As a competition judge & certified in hip hop, I really need to vent about this whole negative connotation hip-hop has. I was having a conversation the other day with some studio parents about hip-hop. As I stated I am certified in hip-hop & am completely frustrated with what I see at competitions when it comes to hip-hop. Just to clarify something that MOST people do not know about hip-hop is "THERE IS TECHNIQUE INVOLVED WITH HIP-HOP." Just like any other form of dance. Most teachers & judges are not educated in the diversity of hip-hop & think that it is all booty shaking. WELL ITS NOT & that is why some studios dont offer it & some parents dont want their children taking it, because of the stigma it holds. Here is the problem & how it has begun a negative cycle. Studios take booty shaking numbers that in my opinion are inappropriate & clearly not dancing & the judges(Who dont know anything about hip-hop) score it high because they are also under the impression that they just saw some hip-hop. The cycle has now begun because now other studios think that the only way to win with hip-hop is to have a booty shaking routine. Im am in utter disgusts by this & just ask that you require your hip-hop instructors to go to conventions & workshops on hip-hop because when they dont know, they teach your students wrong & so the cycle continues.....

:Standing Ovation: Well said!

It seems as though many teachers don't know a lot about hip hop but teach classes anyway. Most of the teachers in my area teach jazz/funk, cheer dance or some other variation. Hip Hop has technique! Just like ballet, tap, jazz etc. Yet many couldn't tell you the first thing about hip hop technique and its basic movements.

Using R&B, rap or funky music doesn't make it hip hop. You can use classical, tribal, pop, jazz.....anything. Think creatively! I scratch my head when I see descriptions for hip hop classes saying that they use "clean" music. Does that mean they don't use clean music in other dance classes? Why do some teachers feel the need to actively search for "clean" age appropriate hip hop music but not "clean" age appropriate tap or jazz music? Shouldn't all class music be appropriate?

As a discipline hip hop doesn't get the same respect as other styles. How often have you heard or read about someone with little hip hop experience and knowledge teaching a class? Would we be supportive of someone teaching ballet or tap with that same level of expertise?

Well said!

For anyone interested in Hip Hop Conventions. Monsters of Hip Hop is amazing!!

Kudos to you!!

I don't offer Hip-hop because I did not learn hip-hop. So why would I make a class and call it "hip-hop" when I don't know much and what I do know has all been taught to me at dance conventions.

I think that most studios put in "appropriate music" into their descriptions because of the studios that started the whole butt shaking thing also started using innapporpriate music selections and the music genre that is hip-hop has a lot of music that is not appropriate for family entertainment. Which has caused us all to react to it and say something about our music selections.

Miss Merry

i agree. hip-hop and booty shaking are two different things and are not interchangeable.

@danzlover i think a lot of studios stress that the music used for their hip-hop classes are age appropriate because there is so much hip-hop music that is not appropraite at all. although all hip-hop music is not foul, once people hear one song that is foul, they assume the worst. people fail to see that hip-hop music, dance, and culture is so different from the negative ways it's portrayed on television. just my opinion.

I applaud you for posting and speaking your mind about this! I am a fellow hip hop teacher and it is sad to hear the negative impressions alot of parents have about hip hop. I, thankfully, have been able to prove myself to most parents through recitals and show that hip hop doesn't have to include booty shaking and the music they don't really appreciate. I've actually converted a couple parents who had originally been against the idea of their daughters taking hip hop -- I felt very successful at that point! It is sad that there are studios out there that are 'teaching hip hop' without really understanding its elements, and marketing it as the real thing to these misguided customers.
P.S. - where did you obtain your hip hop certification, and is there a syllabus that went along with it???

I , too am curious about your hip hop certification...I never knew that existed!
I would like to hear more about it.
I love good hip hop and think that its sad that there is this negative feeling about it....

I am not trained in Hip Hop, but have had awesome Hip Hop teachers trained in REAL Hip Hop and not a lot of the garbage you see presented as such. You get to know it well enough so that when you judge bad HH, it is obvious.

That has been a HUGE problem for me, too, and when I judge, I will let them know that this is NOT HH and that it is one of the reasons why I am scoring it low.

I feel your pain!

