Hip Hop

Hip Hop is a very broad genre of dance so it is hard to pin point one specific founder. However, Hip Hop dancing began in the 1970's. Most of the Hip Hop dancing originated in New York. It mainly started with breaking and exploded from there. However, around the same time, people in California were dancing with Hip Hop influences as well. Most of the Hip Hop moves that we know today were originated during recreational dancing. As time went on different styles of Hip Hop emerged. These including: breaking, locking, and popping.

Once Hip Hop began, different styles of dance began to emerge from it. Breaking is considered the very first type of Hip Hop. It was created in South Bronx, New York. Breaking first emerged in African American cultures and then it spread from there. Puerto Ricans also greatly impacted breaking in the 1970's. Breaking is still popular today. On shows like So You Think You Can Dance and America's Best Dance Crew, there are always a few people who are  break dancers.  Locking is another core part to Hip Hop. It originated in California. The founder is said to be Don Campbell. He and his crew spread this style of Hip Hop across the United States. Locking is very similar to popping, especially if it is observed by the untrained eye.

Here is a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOdsTdS4rfs

To Dance is a Radical Act

    Before reading this article, I had never thought of dance as being a radical act. I knew it was powerful but would never use the word radical to describe it. However, after reading this article, I see why the author chose that word.  I agree with most of what the author says in this article. I especially agree with the idea that when we dance, we are going back to our roots and what we are suppose to do. We are designed to move and not sit all day. Personally, dance is one of the bests ways to move. It is similar to what we talk about in class about head tail connection or the x position.  The author goes on to say that it is important to find the dancer is all of us, which I also agree with. because "To dance is to play with this movement in ways that allow us to discover and exercise our capacity to make our own movements—movements that align with our health and well-being. " In addition, through dance we learn about our selves. I also agree with the author when it states that there are some things that we can't say with words. In some situations, it is much more powerful to dance or even more than it is to talk. After reading the entire article, the one thing I agree with the most is  one of the first sentences : "Because if dancing matters—if dancing makes a difference to how we humans think and feel and act-then dancing challenges the values that fund modern western cultures.."  I agree with this the most because many times in history, dance has helped people go against the social norm and be themselves. 


  In contrast to what the author wrote, I don't think the world would stop spinning if dance never existed. I think dance is very important in human history and culture but not a necessity. There are many people who are alive today who have never danced and still thrive in society. In addition, there are many other acts, like running or swimming, that have a similar affect that dance has.  The act itself shouldn't matter as long as you are expressing yourself and moving. But, this article opened my eyes to a different role dance has on Earth.