Hello fellow teachers!

Starting the new year, I have taken over the hip hop program at a mainly acro/jazz based studio and am very happy doing it! However, I am a jazz and ballet trained dancer and want to make sure that I am giving my hip hop students the best education I can.

I began searching for a syllabus for Hip Hop, but did not find anything available in the states and well...it's time to get my own ideas here!

This is how i generally run my classes, if anyone has any advice or input it would be most appreciated!



Stretch
-butterfly
-pike
-straddle
-some isolations
-shoulder stretches

Basic steps with younger students
-box step
-step-touch/step-cross
-3 step turn

And from here I have found myself basically just jumping into some choreography. I feel I could benefit from giving them more 'technique' but I'm a bit stuck as to how to go about this.

Thanks!!!

-Landa

While I don't know much about hip hop, I notice you begin by stretching and don't mention a warm up. Of course, if dancers have many classes in a row they might already be warmed up, but it couldn't hurt to have some sort of fun warm up that they can learn the first day of classes and then they do first thing when class starts. Then their muscles are warm before beginning stretches, especially straddle and split-oriented stretches.

thanks! yea most of the girls come from a acro/tumbling class before coming to me, but it couldn't hurt to do it especially for those that don't have any classes before hand thankyou!

What ages are you teaching?

I am not trained in hip hop so not really comfortable teaching it but my young students wanted to dance this style. I purchased Hip Hop in a Box online and they love it! I believe the young lady who created it is named Tricia Gomez It comes with a CD, an instructional DVD, and cards with all the steps she has in her program. It was worth every penny!

I haven't heard of that program before but I will certainly check it out!

I have two classes ages 5-7 and 8-12 ish.

Yea, I'm not exactly a 'hip-hop teacher' myself, but, with changing times you need to adapt I think so...here I am!

Thank you for the tip on the program, I'm definitely going to check that out

i add in some jazz across the floors with a little twist.... like chaines with arms in daggers, grapevines, hitch kicks, step-jump together & clap, jazz slides, kick ball change with funky arms, the running man

LandaBear, you can just Google Hip Hop in a Box and it will bring up the website. That's how I got hooked up with it.

I also do grapevines, popcorns (2nd position plies- bounce/bounce 1/2 turn), formation changes. We do some dance conditioning like sit ups, jumping jacks and flash jumps. We do an isolation exercise where we work from our toes to our head. We also do a 2 minute segment in each class where we dance without moving our feet to emphasize the importance of using head, arms and shoulders in hip hop.

Every hip-hop class I've taken is about 20-30 min of warm-up and conditioning. The rest is working on certain skills (stalls...other popular steps like the jerk etc) and combinations.

When I have subbed hip-hop classes this is what I've done. Soon I'll be teaching hip-hop and will be running class like this.

Go take some good hip hop classes. If there are no options at studios in your area go to a convention...for specifically hip hop I'd recommend Monsters of Hip Hop.

Hi!
I just came across this thread. I'm Tricia Gomez, creator of Hip Hop In a Box! @terpsidance- thanks so much for recommending Hip Hop In a Box! I'm so glad your kids love it! I thought I'd let you know that I released my "Hip Hop Made Easy" Syllabus for Levels 1 & 2 (ages 3-7)! You can check it out at danceinabox.com. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me! I'm more than willing to pass along ideas:). My personal email address is tricia@danceinabox.com!
Good luck with everything! I'm sure you will do great!
Sincerely,
Tricia:)

Triskit wrote:

Go take some good hip hop classes. If there are no options at studios in your area go to a convention...for specifically hip hop I'd recommend Monsters of Hip Hop.

Yes, yes yes! Hip Hop has technique just like any other style. It isn't just "funky" movements.

Thank you all so much for your advice!! It is really a good feeling to know that there are teachers who can offer support and advice!

Tricia, your program looks FANTASTIC and I shall be purchasing it for myself as a B*Day Present!

I have class tomorrow for these girls and will certainly use all your tips and come in with a clear structure in mind.

Thank you all again!

