Tips on How to Become a Better Popping Dancer

Tips on How to Become a Better Popping Dancer

Popping is a dance style that creates an illusion. Dancers contract and relax muscles sharply, so the audience sees real robots or puppets with no trace of humanity. That’s popping at its finest. In the 21st century, popping has gained immense popularity among young people. As a result, many want to master this dance style. But professional poppers immediately say it’s not that easy. You need not only to feel the music but also to control every muscle in your body. Some dancers train for years—indeed, they dedicate their whole lives to popping just to achieve perfect execution. But beginners shouldn’t be scared off or give up right away. Here are a few basic rules, or tips, to learn the first fundamentals of popping and not bail after the first dance class.

— First Tip
If you’re truly determined to learn popping, start by choosing the right music. It accounts for 15% of a beginner’s success. The music should be sharp, fast, and rhythmic (90 to 120 beats per minute). Try to make your body vibrate or at least shake lightly—even that is a good result for starters. This effect comes only from very strong muscle contractions.

— Second Tip
Along with choosing music, pay attention to your physical fitness. If you’re in good shape, skip this point. If not, you need to work on yourself seriously. Without excellent physical fitness, there’s no point in popping. But don’t drop everything right away—your body will gradually get toned through regular popping practice, plus a couple of strength workouts per week and proper nutrition.

— Third Tip
The main element of popping is the hit. Never forget that. Try to hit with every part of your body—arms, legs, head, feet, chest, even fingers. Learn a few basic combinations and a couple of dozen fundamental moves. This “beginner’s set” will help you greatly as you progress. Also, polish every move and perfect the combinations.

— Fourth Tip
Many popping moves involve a lot of angles and gestures. You should learn those too. And even though popping is usually danced upright (standing), try performing some popping elements while lying down. This helps develop muscles throughout your body.

— Fifth Tip
Professional dancers perform all popping moves with sharpness and energy. You should do the same. You can train sharpness with simple exercises. For example, imagine your hands together chopping through the air like an axe.
Or do circular swings with your arms, legs, even your head—they’ll also help you achieve that effect. Another idea: imagine you’re swimming and make sharp mimicking movements. The key is to do everything fast and energetically, while remembering to smile or at least not look like you’re dying.

— Sixth Tip
From the very first lesson, repeat all learned or invented combinations, or even just moves, at perfectly equal intervals. And even in the early stages, with each repetition, your smoothness and human-like movements will become less and less noticeable.

— Seventh Tip
Try to improvise with learned moves and combinations. Create something of your own instead of blindly copying what already exists.
And most importantly, don’t give up on popping after the first failures. It will be tough, but soon you’ll get it.