Local Dancers Use Hip Hop for Connection and Storytelling

Hip hop, originating in the early 1970s from Black communities in the Bronx, New York City, has significantly impacted modern culture. Its influence extends to music, Olympic sports, fashion, and even drug rehabilitation programs. Within dance, “hip hop” encompasses various substyles, including waacking, breaking, voguing, and house, and holds a prominent position in competitive dance circuits.

Early Experiences with Hip Hop

Alyssa Yang, a graduate of Mountain View High School (MVHS), began exploring hip hop as a freshman when she joined the MVHS Dance Team (MVDT). While she had some prior exposure, she found the style, which is not typically taught in studios, technically challenging compared to genres like jazz and contemporary. Yang described hip hop as a “foreign world” but emphasized the growth and enjoyment she experienced as she learned to explore and perform the style. She appreciated the energy and audience engagement inherent in hip hop.

Competitive Dance and Artistic Expression

Yang currently attends the University of California, Berkeley, where she participates in a contemporary dance company and is considering joining a hip hop group. She notes that competitive dance circuits, like those she participated in with MVDT, can sometimes lead to a “sterilized” version of hip hop, prioritizing precision over artistry. This sentiment is shared by many, as evidenced by criticism of recent collegiate dance competitions that prioritize tricks and synchronization.

Hip Hop Club and Recreational Dance

Senior Sarah Shelke, co-president of the Hip Hop Club at MVHS, finds fulfillment in pursuing hip hop recreationally. After initially competing with MVDT, she and senior Megan Liu founded the Hip Hop Club to foster a more relaxed and expressive environment. The club accommodates a wide range of skill levels, with officers providing individualized support and dividing performance groups by skill. Shelke emphasizes the importance of accessibility and self-expression within the club’s culture.

Connecting Through Dance and Cultural Roots

Shelke believes hip hop’s ability to connect dancers to each other and their own experiences is unique. She draws parallels to her previous experience with kathak, a form of northern Indian classical dance, highlighting how techniques from different styles can inform and enrich hip hop. She also notes that many overlook the artistry and social significance of hip hop, focusing instead on potentially offensive lyrics.

The Importance of Historical Context

Mirna “Mimi” Jiron de Llano, a hip hop instructor at Dance Academy USA in Cupertino, stresses the importance of understanding hip hop’s history. She incorporates lessons on foundational styles like popping, locking, house, waacking, and breaking into her classes, encouraging dancers to research the origins of moves and styles. Jiron de Llano believes that many mistakenly consider contemporary dance moves as newly created innovations.

Hip Hop Substyles

Several substyles contribute to the diversity of hip hop dance. Popping, originating in California in the 1970s, involves the rapid contraction and release of muscles to create a jolt-like effect. Waacking, also from Los Angeles in the 1970s, is a theatrical style often associated with the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing upper body movements. Breaking, commonly known as breakdancing, emerged in the Bronx and is characterized by acrobatic footwork and power moves. House dance, influenced by electronic music from the 1980s, features torso grooves and intricate footwork.