About 5 years ago, when I bought my dance school, I tried to hire legit/recommended Hip Hop teachers, but I couldn't afford their $50/hour fee. There seems to be a cartel going in my area, where they all know each other, and can demand high prices. This works for a large booming dance school, but I'm a small school in an older suburb, and I don't get many calls for Hip Hop. Kids, and a few adults, are anxious to sign-up because it's a buzzword, and looks like fun, but would quickly drop out when they realized it took work. They seem to think that 6 lessons will have them looking like what they see on TV.

I finally sublet to a good NYC trained Urban Dance instructor, but he only lasted 3 years at my location, due to his high tuition. He also refused to participate in my dance recitals and public performances, and kept a low profile in the community. I included his classes in my marketing nonetheless.

So I don't think it's always a dance school's ignorance, or greed, to try to teach it on their own. I did take classes myself from these high-priced Hip Hop teachers, and attended some at dance teacher's seminars, but you can't adequately absorb the style that way. I would be happy to find an affordable, competent teacher, or send someone to a bona fide course.

Amen sister! I totally agree. And the students think that is what it is too, just shaking their booty's. One of the main reasons that I don't teach hip hop, aside from not really being trained in it, is because it is hard to find appropriate music to listen to and I have to constantly lecture that booty shaking is not appropriate, then they think I am taking their fun away. I love to watch and dance hip hop, but it just makes it hard with the booty shaking that goes along with it. I wish there were more teachers out there that had a working and in depth knowledge of hip hop who could teach it appropriately. Amen sister, amen!

Im listening to everyone & agree wholeheartedly. As far the hip-hop certification goes, look into The HHDC (Hip Hop Dance Conservatory) They are located in NYC. They have many programs, that I highly recommend. Not only do they teach the techniques of hip-hop, but they teach you the history which is very important in understanding the fundamentals. As far as the "Clean" music issue goes, I feel like that just goes along with the stigma. When I teach Master Classes I use music that noone would even consider dancing "hip-hop" to. Its part of my teaching methods, to get people to think out of the box. When you hear its is not the typical "hip-hop" music, that it helps to start the process & change the thinking pattern that is commonly associated with hip hop.

The media perpetuates the stereo type and so does MTV, etc.
I always have to explain to potential parents that it is not the stuff they see on tv (for the most part) and that we use clean music.

Very timely subject to bring up, as I was having this exact conversation today. I have always had a love/hate relationship with hip-hop that I can't seem to reconcile. I taught hip hop for years and it is a very important part of my studio's program.

The issue for me has always been the hip-hop "image" that is quite frequently depicted by the artists (producers) driving the market/culture.

I am an extremely strong female and MUCH of the music and videos depict the female as a prop. Most women are relegated to "b^$Ches and ho's". I do not do "woman-as-an-accessory".

Ninety percent of the songs topping the charts has the artist professing all about his sexual prowess...alcohol isn't far behind...and generally there's an invitation for you AND your girlfriend. Apparently, some of the men can make parts of your anatomy whistle the Andy Griffith theme song...who knew?

UNFORTUNATELY, there are plenty of teachers that get their training or inspiration from videos (so do the kids) and what you see is the "house party" choreographed for stage. I do not care to see what you would see in a club on stage.

The stigma might fade if the video culture changes, but as long as there are women willing to climb into a pair of booty shorts, carry around a glass of cristal and bump and grind at the artists beckoning, you will get the offshoot at the comps and the negative connotation that many artists, themselves, market like crazy.

The general public does not know or understand hip hop history. If every teacher elevated it to an art, there would be no issue. That's not the case. I appreciate the many ways hip hop has fused and grown with other dance forms. It does not have to be pure hip hop for me to enjoy it or feel that it's relevant or has artistic merit.

I agree that the Comp cycle is partially due to having the choreo receive rewards, but I would also add that cues are taken from hip-hop videos/lyrics that the masses are being fed.

Good post i_am_me

MzButterfly wrote:

As far as the "Clean" music issue goes, I feel like that just goes along with the stigma. When I teach Master Classes I use music that noone would even consider dancing "hip-hop" to. Its part of my teaching methods, to get people to think out of the box. When you hear its is not the typical "hip-hop" music, that it helps to start the process & change the thinking pattern that is commonly associated with hip hop.

