What are the basic or fundamental steps FOR BEGINNERS in contemporary dance and

hip-hop?
Dancing is an art and just like any art, it can only be mastered by practicing it over and over again until
you become familiar with each and everything in it. Some people dance as a hobby and some as a
professional full time job. But before being an expert, you first become a beginner.
CONTEMPORARY:
We can develop basic contemporary dance performance skills and steps by the guidance of basic
contemporary dance techniques that may relate to:

 correct body alignment

 contact improvisational techniques
 corporeal mime
 maintaining balance on supporting leg
 maintaining control in turning balances
 maintaining rhythm and tempo
 using arm lines appropriately and extensively
 fluid control of rolls
 working at differing tempos
 focusing eyes and mind while performing
 dancing barefoot
 isocentric and polycentric isolations
 air work
 floor work
 improvisation
 locomotor exercises and sequences (pirouettes, posés piqués, pencil turns, châinés, kicks, jumps,
and leaps)
 non-locomotor exercises and sequences (pliés, tendus, working on centre and off centre.
HIP-HOP:
Hip Hop dance is a free style dance that can be learnt if you focus on each and every move and try to
practice as often as you can. There are some basic moves that all beginners should learn.
The following moves should be learnt by all beginners:

 The Monastery
 Happy Feet
 How to do the moonwalk
 The Chest Pop
 The Arm Wave
 The dip and step
 The James Brown dance
 The Criss Cross
 The Hip Pull
 How to the Dougie
  The Gliding dance step
 How to do the robot

When practicing always remember that Hip Hop dance is all about the isolation of different body parts so
make certain you know which body parts needs to be moved first and in what sequence they need to be
moved. Once you have practiced and mastered the above mentioned moves you will be able to start
putting them together to master more difficult Hip Hop moves.
It’s all about attitude.
Hip Hop dance is all about selling your performance and making people go wow. You should focus on
every move that you do and you need to be very confident about every move that you do.
If you master the basics with focused practice and try to give them as much time as possible then your
dancing will be so much better. If you learn the basics really well, it makes it much easier for you to work
on the intermediate and expert moves. So, rather than skipping the basics, work on them as much as you
can.
Practice, practice, practice
People who are experts of Hip Hop dancing are experts because of their focused and regular practice
routine. If you don’t practice you will not master the moves. The point is to practice whenever you are
free. By doing this, the moves will get into your muscle memory and the muscles will move on their own.

Reference/s:

 CUADAN205A Perform basic contemporary dance technique (2012)

 http://www.learntodance.com/hip-hop-dance-moves