Quarter III:

ACTIVE RECREATION
(Street and Hip-Hop Dances)

Recreation is a therapeutic refreshment or relaxation of one’s body and mind. Activities

done for this purpose are called recreational activities. Its main objective is to revitalize
the physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects of a person.

In today’s world that is full of stress and pressures, we all need to engage in recreational
activities to relieve our tensions. Dance is a recreational activity that can develop our
physical, mental, social, and emotional health. Dancing as part of our lifestyle can surely
sustain our fitness. But it should be coupled with proper eating habits and weight
management in order for a person to live a healthy life.

Street dance refers to dance styles that have evolved outside of dance studios. It is
performed in streets, dance parties, parks, school yards, or in any available space. It is
often improvisational and social in nature, encouraging interaction and contact with
spectators and other dancers.

A full street dance is a collection of various similar dance moves and styles put together
into one practice and regarded as the same dance. Hip-hop is a cultural movement best
known for its impact on music in the form of the musical genre of the same name. It has
its origins in the Bronx, in New York City, during the 1970s, mostly among African
Americans and some influence of Latin Americans. Hip-hop culture is composed of the
pillars such as DJ-ing, rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti art.

Hip-hop dance, on the other hand, refers to street dance styles primarily performed to
hip-hop music or that have evolved as part of hip-hop culture. Hip-hop music
incorporates a number of iconic elements, most notably DJing and rapping, along with
things like beat boxing, sampling, and juggling beats on turntables.

STREET AND HIP-HOP DANCE STYLES

B-Boying
B-boying or breaking, also called breakdancing, is a style of street dance and the first hip-hop
dance style that originated among Black and Puerto Rican youths in New York City during the
early 1970s. A practitioner of this dance is called a b-boy, b-girl, or breaker. Although the term
breakdance is frequently used to refer to the
dance, b-boying and breaking are the original terms.

Four Movements:
Toprock footwork-oriented steps performed while standing up
Downrock footwork performed with both hands and feet on the floor
Freezes stylish poses done on your hands
comprise full-body spins and rotations that give the illusion of
Power moves
defying gravity

Popping
Popping was popularized by Samuel Boogaloo Sam Solomon and his crew the Electric Boogaloos.
It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in a
dancer’s body. Popping forces parts of your body outwards, similar to an explosion within parts
of your body. Popping also contracts muscles, but it is followed by relaxation that gives it the
jerking appearance of popping.

Locking
Locking or campbellocking, was created by Don Campbellock Campbell in 1969 in Los Angeles,
California. It was popularized by his crew, The Lockers. Locking can be identified by its distinctive
stops. It is usually performed by stopping the fast movement that you are doing, locking your
body into a position, holding it, and then continuing at the same speed as before. In locking,
dancers hold their positions longer. The lock is the primary move used in locking. It is similar to a
freeze or a sudden pause. A locker’s dancing is characterized by frequently locking in place and
after a brief freeze moving again.
Krumping
Krumping is a form of dancing that originated in the African-American community of South
Central Los Angeles, California and is a relatively new form of the “Urban” Black dance
movement. It is free, expressive and highly energetic. Most people paint their faces in different
designs. Krumping is a dance style to release anger. It is reported that gang riots in the United
States decreased because of krumping style.

Tutting
It is a creative way of making geometric shapes forming right angle using your body parts. The
style was originally practiced by young funk dancers. It is derived from the positions people were
drawn in during the days of the Ancient Egyptians. It is the positions seen in these portraits that
have been adopted by dancers today. Tutting is still a greatly respected move and King Tut aka
Mark Benson is widely acclaimed for pioneering the style.

Shuffling
The Melbourne Shuffle (also known as Rocking or simply The Shuffle) is a rave and club dance
that originated in the late 1980s in the underground rave music scene in Melbourne, Australia.
The basic movements of the dance are a fast heel-and toe action with a style suitable for various
types of electronic music. Some variants
incorporate arm movements. People who dance the shuffle are often referred to as rockers, due
in part to the popularity of shuffling to rock music in the early 1990s.

Waacking
Waacking” is an African American form of street dance originating from the 1970’s disco era of
the underground club scenes in Los Angeles and New York City. Waacking consists of stylized
posing and fast synchronized arm movements to the beat of the music. Today, waacking is a
popular element of hip hop dance.

Health Benefits of Dancing

Dancing as a recreational activity can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes, and
sizes. It has a wide range of physical and mental benefits including:

-improved condition of your heart and lungs

-increased muscular strength, endurance, and motor fitness
-increased aerobic fitness
-improved muscle tone and strength
-weight management
-stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
-better coordination, agility, and flexibility
-improved balance and spatial awareness
-increased physical confidence
-improved mental functions
-improved general and psychological well-being
-greater self-confidence and self-esteem
-better social skills.

Sustaining fitness and wellness is important because it allows the person to live life to the fullest.
A fit individual who can function optimally is not prone to health problems, is strong enough to
face life challenges, and can adjust to different situations.

Fitness and wellness are sustained through practicing a healthy lifestyle. This includes
participating in physical activities, having proper eating habits, and enjoying leisure. Street and
hip-hop dances are good recreational activities that can sustain fitness and wellness. Dancing as
a lifetime habit will surely help in sustaining fitness.
But this should be combined with proper eating habits.