Tutting is a unique dance style that transforms hand, finger, and wrist movements into mesmerizing geometric shapes, lines, and angles. This dance demands exceptional precision, control, and creativity, allowing the dancer to express emotions and ideas through optical illusions. If you're looking for a way to develop coordination, fine motor skills, and add sophistication to your dance performances, the GoDance platform offers video tutorials to help you master this amazing style and perfect your movements.
What is Tutting and Where Did It Come From?
Tutting, or “
king tut,” is a dance style inspired by ancient Egyptian art, particularly images of Pharaoh Tutankhamun (King Tut) and hieroglyphs. Its characteristic features are rigid, angular movements that mimic the poses and figures often found in Egyptian frescoes. While the style's roots go back in history, as a modern dance form, tutting began to take shape in the 1970s in Californian underground dance circles, becoming part of the broader culture of
hip-hop and funk.
- Key elements: movements of hands, fingers, wrists, and forearms.
- Goal: creating the illusion of moving geometric shapes, squares, rectangles, and other polygons.
- Inspiration: ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and frescoes, where figures were often depicted at right angles.
This style not only impresses with its visual component but also develops a deep understanding of body geometry in space.
What Benefits Does Practicing Tutting Offer a Dancer?
Practicing tutting offers a range of unique benefits that go beyond ordinary dance, developing both the physical and mental abilities of a dancer.
- Development of fine motor skills and coordination: Tutting requires incredible precision and control over every joint of the fingers, wrists, and elbows. This significantly improves fine motor skills, which is useful not only in dance but also in everyday life.
- Improved concentration and attention: Creating complex geometric patterns requires complete focus. Practicing tutting trains the ability for sustained concentration.
- Development of creativity: The style provides immense opportunities for improvisation and creating your own unique combinations. Dancers constantly experiment with shapes, angles, and transitions.
- Understanding body geometry: You will learn to see and feel your limbs as tools for creating precise geometric forms, enriching your overall understanding of movement.
- Strengthening arm and forearm muscles: Although tutting seems effortless, maintaining sharp angles and quick transitions requires significant muscular endurance and strength in the upper body.
This is why many dancers, even from other styles such as
jazz-funk or
contemporary, incorporate tutting elements into their training.
How to Start Learning the Basics of Tutting?
Mastering tutting requires patience, but with the right approach, results will follow. Start with simple exercises and gradually increase their complexity.
- Learn basic “frames”: Begin by creating simple squares and rectangles with your hands. Connect your wrists, elbows, and shoulders to form clear angles.
- Practice “flips”: This is a key element that allows you to smoothly transition from one geometric figure to another. Practice changing the direction of your palm without breaking the angle.
- Work on “connections”: Learn to smoothly connect different parts of your hands – fingers to fingers, fingers to wrists, wrists to elbows – to create the illusion of a single, constantly changing form.
- Use music: Practice to music with a clear rhythm to make your movements more dynamic and synchronized. Try different tempos.
- Watch video tutorials: On GoDance, you'll find many lessons that explain the basic techniques step by step. This will help you visualize the movements and understand their mechanics.
Remember that regular practice is the key to success in tutting. Even 15-20 minutes daily will bring noticeable progress.
What Dance Styles Can Be Combined with Tutting?
Tutting, thanks to its uniqueness and visual impact, integrates beautifully into many other dance styles, adding sharpness and originality.
- Hip-hop: This is one of the most natural combinations. Tutting elements can add detail and precision to hip-hop, especially in freestyle and showcases.
- Dancehall: Although dancehall is known for its energy and groove, neat tutting movements can create an interesting contrast, emphasizing the rhythm.
- Electro-dance (Tecktonik, Electro): These styles, focused on fast hand movements, are perfectly complemented by tutting, giving them more geometric purity.
- Popping: Combining popping “hits” with angular tutting movements creates a powerful visual effect of a “robot” or “doll.”
- Strip Dance and High Heels: An unexpected but very effective combination. Precise and controlled hand movements can add grace and sophistication to strip dance or high heels performances, emphasizing femininity and strength.
- Contemporary styles: In experimental productions or contemporary dance, tutting can be used to create abstract images and convey complex emotions through geometric forms.
The possibilities for experimentation are virtually limitless, and our GoDance dance school regularly updates its video tutorial library so you can find new inspiration for combining styles.
How GoDance Will Help You Master Tutting?
GoDance platform is your reliable guide in the world of dance, and tutting is no exception. We offer everything you need to confidently master this unique style.
- Progressive video tutorials: From the very basics for beginners to complex combinations for experienced dancers. Each lesson is developed by professional choreographers and explains the technique in detail.
- Variety of instructors: Learn from the best! Different instructors demonstrate their unique approaches and tricks in tutting, allowing you to find your own style.
- Playlists and training programs: We have created structured playlists that will guide you from simple movements to complex sequences, ensuring smooth and effective learning.
- 24/7 accessibility: Practice at any time convenient for you and anywhere. All you need is a device with internet access.
- Updated library: We constantly add new lessons and materials to keep your learning relevant and interesting. Our huge collection of video tutorials in 40+ dance styles ensures that you will always find something new.
Join the GoDance community and discover the world of precise movements and expressive geometry of tutting!
Ready to dive into the world of geometric dance? Start your tutting journey today! Register at GoDance.tv and get access to unique video tutorials that will unleash your potential in this exciting style.
