Hip-Hop Dance vs Ballet: What Young Dancers Really Need

kinerenterprisesinc | May 09, 2009 | there are 4 comments 4

There's definitely been a huge change over the past ten years as Hip-Hop dance entered mainstream America, and caused a frenzy!

Once dance studios started offering Hip-Hop dance classes, things really began to change! There developed a different mindset on the part of many young dancers nationwide as Hip-Hop became the "thing to do", and other core dance disciplines like ballet, modern, and jazz, became less important. I've never understood how a young dancer can take a Jazz or Lyrical dance class, without first taking Ballet. Not to mention, dance students nowadays who only want to take Hip-Hop, and nothing else. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against students who only want to take Hip-Hop, and may even aspire to become a Hip-Hop dancer one day, but I find that many of these students lack a certain level of discipline. A level of discipline that is taught and instilled through core disciplines like Ballet (and others). I believe that Ballet is the foundation for many types of dance. It is where you learn about your body, how to stand, how to move, how to hold your body, how to control it, how to strengthen it,  how to sustain it, and how to push it beyond its limits...

However, many students use Hip-Hop as a cop out, another way to avoid having to work too hard, follow too many rules or guidelines, and feel free to be lazy. It's hard to be lazy in Ballet, it's not as hard to be lazy in Hip-Hop.....

Hip-Hop dance is a very strong, powerful, expressive, complex, and creative art form. The essence of Hip-hop comes from the streets of New York, the hustle, the struggle, a very aggressive way of expressing the different experiences of life. It's never been about being lazy, being mediocre, or comfortable. It's always been about experimentation, energy, battling, challenging yourself, and trying to be the best.....

I do believe that we as dance teachers have a responsibility to really educate our students, and instill the values and respect for dance as an art form that existed when we were kids. We must teach them to truly understand the amount of hard work, discipline, and dedication it takes to become a professional dancer of any sort, be it Hip-Hop, Ballet, Ballroom, etc. The title of Dancer, is one that is earned, not given.  

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Hip-Hop Dance vs Ballet: What Young Dancers Really Need | 4 Comments | Post a Comment
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Ethnocentrism

This article is extremely ethnocentric and offensive to those who do not buy into the mindset that ballet is a superior form of dance. The quote below reflects more on the author's attitude toward dance, than the reality of Hip Hop or ballet. Neither form is inherently tougher than the other, the rigor in which students work at Hip Hop or ballet is all up to the approach of the students and dance institution in which they study.

"However, many students use Hip-Hop as a cop out, another way to avoid having to work too hard, follow too many rules or guidelines, and feel free to be lazy. It's hard to be lazy in Ballet, it's not as hard to be lazy in Hip-Hop....."

user icon lsmith1 | May 13, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

Ballet and Hip Hop what dancers really need

Being a mom of a hiphop nationally and locally ranked dancer, although I can definitely understand your concept for having your core basics the comment (However, many students use Hip-Hop as a cop out, another way to avoid having to work too hard, follow too many rules or guidelines, and feel free to be lazy. It's hard to be lazy in Ballet, it's not as hard to be lazy in Hip-Hop.....)
Well that really shocked me only because unless you have ever taken a hiphop master class, or done choreographed hiphop, there is nothing lazy about it. And there are many ballet dancers because of their muscle structure, cannot move like a hiphop dancer we know a few of them. So, to be fair, I understand that there are so called hiphop classes that may be easy because the master classes are mostly in NYC, LA and Fl. But only for that reason. And just because you take ballet does not make you necessarily a good hip hop performer. But I can say that a hiphop dancer would learn ballet much easier than a ballet dancer learning hiphop. Very interesting opinion.

user icon tnt09 | May 14, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

I'm with you BUT....

I can't agree with your second to last sentence; I've seen more hip hop dancers crumble in ballet classes than the reverse. That's not to say that I think ballet dancers pick up hip hop with more efficiency (I can only base it on my personal experience), but that it's limited to think in those terms (and not very encouraging for young ballerinas wanting to try hip hop to read)...

user icon Joey Lico | May 21, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

[ Parent ]

You Get Out What You Put In

First, I agree that ballet is the foundation for all genres of dance and at least a basic level of technique should be grasped by anyone who wants to turn professional. I agree that the discipline learned in a classical ballet class is PRICELESS! BUT, I cannot agree that hip hop doesn't have a discipline, a vocabulary and a technique of it's own (although I do get what you're trying to say: there is a freestyle/pop-culture element that is missing in a structured ballet class). There are so many hip hop techniques that it's impossible to be lazy if you want to master them! To learn how to properly pop, lock, house, break (to name a few) takes DEDICATION. I came to hip hop dance via ballet and it was my choice as a student to take the discipline I learned in ballet and apply it during my hip hop classes. Certain instructors make that transition easier (not to say easy) because they go beyond the booty shaking that alot of local studios claim to be hip hop and have a class structure themselves. (If you're a ballet dancer looking to get into hip hop in NYC here are a few: Bev Brown [I challenge you to take her class and think hip hoppers are "lazy"], Angel Feliciano [his beginner class, his intermediate class is EXTRAORDINARY and something worth working towards], Leslie Feliciano and Derek Mitchell made it easier for me to grasp hip hop from my ballet background.)It's really important to strive to master the technique you excel in and enjoy, but if you're looking to turn professional...it's in your best interest to learn at least a basic vocabular in ALL TECHNIQUES. Students who aren't taking class seriously, cannot be taken seriously as dancers. You get out what you put in.

user icon Joey Lico | May 21, 2009 | rated none by 0 others

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