body moves to that beat of that clock. You also look as if you were being shocked by electric volts all combined with timing, isolations, discipline, and technique. LOCKING you have more of an even flow and more waves and loose movements, kicks like karate kicks and knee bends and drops that you don't incorporate in Popping. Locking and Popping originated in Los Angeles. It was mastered in the streets of the Bronx in NY and they added a little more street funk to it! The Popping street crew (Ticking) they are called Electric Boogaloo. Locking was made popular by a group that called themselves the LOCKERS! DUH...I figured that out all by myself!... Did you know break dancing was not even born yet the year popping & locking was born? Well now you do! It came sometime after popping and locking. They are both different styles of street dance. For those of you who always say to me, "do you know how to Pop lock?" I said which one? They reply, "huh?" I said again, "which one?" They are 2 different things. They pause & say...."WHAT? I did not know that!" I told you knowledge is contagious...but anyway popping is definitely my favorite even though I have mastered both I do have favorites. But hey I guess you find your nitch and what you're most comfortable doing and then you master it! GET IT! WELL IF YOU DON'T THEN YOU REALLY NEED OUR HELP! THAT IS WHAT THIS WEBSITE IS HERE FOR. WE DON'T WANT TO NOT ONLY ENTERTAIN YOU, BUT TO EDUCATE YOU, THE NEXT RISING STAR! LEARN ALL ABOUT THE ORIGINAL NEW YORK CITY BREAKERS, ROCK STEADY CREW, DON CAMPBELLLOCK,AND MUCH MUCH MORE!
Funk Style Dance Moves: Poppin, Boogaloo, Robot, Etc.
1. BOOGALOO STYLE (ROLLING OF THE HIPS AND SPECIAL DANCE STYLE) - "BOOGALOO SAM" (ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS)
2. TWISTO FLEX (TWISTING THE BODY LIKE A RUBIX CUBE) - "TWISTO FLEX DON" (ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS)
3. THE OLD MAN - "BOOGALOO SAM" WHILE IMITATING THE WALK OF AN OLD MAN
4. BOTTIN (INNOVATED VERSION OF ROBOTIN)- "BOPPIN ANDRE" THE BOPPER
5. COBRA (STYLE OF WAVING ) - "KING COBRA"( MYSTERIOUS POPPERS) TOOK A MOVE FROM BOOGALOO SAM AND INNOVATED IT INTO THE COBRA STYLE OF WAVING
6. CRAZY LEGS (TECHNICAL FEET PATTERNS) - "POPPIN PETE"
7. GROUND MOVES - "BOOGALOO SAM AND POPPIN PETE"
8. EARLY PIONEER OF ROBOTIC DANCE TYPE MOVEMENT - IRON MAN WAS FEATURED IN A LOCAL TV SHOW IN OAKLAND AND PERFORMED PANTOMIME STYLE MOVEMENTS WITH A JAMES BROWN SKATE IN THE LATE 60'S
9. ORIGINAL NAME OF THE BOOGALOOS - THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOO LOCKERS
10. FIRST GROUP TO PIONEER THESE STYLES: Catch on style ; Dominoes; Vertical line
Locking
1. THE LOCKING MOVE "ALPHAS - ALPHA OMEGA ANDERSON
2. SKEETER RABBIT - SKEETER RABBIT
3. WHICH A WAYS - CREATED BY FLUKY LUKE (originally called the iron horse)
4. STOP AND GO'S / QUICKIE - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
5. SCOOBY DOO'S - SCOOBY DOO
6. LOCKIN HAND SHAKE - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
7. SCOOBOT - SCOOBY
8. SCOOBOT HOP HIGH KICK - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
9. SCOOBOT HOP - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
10.PIMP WALK - GREG CAMPBELLOCK JR.
11.GUITAR - DON CAMPBELLOCK JR.
12.RUNNING SPLIT - DON CAMPBELLOCK
13.LAY OUT - DON CAMPBELLOCK
Electric Boogie Style: Strobing
Strobing is based on exactly what the word means. It is based on short stop motion type movements and is done generally with out a pop, but more of a subtle stop between each movement. Imitating the illusions of movements under a strobe light. What your doing is basic movements that you would see in a night club, movements like, walking, looking at your watch, pointing , taking off your hat, dancing, drinking. You can also imitate things like waking up, yawning, ect. to accomplish this style. 1- choose an action or style of movement, lets say for example "combing your hair. 2- now without applying the strobe technique just practice a motion that you would use to comb your hair, and try going from taking a comb out of your front shirt pocket and then combing your hair a few times and putting the comb back. 3-now lets apply the technique of creating a strobe light illusion to this motion. Use short "stop and go" type movements. Keep it very sharp and staccato like. No popping or heavy jerking. The simpler you keep your movement and effect, the better the illusion. Now do the same hair combing movements that you just practice and apply strobing to it.
