Urban Dance Course

Lesson 1 • Major Urban Dance Styles

Surveys breaking, locking, popping, house, and krump as distinct forms. Provides style literacy needed for all subsequent technique chapters.

Lesson 2 • Core Vocabulary and Terminology

Introduces movement terms, cipher etiquette, and battle language. Shared vocabulary accelerates communication in class and in the community.

Lesson 3 • History and Cultural Roots

Traces urban dance from 1970s street culture to global stages. Establishes cultural context essential for authentic movement practice.

Lesson 1 • Syncopation and Rhythmic Variation

Introduces off-beat accents, polyrhythm, and rhythmic layering. These tools allow dancers to create dynamic contrast within a groove.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Musical Structure

Breaks down beats, bars, phrases, and song sections. Musical literacy is the foundation for all timing and choreography work.

Lesson 3 • Musicality Across Urban Styles

Applies rhythmic concepts to hip-hop, funk, house, and afrobeats. Students practise style-specific musical interpretation.

Lesson 1 • Power Moves Introduction

Introduces windmill, headspin, and backspin with safe progressions. Power moves require strength and momentum built from prior sections.

Lesson 2 • Toprock Fundamentals

Covers standing entry steps, weight shifts, and style in toprock. Toprock is the first impression in any breaking set.

Lesson 3 • Downrock and Footwork

Teaches floor-based footwork patterns including 6-step and variations. Footwork builds coordination, speed, and floor awareness.

Lesson 4 • Building a Breaking Set

Combines toprock, footwork, freezes, and power moves into a cohesive set. Students learn set structure, transitions, and musical timing.

Lesson 1 • Combining Popping and Locking

Explores how popping and locking coexist in freestyle and choreography. Students build short combinations that blend both styles.

Lesson 2 • Locking Fundamentals

Covers the lock, point, and clap with funk-driven timing. Locking demands sharp stops and expressive character.

Lesson 3 • Muscle Isolation Training

Trains independent control of chest, neck, arms, and hips. Isolation is the physical prerequisite for both popping and locking.

Lesson 1 • Floor Work and Levels

Introduces drops, slides, and floor-level transitions unique to house. Level changes add visual dynamics and physical challenge.

Lesson 2 • Core Footwork Patterns

Teaches jacking, the shuffle, and pas de bourree as foundational steps. These patterns form the rhythmic base of all house freestyle.

Lesson 3 • House Dance Origins and Feel

Connects house dance to Chicago and New York club culture and its music. Cultural grounding shapes authentic movement quality.

Lesson 1 • Call and Response in Freestyle

Teaches dancers to listen, mirror, and respond to musical and human cues. Responsiveness elevates freestyle from solo to dialogue.

Lesson 2 • Developing a Freestyle Identity

Guides students to identify signature moves, textures, and rhythmic preferences. A distinct freestyle identity is the mark of an advanced dancer.

Lesson 3 • Cipher Dynamics and Etiquette

Covers how to enter, hold, and exit a cipher with respect and confidence. Cipher literacy is essential for community participation.

Lesson 1 • Spatial Design and Formation

Covers pathways, levels, and group formations for stage and studio. Spatial awareness transforms individual movement into group composition.

Lesson 2 • Teaching and Presenting Choreography

Develops skills for breaking down, demonstrating, and cueing choreography to others. Teaching ability is essential for professional dance work.

Lesson 3 • Music Selection and Editing

Guides students through choosing, editing, and structuring music for a piece. Music choice defines the emotional and stylistic frame of choreography.

Lesson 4 • Choreographic Structure and Form

Introduces intro, verse, chorus, and climax as choreographic sections. Structure gives a piece narrative arc and audience impact.

Lesson 1 • Post-Performance Reflection

Establishes habits of video review, peer feedback, and self-assessment. Reflection accelerates growth and prevents the repetition of errors.

Lesson 2 • Adapting to Performance Environments

Prepares students for varied stages, floors, lighting, and sound conditions. Adaptability ensures consistent quality across different performance contexts.

Lesson 3 • Stage Presence and Projection

Builds eye contact, facial expression, and energy projection for live performance. Presence is what separates a dancer from a performer.

Lesson 4 • Performance Preparation

Covers warm-up routines, mental preparation, and technical run-throughs. Consistent preparation builds reliability and reduces performance anxiety.