Hip-Hop Social Moves
This move is named after a famous cartoon character who is usually on a skateboard, popular in social dance circles.
Bart Simpson
You do these to get your heart rate up before dancing; involves jumping while moving your arms and legs out and in.
Jumping Jacks
The upright dance movements used to start a breaking set.
Top Rock
Michael Jackson made this smooth gliding move famous.
Moonwalk
The basic standing positions of the feet in ballet.
First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth
A dance that often imitates a luxury fashion brand name, known for sharp arm movements.
Gucci
This exercise strengthens your legs and is done by bending the knees and lowering your hips.
Squats
Founders of hip hop and hosts of block parties, he influenced the early B-boy and B-girl culture. Dancers would dance on his set breaks from DJing.
DJ Kool Herc
Moving smoothly across the floor in a seemingly floating motion.
Gliding
In ballet, these are the basic arm positions; there are usually five.
First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth
This move is named after a famous rapper and often involves isolating the chest while stepping in rhythm with the beat with your arms.
Biz Markie
This core exercise can be modified by lifting one arm or leg to increase difficulty and is crucial for stability in both hip hop and ballet.
Plank
A series of footwork movements done close to the ground.
Thriller is a famous example of this dance style performed in music videos.
Commercial Dance
A small bend of the knees while keeping the back straight.
Demi-plie
Originating from a meditative pose, this seated social dance move often uses subtle upper body isolations and is sometimes done in cyphers.
Monastery
You should always do this before and after dancing to prevent injury and improve flexibility.
Stretching
These are dramatic pauses or poses used to end a breaking move.
Freezes
This step often appears in pop choreography where dancers slide sideways in unison.
Slide
A full bend of the knees with heels lifted off the floor.
Plie
A wildly energetic, comedic arm flailing move named after a late 20th-century actor and comedian; often improvised in street dance battles. (Has arms swinging while the body rocks back and forth.)
Steve Martin
An abdominal exercise where you lift your shoulders off the floor while keeping your lower back down.
Abs crunches
High-level breaking moves that often involve spinning or flipping your body.
Power Moves
This type of movement exaggerates arm, leg, and torso positions to ensure the choreography reads clearly on stage or on camera.
Stylization / Exaggerated movements
This ballet move slides one leg along the floor to a pointed position.
Tendu