King Tut Style
Inspired by ancient EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS. It was those great positions with the arms in different angles that inspired young funk style dancers to imitate and add on their own styles. Especially a brotha by the name of MARK BENSON aka "KING TUT" who is widely regarded as the creator of this style. It is also said that cartoons like BUGS BUNNY and his famous "ikidy akidy ook" scene that got young dancers trying it, as well as a skit on Saturday Night Live by the famous comedian STEVE MARTIN. While there were many who attributed to the manifestation of KING TUT style into the FUNK STYLE scene; It is still being researched. (refer to WEST COAST DANCE HISTORY page on the "BIRDMAN 2" link for more history) The best way to approach this style is by simply finding a resource for the earliest positions in EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS, and studying them. In KING TUT style you don't have to pop, you can just hit these positions on beat and it is still very respected. But adding a pop to it will also create more ideas and concepts as well. So my advice would be to learn how to POP every angle that you learn.
Things that you should do to learn this style:
1- STUDY ORIGINAL EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS
2- REALLY MASTER THE ANGLES BY MAKING THEM AS PERFECT AND FLAT AND SQUARE AS POSSIBLE, THIS WILL GET YOU MORE RESPECT
3- PRACTICE POPPING EACH POSITION
4- ALWAYS KEEP THEM ON BEAT
5- CREATE COMBINATIONS FOR YOUR ANGLES THAT CONNECT AND MAKE BETTER TRANSITIONS GOING FROM ONE ANGLE TO ANOTHER
6- CREATE RHYTHM PATTERNS FOR YOUR TUTS TO MAKE IT MORE FUNKY
Poppin
While the debate still continues as of who is considered the creator of this dance, in my belief and opinion, I believe that BOOGALOO SAM created the dance called "POPPIN" (that I have grown to love). The style and complexity of this dance is based on continuos flexing of the muscles to the beat while executing precise and funky angles that are based on many styles created by Sam's group THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOO. These angles provide funky and rhythmic positions for a popper to hit while flexing his or her muscles to the beat. Learning how to pop each muscle correctly is very important.
Here is a basic way to learn:
1- always have music on when practicing any dance, and the music for poppin is FUNK, so dig up an old CAMEO, PARLIAMENT, or ZAPP CD that has a classic funk sound.
2- start by practicing poppin a different body part to each entire song on the funk CD. 3-ARM POPS: Stretch your arms out in front of you slightly bent inward. Now flex and relax your arm muscles (forearms, triceps, and biceps) flex on the beat and relax off the beat. We will start with 4 beats per measure, now flex on each beat, and remember to relax in-between each pop. Do this for at least a quarter way through the song. Now do the same thing but double time (8 beats per measure), now play around with this for the entire song, now you must learn a step called the "FRESNO" to really get this right, so leaning side to side pick one arm up and pop it and then lean to the other side and pick that arm up and pop it, and keep it on beat and funky. The FRESNO is a smooth side to side dance movement where you pop on each side your leaning on. Complete the whole song with just arm pops and then stretch your arms out. 3-LEG POPS: Now for this you still need to learn to FRESNO. So letting your CD play to the next song, shift from side to side and on each side that you lean towards, SNAP your knee back as if you were hyper extending it. Do this on each side on beat (4 beats per measure). So now your basically snapping your knee back in a sharp motion to get a good pop. As you are learning , no need to snap your knee too hard, just a soft one until you get used to it. Now do these same knee pops but double time (8 beats per measure). Now do it 2 snaps per knee still double time. Keep it on beat and funky. Complete the entire song doing nothing but knee pops and then stretch your legs out. 4-CHEST AND NECK POPS: Now for this style of poppin your gonna feel a lil weird. But it is a very effective pop. Basically what your doing is flexing and relaxing the neck and chest muscles. To get a good chest pop I suggest doing allot of pushups. Now on the 3rd song on the CD start by flexing and relaxing both your neck and chest muscles. To get an effective neck pop, try adding a slight front neck movement on each beat (sort of like a chicken, but very slight). Also for the chest try sinking in your chest occasionally with your shoulders out and flex it. Now the key secret to getting a good chest pop is like breathing in and out.
