An Introduction to Hip Hop
This is the first course in ARTS:LIVE's Hip Hop series. An Introduction to Hip Hop provides the basis to start learning this contemporary dance genre.The history of the genre is examined to give context to the dance and to explain why the culture of the dance is so important to its evolution. In this course students will learn a range of movement skills and Hip Hop techniques.
This resource includes a series of videos and five lessons designed for early high school and upper primary school-aged children. This course teaches a wide range of movement skills and Hip Hop techniques.
Go to course two - A Hip Hop Routine
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Teacher Pack
The teacher pack below contains all the lesson plans associated with this course as a single downloadable document.
All other activity sheets and course materials can be downloaded through the Lessons Tab.
The Curriculum Alignment document below maps this course against the Australian Curriculum.
Driving inquiry
The driving inquiry for these activities is the communication and understanding of the history and purpose of hip hop as an expression of culture.
Most important learning aims
Hip hop dance is part of hip hop culture. It is an attitude and way of being.
Hip hop culture began in the 1970s but continues to morph and respond to communities.
Hip hop dance embraces individuality and strong group connections.
Teaching and learning activities
The resources are flexible and designed for the generalist teacher to enrich their subject areas in the following ways:presenting dance as a non-competitive physical activity, exploring the social conditions that led to the emergence of hip hop as a subculture and investigating the way different cultures express themselves through hip hop dance, music, fashion and art.
Maximising outcomes
Always be sure to start and complete the class sitting in a circle. As hip hop is such a high-energy art form, it is important to have times when the class is calm and centred together.
Always warm up. Students love getting straight into the choreography of the class; however, warm ups are vital to condition the body and prevent injury.
Create your own hip hop music library. This will enable you to have control over the appropriateness of the lyrics in the songs. Allow students to suggest tracks from this library in order to provide a sense of ownership.
Ensure there is a balance of choreographed moves for the students to learn, as well as opportunities for them to devise their own movements. Using a variety of methodologies to teach hip hop dance provides variety in learning.
Music and video
Create your own hip hop music library. This will enable you to have control over the appropriateness of the lyrics in the songs. Allow students to suggest tracks from this library in order to provide a sense of ownership with their choice.
Tips
Advantages of using hip hop dance
Self-esteem and confidence
Hip hop dance is built around the idea of reflecting an attitude of confidence through movement. Acting confident often transforms into feeling confident with the body and self-expression.
Assisting with language and culture
Hip hop dance transcends oral language, making it easy for students with any level of English to engage in the activities. Many cultures have their own ways of expressing dance and hip hop can be used as a starting point for mixed-class discussions.
Creating positive group dynamics
Hip hop dance activities help to foster positive group dynamics. In battles and ciphers, where the class has to work as a group, each person is valued for the dance moves they have to offer. Students are acknowledged for their unique input.
Research and prior information is the key to delivering a successful learning activity. There are many websites devoted to the history of hip hop and Australian hip hop culture. As a starting point try:
History of hip hop links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diiL9bqvalo (Sugar Hill Gang, Rapper's Delight)
Indigenous hip hop
Cardio Exercises: Exercises designed to get you heart beating faster and to warm up your muscles. eg, Star Jumps, Two Steps, Grape Vines, Heel Jumps.
Isolation Exercises: Exercises designed to help with coordination and stability, moving one body part at a time, whilst trying to keep the rest of the body still.
Basic Stretches: Exercises designed to improve flexibility of movement and to prepare your muscles for dance. eg. Stretches for Arms, Legs and Core (Abdmoninal Muscles).
Challenge: A dance move where you challenge the audience.
Freestyling: A way of dancing where people create their moves on the spot without any prior planning. Any style of dance can be "freestyled".
Swagger: The confident attitude or persona portrayed in Hip Hop dance.
Battle or Cipher: Hip Hop dance activities that showcase individuals freestyling.
Posture: The basic posture which you stand in, for Hip hop - Bend your knees, take a deep breath in, and exhale. The position on the exhale is where you dance in Hip Hop.
The Jack: The bounce that occurs in every move that you do in Hip Hop.
This is a valuable resource for the Dance curriculum for the middle primary years. It has clear relevance to both The Arts strands, Making and Responding. The learning activities provide significant opportunities for students to explore the elements through movement, structure and document dance sequences, and present their dance sequences to an audience. The activities also provide opportunities for reflection of their own and others' work and recognise origins of movement including social and cultural influences.
This resource has significant pedagogical value for Dance in the curriculum. The videos provide clear demonstrations and accompanying learning activities are scaffolded and help students appreciate the cultural significance of hip hop as well as guiding students through creating their own hip hop dance in a safe manner. The activity sheets provide a framework for students to be creative in interpreting and devising their own dance There are opportunities for students to collaborate in pairs and small groups.
It may also relevant to the general capabilities Literacy, and Information and Communications technology competence, and Intercultural understanding. It includes activities that require students to reflect on their work using journals, to digitally capture their work and share online, and to research early hip hop culture.
Produced by The Song Room with Fleur Hockey, with support from Education Services Australia on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Additional Documentation by Katrina Rank in partnership with Ausdance
Video created by X:MACHINE Productions
References
Shift6. "Hip hop street dancing." February 14, 2007. Online image. Wikimedia Commons. January 10, 2013. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sf_hiphop.jpg>
Alexander, Zabara "Bananamama 06." October 9, 2007. Wikimedia Commons. Flickr. January 10, 2013. <http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hiphoplight.jpg>
Learning Focus
Students learn the importance of warm-up activities when preparing for dance.
Learning Focus
Students will develop dance moves inspired by hip hop photographs and combine these to create movement sequences.
Learning Focus
Students research hip hop culture and report their findings to the class.
Learning Focus
Students will learn The Jack, a hip hop move that is incorporated in later dance movements.
Learning Focus
Students will learn about hip hop Ciphers and Battles, and use these forms as a vehicle for dance creation.