Landa

Triskit wrote:

Go take some good hip hop classes. If there are no options at studios in your area go to a convention...for specifically hip hop I'd recommend Monsters of Hip Hop.

So true!! Go take a class. This is exactly what I do before teaching a hip hop class. If I can't make it to at class I do online to youtube or dancemedia.com to find some inspiration.

You wouldn't teach a ballet class without knowing the technique, or really any other style of dance for that matter. Hip hop has technique, not just bent knees and step touches. I strongly suggest going to take some classes and educate yourself a bit more. I don't want to sound rude or come across condescending with this but I don't think it's right to teach something that you don't have enough knowledge about. You're providing a service to students and parents to educate and you can't do that if you're not educated yourself. I am very sorry if this sounds rude. Please do not take this personally, I just feel very strongly about this and I think more dance instructors need to take some time to think about what their goal as an educator is. Good luck with everything!

My thoughts exactly tapdanzer! if a hip hop dancer suddenly decided to teach ballet without the proper training they would get laughed at...why is hip hop not taken as seriously?

I really believe that it is super important to know the "techniques" of Hip Hop. I say this as teacher who oddly enough feels my strongest areas of teaching are now in Ballet and Hip Hop. With the latter coming from studies and a lot of training at the beginning of my teaching career.

We would never want a Hip Hop teacher teaching Ballet just because they know some of the movements. I will say that Hip Hop dance is so diverse that it might not be possible to specialize in every area, however; I think all Hip Hop teachers should know the basics which to me are (This is what I teach):

Old school Popping/Funk styles - Arm and chest pops, Tutting, Waving, Robot, Strobing, Gildes, Floats etc.

Old School Locking/Funk styles - Basic Lock, Uncle sams, Whichaway, Stomp the cockroach etc

Bboyin/Bgirlin - Basic Toprock, Go Downs, Freezes, Footwork(ex. six step) Some power moves (more advanced classes)

My warm up every class consists of isolations and of dances that are popular now or fun "party dances" such as - the jerk, the reject, shuffling, stanky leg, chicken noodle soup, the dougie, spongebob, cupid shuffle - ask your students...many will already be able to dance these! I also always do conditioning for centre, upper back, arms, legs etc.

My hip hop classes all have three parts. I do the above warm up in the first part of class, then usually in 10-12 week terms I introduce them to one of the styles. 10 weeks Popping 10 weeks Lockin/ funk styles 10 weeks Bboyin/Girlin. Then in the third part I teach choreography. This is when the techniques are OK to bend a bit because it is my interpretation as a choreographer of Hip Hop. I also use this time to bring in a guest every now and then for things I myself cannot teach, such as for Krump or introduce them to new styles like "contemporary Hip Hop" We always end class with a "freestyle circle" this is a great way for students to develope their own Hip Hop style.

Although I did take Hip Hop as a student, I was never myself introduced to real hip hop techniques until I decided to teach and realized I just didn't know enough. Since that time I attend breakdance classes, waving, popping etc as well as classes at conventions and reading A LOT about the culture. I'd be upset if a Ballet teacher didn't know who Balanchine or Nureyev were. It is just as important that Hip Hop teachers know Rock steady crew, Poppin Pete or Boogaloo Sam. I aim to do justice to the culture of hip hop and pay tribute to those who live and breath hip hop and the rich cultural history....and want to make sure that "studio Hip Hop" doesn't necessarily mean that students don't learn "real Hip Hop" as I have heard this complaint time and time again.

P.S I second Monsters of Hip Hop or The Pulse. I also strongly suggest taking a breakdance class....go outside your comfort zone...it will be a rewarding experience I promise!

All the best

Thank you all for your responses!

I wanted to clarify something, I totally agree that no one should be teaching a technique that they are not versed in. I didn't intend to state that I am not trained in hip hop just was asking advice on the set-up or structure of a class that works for students.

I purchased the hip hop in a box, and HOW FANTASTIC is that program?!?!

Thankyou all for your support! It is so nice to know that as teachers we can come to our colleagues and get advice, tips and input!

With love,

Landa