Or sucking in your stomach when flexing, and blowing your stomach out when relaxing. Every time you bring your chest up flex right at the peak of that motion. Do this just like the arms exorcise. First on 4 beats per measure and then double up to 8 beats per measure. Pop your chest for the entire song and then relax and stretch.
5-ALL TOGETHER NOW: Now you are ready to put it all together. So on the 4th song, start by just popping your arms (side to side in the FRESNO style motion leaning on one side and lifting that arm and popping it, and then leaning on the other side and lifting that arm and poppin it), now start adding your knee pops, and keep that side to side motion going (the Fresno. Leaning to one side and poppin the knee and arm of that side and then repeating this on the other side). Now add the neck and chest, keep playing around with mixing all three styles of poppin during the song.
Back Knee Slide
This is a move that was created by accident. It was way back in like 1981. I heard a rumor that POPPIN PETE did a knee slide that was incredible, so someone else decided to basically try the move from their own flava it looked different.(what they called a moonwalk back then) but instead of doing it on your feet, you execute this on your knees.
This move was done in the movie BEAT STREET as well as in a performance on TV for the president, and it became famous.
Poppin Pete did a move known as the ET walk, which became part of the foundation for today's ground moves. Well for the knee glide you will need knee pads
NOW BEFORE YOU START DOING THIS MOVE, I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING IT AT YOUR OWN RISK, SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER WORK THIS MOVE, AND TAKE IT EASY. IF YOU FEEL A LOT OF PAIN DO NOT CONTINUE PRACTICING THIS MOVE. YOU SHOULD LEARN SOME STRETCHES AND KNEE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES BEFORE YOU TRY THIS MOVE AS WELL.
Basically you should practice your back slide standing up first and focus on the foot movement that your doing because it's the same exact movement but on your knees
then:
1-get on your knees
2-put your left foot flat on the floor and raise your right foot
3- now slide your left foot back
4-now switch your feet at the same time,(drop the right foot flat and raise the left foot)
5-now slide the right foot back
6-now switch your feet again (drop the left foot flat and raise the right foot again)
7- now slide the left foot back again and keep repeating this format over and over again
8- tips: start out with knee pads doing this movement very slow and eventually when you memorize the movements speed it up, and if you feel any sharp pain on your knees, then stop and take a break.
peace
Floating and Gliding
The history of floating seems to be a lil cloudy as far as the origins of the exact heel toe movement. I've seen similar movements done by HOOFER'S, MIMES and even the famed Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse. It seems that this type of move might probably even go further back in time for all we know, but the first POPPER that i have seen to introduce this move to the FUNK STYLES world was CREEPIN CID of the ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS, and it was the version that he did on a famous SOUL TRAIN episode back in the late 70's that popularized the FLOAT. When CID did this move he also made the illusion look like a dance by floating on beat and adding a side to side rock that made it real funky. And of course from the float came the even more popular and exaggerated illusion called the GLIDE. The glide takes floating to the next level in illusion. if you have seen singers like USHER, GENUWINE, and of course MJ do this move. It is because it is such an instant crowd pleaser. But before anyone can really learn a good glide, i would first advise them to learn how to FLOAT correctly. so here is a basic breakdown for FLOATING to the right: 1- make both feet point inward and flat on the ground 2- at the same time raise your right toe and left heel up (with your left toe and right heel down) 3- now shift your right toe and left heel to the right and your feet should now be pointing outward and both flat on the ground 4- now at the same time raise your left toe and right heel (with your right toe and left heel down) 5- now shift them both over to the right again and your feet should be flat on the ground and pointing inward 6- now keep repeating this over and over again now for the GLIDE going to the right: (the glide is done with the same motion as the float, but with an added push and pull with the movement) 1- make both feet point inward and flat on the ground 2- at the same time raise your right toe and left heel up (with your left toe and right heel down) 3- now push off of your left toe and slide your right foot (heel) to the right 4- now shift your right toe and left heel to the right and your feet should now be pointing outward and both flat on the ground 5- now at the same time raise your left toe and right heel (with your right toe and left heel down) 6- now pull your left foot (heel) across to the right with your right toe 5- now shift them both over to the right again and your feet should be flat on the ground and pointing inward 6- now keep repeating this over and over again ARM WAVE exercise
The history of waves from my research go back to the Bay area and Oakland with a move called the TIDAL WAVE, which was also a popular dance as seen in the Michael Jackson "Beat It" video. There have been similar moves done in MIME as well as in dance style from the East. Which brings us to an important Pioneer from the early Cotton Club era. Earl Tucker ("Snake Hips") was a performer at the Cotton Club during the days of Duke Ellington. His style of dance is definitely related that of waving that you see young Hip Hop dancers still doing today. (read more about Snake Hips.) The ARM WAVE is just one aspect of waving, And while it is difficult to teach this move without visuals, I will explain a technique I used as a kid to get a good wave. 1- Sit by a flat table like surface.