Exactly! It's about the technique not the music. A teacher could only use classical music. Anything is possible.

I agree! BTW- You happened to email me also about judging for my competition, Rhythms in Dance, and I completely agree with you! First of all, judges do not have any idea what hip hop is, esp when my dance team kids are told to "point their toes" and "pull up their pose" when they are doing honest-to-goodness HIP HOP. While other teams are putting battemat turns, fuetes, and gran jetes in their HIP HOP! WHAT?????!!!!, I ask!

My SO has no idea about hip hop, she hired me to do my job=teach hip hop. Last week I worked on a short krump routine with the class, just to let them see and try a different style of hip hop. Well the SO's daughter is in my class(a tapper) and since she couldn't get the routine right, I have been told to make it more "regular hip hop" for next week. She also wants me to do this because we will have 2 new students coming to try the class, and that "Street Hip hop" as she calls it, will scare them. Another quote= "It just looks like they are having seizures".

GRRRR!! I was so limited last year with what they call more "girly" hip hop, most of the judges said my hip hop routines were Jazz. I knew they were more Jazz but my SO doesn't get it. Just because its a hip hop song doesn't make the dance hip hop.

I agree that there is a ton of horrible, bar dancing sold as hip hop. What sucks is that I wonder how many so-called hip hop teachers really know the roots of rap, and when it started. So combine students just shaking their stuff to a song that is basically telling all that women are nothing because that is what is selling, that is where it gets it's bad rap. Pun intended.

I like old-school rap. I grew up roller skating and attempting to breakdance to Grandmaster Flash, Sugar Hill gang, etc. Back in the day when rap was either about just dancing OR in the case of Grandmaster Flash, making a statement about how things need to change.

I started falling out with rap when it became so degrading to women and THAT's the crap that sells. Give me Biz Markee, Salt n Peppa, De La Soul, Queen Latifah and I am happy. Even Will Smith. Rob Base. I think if the world were perfect and the genre were to get back to that message of social change and just having a good time(like that is the stuff that sells) maybe we would find that the negative image would change?

And if someone wants to choreograph an adult hip hop routine to "It takes 2" I will be there. In the front row.

I am so very glad to hear all of you chime in on this subject. I truly thought I was alone in my feelings, but apparently I am not. Many people do not understand what hip-hop is & the roots of the culture. In return they want to make it what it is now. Espeically in the competition world...SMH...Music does not make the routine. I believe I can dance any style of dance to any genre of music & keep it still focused on that dance discipline. But many people are under the impression that if you put slow music on its lyrical or contemporary or rap or R&B Music the dance is hip-hop..... Now that I see I am not alone, Im working on some ideas to start a new movement! Hopefully you guys will join me on the journey~
mzoutlaw.com

MzButterfly wrote:

I am so very glad to hear all of you chime in on this subject. I truly thought I was alone in my feelings, but apparently I am not. Many people do not understand what hip-hop is & the roots of the culture. In return they want to make it what it is now. Espeically in the competition world...SMH...Music does not make the routine. I believe I can dance any style of dance to any genre of music & keep it still focused on that dance discipline. But many people are under the impression that if you put slow music on its lyrical or contemporary or rap or R&B Music the dance is hip-hop..... Now that I see I am not alone, Im working on some ideas to start a new movement! Hopefully you guys will join me on the journey~
mzoutlaw.com

I have not been chiming in, but I read all the post. And I feel exactly as you do, it's not the music it's the movement. I have it on the wall in the classroom. It's not just physical it's mental, just like any other dance form.

And if some of the SO's would just let the hip hop instructors teach something real then maybe the kids won't be scared off. What's the purpose of hiring the instructor and then giving ridiculous limitations? My SO learned the hard way, my kids like to be challenged, the love to get down and dirty, get physical, learn the tricks and the head spins and etc. But when I first started introducing it she lost her mind, but I would not stop til the kids had there ah ha moments. And when they came she never said another thing.

But if I see another girl or boy pop there butts multiple times in a dance and win top honors you will hear about me on the news. I score everything low for that, so don't bring it!