All types of dance offer great benefits, but if you’ve got a kid who’d rather pop than plie, hip-hop can be a fantastic outlet for them. Here’s why.
It’s empowering
Whether fast and furious or laid-back and cruisin’, hip-hop tracks are fuelled by the beat. Dance moves are power-packed, giving the dancer a real sense of strength and ‘owning it’ on stage. Even the most reserved dancer can bring some sass and a cheeky smile to the dance floor! It’s a confidence builder, that’s for sure. (And rest assured, we always choose age-appropriate tracks.)
Street-cred at school
If there’s a school disco, talent competition or hip-hop crew audition at school, your kid will have some cool moves and can hold their own on the dance floor. This can go a long way to making them feel a sense of belonging, and that they have a special skill to bring to their school community.
Artistic expression
Hip-hop dancers are encouraged to let the music move them, so classes often provide opportunities for kids to freestyle and improvise. This is a great way to develop your child’s creativity. The opportunity to express themselves is also a great outlet to blow off steam and rebalance emotions.
Physical activity
The physical demands of hip-hop can be quite high, so kids will get a really great cardio workout in classes! They’ll be fitter, but also enjoy better balance, flexibility and coordination. Hip-hop is not always about ‘hitting it’ – it also incorporates moves borrowed from jazz and lyrical styles, so they’ll develop new talents and skills.
Like-minded friends
In any dance classes, kids will meet and bond with other children who have similar interests to them. It’s important to have these friendships outside of school, to give them a broader sense of who they are in different environments. This can be especially important for boys, as they may not know other male dancers who can inspire and support them.
Can be the only class they do
We always advocate for dancers to be well-rounded across styles, but if your child only wants to do one class or that’s the extent of your budget, they can still become great hip-hoppers, even if they’re not learning other styles. Unlike contemporary or lyrical styles (which require the dancer to have a grounding in ballet), hip-hop is not dependent on learning skills in other classes.
So much fun
Unlike the structure of classes like ballet (which are fantastic for learning that style, but don’t suit every child), hip-hop classes offer a freer style of movement. Kids will often hear the latest songs in class, which makes then forget they are learning anything – they’re having too much fun!
Miss Kaitlin
Kaitlin Hague is the Director of Bayside Dance, holds a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Dance) and a Master of Arts. She is a passionate dance educator, journalist, adjudicator and choreographer. When she’s not dancing she’s enjoying the beautiful Bayside lifestyle and spending time with her two dogs, daughter and husband.