2- place your arm from pit to fingertips flat on the table.
3- now starting with the finger tips, bend your first finger digits (while the rest of your arm is completely flat)
4- now bend your hand at the knuckles (straightening your fingers at the same time)
5- now bend at the wrist (the whole point of this exercise is to always keep all other arm joints flat as can be on the table)
6- now bend at the elbow (strengthening your wrist)
7- now touch your chin with your shoulder, and completely straighten your arm out.
8- now reverse this whole exercise back to the finger tips.
Hip Hop
Hip Hop to me is not only a dance it is a culture that started underground in my home town in the streets of New York City. Back in the day, the Bronx, Brooklyn & Queens used to battle in the parks in the form of break dancing, pop & locking for turf respect and to represent their hood! NO VIOLENCE! Just Dancin'! Those were the days! And I want to share with all the new comers this beautiful art form what I had the privilege of witnessing with my own eyes. An art form being created and now evolving to other countries, races, and cultures through song, rap, dance and music. People now-a-days classify Hip Hop as " Old School & New School." But to me Hip Hop is Hip Hop! It is NOT what they now call "commercial" Hip Hop (which is over rated)! It is just jazz with sex appeal so they call it street funk! Hip Hop to me is an art form that paved the way for you & me through clothes, song, dance, trends, radio, fashion, graffiti, calligraphy, card board boxes, B-Boying, B-Gyrls, Gazelles, Kangol hats and freestyle. Now, after 20 years has re-surfaced once again proving itself to be a respected art form created by African & Latin Americans and now studied and embraced BY ALL RACES AND CULTURES! History again repeats itself, AND our HIP HOP CULTURE is more POWERFUL THAN EVER! Do you have a Hip Hop Story to share with the rest of the WORLD? Or are you looking for the WORLD of HIP HOP? Either way you are HOME at DA CRIB where you will be nurtured from Birth till you are a full grown Hip Hop educator!
Underground House
House Music started becoming very popular in NYC in 1988 and now is the universal music for everyone no matter what race you are! It is the dance of freedom for all states & countries. That is where we got freestyle dancing from. DEFINITION: Being you and adding your own style and being a part of a free culture, just feeling like it is just you on the dance floor and you just letting your body go and move to the sounds that you hear in your ear! BE FREE! House is really about you "FREESTYLE" meaning show off what you are made of. In the late 80's a lot of different cultures came together to add on to house such as: Brazilians, Puerto Ricans, Cubans not to mention the jazz & Tap dancers known as Hoofer's. They combined all these dance styles together and came up with one style out of many called: "Latin House freestyle" and I was truly blessed to be around when the art form was being created and mastered! I have over 15 years of mastering it! FREESTYLE IS A JOY FOR ME AND I WANT TO MAKE IT A JOY FOR YOU.... BY TEACHING YOU TO BE YOU! ARE YOU SATISFIED? OR ARE YOU THIRSTY FOR MORE? WELL WE ARE HERE TO GIVE YOU THE 411..BECOME A MEMBER AND FINALLY SPEAK YOUR MIND TELL OTHERS WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON IN THE THE UNDERGROUND WORLD OF FREESTYLE HOUSE! BE A PART OF OUR REAL FAMILY CCP!
Final Thoughts
To me this is a more subtle form of hip hop combined with jazz and more technique. Hip-hop is really not supposed to be taught with discipline or counts, etc. You're suppose to feel the vibe because Hip Hop is a way of life not just a style of dance like Ballet or Tap. You're also suppose to get assistance from the music and hear the breaks in the music and let your body & soul flow! As for street funk it is more controlled with counts, positions, turns, technique and sex appeal. So I do recommend this class to anyone who has never taken Hip Hop before and are interested in Hip Hop. It's a strong art form. It's sort of like food. You have to have an acquired taste for it! So for those women who feel they are too sexy do not jump into the fire and expect to get out! Just take your time at first. You know what they say you have to crawl before you walk!
DO YOU REALLY WANNA FUNK?? WELL LET US HELP YOU GET "DA FUNK BABY"!
DANCE WIT US...BRING THE FUNK TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT FUNKDAFIED! LET'S GET BUSY! WANNA NO HOW...
