Vincentt

Well they say sex and dancing are related.

To me hip-hop dancing is always a defensive endeavor.
I do my best not look like a jackass.

Well sometimes, I drink, and sometimes I forget that I cannot dance. While my altered mind thinks ‘this has got to look good’, once I return to reality… well it sucks.

I can salsa a little and some other older/traditional dances decently (I took a class). However, do not know the first thing about hip-hop. I have not seen any classes for it around here.

Anyone have any good resources on hip-hop / club style dancing?
I would like to learn as clubs would be a lot more fun if I had a right foot.

Classes, DVDs, books, whatever.

(Or any horrors stories make me feel better about my most recent disaster)

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Halx

Heh. I got a secret for you.

Salsa to hip-hop. Add a few extra movements here or there. Make it smooth. Move your shoulders to the beat.

They'll form a circle around you and watch you go.

Works for me.

In fact most ballroom styles can be adapted to fit beat-oriented dance music... makes it enchanting.

I must warn you though... you should only attempt if you wanna knock the socks off someone. If you wanna blend in with all the other poseurs, then go ahead and learn how to hip-hop dance.

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healer

The mistake made by most caucasian guys when dancing to Hip-Hop is that they tend to dance from their shoulders and end up looking all lanky with limbs flailing everywhere. Women ALWAYS look good when they're dancing - why? Because they dance from their hips and let their bodies follow.

My advice is to just go out on the floor with a woman and follow her movements. Respond to what's she's doing and you'll be bumpin and grindin in no time

bing bing

My advice is to check out Usher's latest video clip and do what he does.

Amano

You know, this is probably some of the best advice about dancing for guys I've read so far. Is there anyway you might be able to elaborate on this??


You know, I've tried doing this, actually subconsciously. After all, my eyes end up on girls whenever I go out to dance (mostly electronica related stuff like House, DnB, Breakbeats), and I try to do what I think looks good, and like you said, women always look good. Problem is (or maybe it isn't a problem based on what you said above) is that I think I end up looking too feminine while dancing. *shrugs*

Vincentt

Well from what I have heard from my friends and what I remember I was getting a bit "crazy" with my feet. And tried to do spins with girls :P, I will place a bit of the blame on women who can only grind.

I find the lack of space hurts my ability to use alot of salsa moves. I wouldn't say I was too bad, but a friend really let me have it at superbowl. I was dancing with a lot more women then him, even if I did or did not look like a total ass.

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Amano

Is that a "crazy good" or "crazy too much" with your feet?

drakers

I wish I would've learned how to hip-hop dance before me and my wife's wedding. Right before the boquet the boquet toss and garder toss, my DJ had an idea. He asked my wife if she wanted to have each other dance to the pre-arranged songs for each. Basically the idea was to have all the single guys (single girls) make a long line to the bride (groom) and I had to dance down the line to my wife. If it wasn't good enough she could send me back and make dance again. Well, she made me go down the line again and the song that was playing was "It's getting Hot in Here" by Nelly, needless to say I suck at dancing (esecially being a white boy trying to dance to hip-hop) and made her go back down the line twice (total of 3 times) even though she could dance. We had the whole reception videotaped so I get to unfortunately re-live that moment whenever the wife feels like. But we do laugh (especially at me).

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kollege_gal2000

I think this is completely true. My boyfriend has the worse problem dancing, and it is because he "dances" with the upper part of his body while the bottom stands still. Guys really need to learn how to work your hips when you dance. Alot of bumping and grinding deals with sexual movements. Just think that you're in bed making love, and you pretty much have it. If this doesn't work, then always follow the girl. It is always more enjoyable for the girl if the guy matches her and isn't always bumping her.


And if you feel more feminine, just remember, you are the one dancing not the guy standing on the sides critisizing.

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high_way

do what i do. jump around blindly with your friends and dont give two shits what the other people in the room think. if they are watching you they are selfconsious about how they look and wont be having as nearly as much fun as you are... well thats the way i do it anyway.

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Amano

Ok then, what if you're dancing solo, which is the kind that goes on mostly at the parties i go to (ie not the hip hop, meat market club events but the more underground, love the music, usually electronica, events). would you say that this flowing style/move your hips style for guys holds throughout all styles of beat oriented dance music?

what you said about not worrying about people looking at me (in response to the feminine comment) isn't really an issue for me. as I see it, that argument is to encourage guys to leave the "sidelines" and get over their fear of dancing, and get on the dance floor. to be honest, I have no problem with that. But, at the moment, i want to advance, so to speak, from the haphazard, do whatever the hell you want, "dance like no one's looking" style dancing, to something that looks better.

