Street Dance for Beginners: Basics and Main Rules

Street dance is typical for active people who love to improvise and express their individuality on stage. It's a dance typically performed in public places - in clubs, on street dance platforms, in schoolyards. Dancers often participate in battles - competitions where they strive to prove their superiority to each other.

Spectators always stand in a circle, clearing the center of the dance floor, and watch the action, cheering on the participants. Sometimes whole crews of dancers perform - groups of several people. During dance "fights," dancers demonstrate not only excellent mastery of dance technique, but also their strong character, as well as a whole range of emotions, almost always expressed at their maximum amplitude.

You can learn street dances not only in a professional choreographic school, but also at home. It's only important to master the basic elements of the dance. By the way, street dance is danced on a wide platform, so a large spacious room where you can move freely is ideal. So, the main movements of the dance include:

— Sham Rock – a movement where initially the feet are together. Then the right foot steps to the right, both feet turn left on the toes. After that, on count "3," the right foot is placed next to the left and both feet stand on the toes, while the whole body stretches upward. At the end, it lowers to the starting position. The same movement is performed with the left foot.

— Horse Move – starting position: body stands "diagonally." The left leg bends, then a jump is made on the spot on both legs. Then the body turns 90°, the right leg bends, and again landing on both legs.

— Padebure – a popular step in many dance styles. Starting position: feet apart, body turned diagonally. The right foot makes a cross step back behind the left foot. The body makes a small backward sway, similar to a light fall, and then the right foot steps forward. The same movement is immediately performed with the left foot. In this element, it's important that the knees constantly bounce.

— Roof Top – the right leg is bent and behind, it is the supporting leg, while the left leg is extended and forward. Then the left leg pulls toward the right, sliding on the floor. At the end, the right foot rises to the half-toes. Then the right foot is brought forward, and the movement repeats from the beginning. When performing Roof Top, body weight should not be on the front foot.

— Prep – in this element, feet are apart, left foot slightly forward, body weight in the middle. Arms are bent at the elbows "toward yourself" to chest level. The left hand is on top of the right palm. Together with stroking the right elbow with the left hand, the legs perform a bounce - bending the knees and leaning the body slightly back. Then the body turns to the right.

Elbows are in a "desk" position, the left hand is still on top. Stroking and leg bouncing are performed again. The body turns to the right, while the arms make a "roll" motion - "twisting" back. The body turns to the right again, the left hand strokes the right, legs bounce.

— Cat Daddy – this is a hand movement. Feet apart, right arm bent and brought to the chest in a horizontal position, left arm behind, also bent. During the movement, the arms constantly switch places, while performing a small wave downward, starting from the fists. This element resembles a cat washing itself, but is performed with a much larger amplitude, and the arms are not only in front but also behind, alternately. The body slightly leans to the side with each wave.

In street dances, it is important to pay special attention to the knees - they should be soft, constantly bouncing, because thanks to them, all dance elements will look smooth, and the body will appear flexible.