Hip Hop TeacherFinding a good Hip Hop teacher is going to be vital to your success. And there are plenty out there to choose from. Hip Hop has the widest range of teaching methods and personalities we’ve seen in any dance. 
We’ve come across everything from the absolutely terrible (rude and trying to teach potentially dangerous moves) to the absolutely brilliant (fun, knowledgeable and gifted). So whatever style of teaching suits you and your dancing needs, you should be able to find a Hip Hop teacher you like.IntroductionThe level of introduction you are likely to get is as variable as the teaching styles on offer. So you’ll either just start copying the person at the front and the class will start, or you’ll get the full “Hi, my name is …” thing. It’s our preference that a teacher should always introduce themselves and speak to the class, motivate them, before the dancing starts. But that’s just our preference and you should shop around for your favorite style. However a few of these teachers don’t have a huge knowledge of English. So being taught by someone who is largely silent, whose moves you just follow, enables you to be taught by someone who doesn’t speak your language. They let the moves speak for them. Don’t forget that being a dance teacher is a business like any other. And your class is probably not the only one that the teacher instructs. So you may find that teachers hand out business cards or timetables for their other classes. This is a level of accessibility that pupils usually appreciate. Extra Practice TimeSome Hip Hop teachers will ask if you need extra practice time after doing a step or routine for the first time, but most will just take the class through at a steady rate. We’ve come across very few Hip Hop teachers who offer extra practice time and let the pupils dictate the pace of the class, but they are out there and are worth seeking out. Someone who constantly checks whether you are keeping up and getting all the moves is a very encouraging one to be around.
You may find that your teacher simply says “If I’m going too fast for anyone, just let me know”. Which is a great offer in theory, but in practice we’ve rarely seen a pupil speak up in front of the whole class and admit to being lost. But sometimes the only reassurance you need is to hear the teacher say this. After all, it is their job to look at each and every pupil and help the ones who are struggling. Look for a Hip Hop teacher who takes reasonable care of their pupils. As a newbie, you shouldn’t find that you are being asked to do any very difficult turns or spins as these can be the most dangerous for a beginner to try. A good teacher will be teaching a class that is within the capabilities of everybody there. Visualization TechniquesAnother point to look out for in good teachers is use of visualization techniques. It can really help your dancing moves if there is something the move is similar to that you can be thinking about. For example, an arm move that calls for control and release with a curved body position can be hard to understand. But if you are told to imitate the action of skimming a stone, you’ll probably get it straightaway. Teachers who use any techniques that make your moves easier and more realistic will bring your dancing on faster.
Others will dance along in front of you the whole time. There isn’t a right or wrong way about this, you’ll come across both styles and they are equally beneficial. Physical ContactWe’ve noticed that there is far less touching of pupils by Hip Hop teachers than in a lot of other dances. Perhaps this will suit you and perhaps not – you’ll have to make up your own mind. There are some Hip Hop teachers who will give you a pat on the back when you need it but that’s about as much touching as we’ve ever seen in a Hip Hop class. A lot of other dances rely on coming in some kind of contact with your teacher as they man-handle you into the correct positions, but this one doesn’t seem to. So don’t expect too much physical correction – it’s all done by “Look at what I’m doing and then do it yourself” style of teaching. Get A Good SpotDon’t expect too much wandering about in the class by the teacher either. There are a few teachers we know who always go amongst the class to look at the pupil’s steps in detail, but most Hip Hop teachers we’ve seen just teach from the front – so once again we have to say that it is vital to get yourself a good spot in the class. As ever, look for positive reinforcement. Never take any abuse or insulting behavior. Quit a class in which you feel uncomfortable and instead find a professionally taught class with a good, supportive teacher.
Something that as a newbie you might see quite a lot of, is a teacher of a beginners class being obviously more interested in the pupils who clearly have dance experience than those who don’t. Don’t worry too much. Just concentrate on getting your own steps right and dancing your very best. Pay more attention to yourself than you pay to what is going on in the rest of the class. And just follow everything the teacher says the best you can. You’ll also see a variety in the levels of energy that Hip Hop teachers put into their classes. One of our favorite Hip Hop experts bounds around the room making everybody laugh, lightening the mood, doing all kinds of different moves and generally making sure that his class has an excellent, fun time. Others we know prefer the cool attitude and just do the move demonstration and then watch the class repeat it. Again, it is a matter of personal choice – do you want to laugh or do you want to concentrate?
QualificationsBear in mind that Hip Hop doesn’t have any of its own formal teaching qualifications or a regulatory board. Plenty of Hip Hop teachers have some teaching qualifications and training, but generally in other dances or in physical fitness. So it is possible that you may find a teacher who doesn’t have a clue how to pass their knowledge on and just expects to dance through a class and have the pupils follow what they are doing. Clearly this is best avoided if you are serious about becoming proficient at Hip Hop. There are plenty of fantastically gifted Hip Hop teachers, and if you are lucky, you may find that you are being taught by someone who has choreographed for one of the big R n B artists. Now that would be cool.
On To Hip Hop Moves & Steps
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