Sawfmonkey

My only suggestions: Start from the hips, move with the beat (I know you can pick it up eventually), control your appendages. Don't just go out there with no control babe. Move your arms, do the robot, but make sure they aren't flying outa control. Then move your feet. Take big steps small ones, turn...do stuff. Start dancing in your own home. You'll find it if you practice it.

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Vincentt

I think I was doing a meringue or fast salsa step. Lots of moving the feet (and hips) this might look good in a salsa club but to usher… I need some work.

I should just practice at home; look in mirror or something. I had fun and that is what is important. But I think I’d have more fun if I was better at dancing.

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drawerfixer

Yeah! I took a study break, hopped on TFP, and have been dancing for the past 20 minutes. It was a bit awkward for 30 seconds or so. I kept stopping, thinking 'You look like an idiot.' Then I realized I was the only one who could think that, and who cares what I think!! There's nothing like getting over your own self-inhibitions. I've never had so much fun dancing as I have just now, by myself.

That, in itself, is pretty pathetic, but it's still a blast. I'm just having trouble finding music in my library that's good to dance to. Thanks for the tips and advice. Please, those who 'know how' to dance, continue with comments.

I'll never let go of my hippie-style dancing though. Sometimes it is just right to flail.

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Sawfmonkey

All it takes is practice and getting over your own self - doubts Once you can handle yourself alone, introduce a friend (or even better, a girlfriend/ girl friend) and have them shake it with ya! (Might be awkward for guys, but my roommate and I have a blast!)

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drawerfixer

What about feetwork? Do dancers try to stay on the balls of their feet? Sometimes (not only tonight) I move my feet because I feel they are planted, and then it looks and feels wrong. From the knees up I feel good.

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Cimarron29414

Vincentt,

Here is the God's honest truth. Learning to dance "hip-hop" is a break even proposition. Stay with me here: It's the dance equivalent of buying a card and candy for a girl on Valentine's day. Nothing extraordinary, nothing special, you broke even and did what was expected.

Now, if you truly want to impress a lady through dance, you have to take ballroom dance lessons and really learn formal dances. It doesn't have to be Waltz and Tango. It can be the swing dances, which I prefer. Now, you don't want to take swing dance lessons at Arthur Murray or Fred Estaire. That is just trouble waiting to happen.

N.C. has some HUGE swing scenes in Asheville and Charlotte. Send me a private message and tell me which town you are in. I can give you a complete schedule of venues to learn to swing dance. Girls will LITERALLY line up to dance with a good swing dancer.

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Lockjaw

No. no no no no no no a thousand times no.
Nothing will get you laughed at more than going in doing the same routine the hot pop star is doing in his videos. The dudes trying to do their best Backstreet Boy impersonation would get laughed off the dance floor.

Just get into the music. Loosen up. More than your arms and shoulders will move. Move those legs but just stay in rythm. Hell turn on the radio when you are at home and just dance around.
Oh and don't be scared to break it down every now and again. Like when a song has a distinct bassline and a distinct rythm switch to dancing to the bassline and switch back.
If you can just flow from position to position smoothly and switch up into some variety here and there you really don't have to be able to be a great dancer but everyone will think you are.

KungFuGuy

need more backflips!

anyways, yea i suck at hip-hop dancing to. most guys do though, so do what halx said. that actually does work for me.

bing bing

No, i wasn't being serious.

Willravel

Oh, God...you were kidding....(everyone laughs at me)

irateplatypus

the key to dancing is to not hold back. when you are dancing self-consciously it just looks awkward... the arms/head/feet are moving but there isn't any overall motion to your body. don't think of dancing as a series of gestures, move the core of your body and let your limbs flow from the inside out.

oh yeah, and when i say "don't hold back" that doesn't mean go crazy-go-nuts... just relax and realize that the fewer mental apologies you make for lack of skills the faster you'll improve.

this was written by a very-very-very dancing handicapped guy who has graduated from awful to mediocre.

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waltert

hehehe, dancing....I went to a club once and was drug out onto the dance floor.

I guess that was about a year and a half ago, I havent been to a club since. when I get really into a song and Im by myself, I may tap my foot with the beat. I dont really see a need to go and "dance". its such a strange human behavior to me (dancing that is). I suppose its no different than the mating calls of other animals, but sheesh, you think we'd be a little past that by now.

ah well, its late...dont mind my caucasian ass.

Lockjaw

I don't dance to get laid I do it because it's fun. The alcohol and sweet talk is better to get that accomplished.