street dance
Sidewalk movement art
Street dance refers to dance styles that developed outside formal studios—in streets, parks, clubs, and block parties.
The term encompasses hip-hop, breaking, popping, locking, and other urban styles that emerged from Black and Latino communities.
Street dance emphasizes improvisation, individual expression, and battle culture: The crew practiced street dance in the parking lot.
Athletic hip-hop street dance
- poppingShort explosive sound
- lockingFixing firmly in position
- krumpingEnergetic expressive street dance
- vogueingStylized pose-based dance
tutting · house · animation · liquid · boogaloo · flexing · jerkin · shuffling
Encoded communication method
- block partyNeighborhood outdoor celebration
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- DJingPlaying recorded music live
- MCingInformal term for hosting
beatbox · turntablism · b-boy · funk · soul · breakbeat · hip-hop · crews
Without prescribed technique
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- musicalitySensitivity to tune, rhythm
- flowUnbroken forward movement
- grooveNarrow cut or routine
expression · individuality · creativity · feel · instinct · unpredictability · adaptation · dynamics
Armed military engagement
- judgesLegal proceeding overseers
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
score · rounds · face-off · callout · winner · championship · one-on-one · throwdown
Patterned stress and silence
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- isolationsStates of being apart
- hitsBlows or successes
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
rolls · glides · bounce · pocket · texture · levels · transitions · musicality
b-boying
Athletic hip-hop street dance
- poppingShort explosive sound
- lockingFixing firmly in position
- krumpingEnergetic expressive street dance
vogueing · tutting · house · animation · liquid · boogaloo · flexing · jerkin · shuffling · turfing
cypher
Encoded communication method
- block partyNeighborhood outdoor celebration
- graffitiIllegal surface markings
- DJingPlaying recorded music live
MCing · beatbox · turntablism · b-boy · funk · soul · breakbeat · hip-hop · crews · underground
freestyle
Without prescribed technique
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- musicalitySensitivity to tune, rhythm
- flowUnbroken forward movement
groove · expression · individuality · creativity · feel · instinct · unpredictability · adaptation · dynamics · interpretation
battle
Armed military engagement
- judgesLegal proceeding overseers
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
- tournamentMulti-round competitive event
showdown · score · rounds · face-off · callout · winner · championship · one-on-one · throwdown
rhythm
Patterned stress and silence
- syncopationStressed unexpected beats
- isolationsStates of being apart
- hitsBlows or successes
waves · rolls · glides · bounce · pocket · texture · levels · transitions · musicality · accents
choreography
Designing performance movement sequences
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- showcaseCabinet for displaying items
- stageRaised performance platform
audience · formation · ensemble · solo · costume · rehearsal · execution · synchrony · unison · precision
- danceballet, breaking, folk dances, b-boying, ballroom
- dancesballet, waltz, tango, salsa, hula
- American dancesCharleston, twist, jitterbug, cakewalk, lindy hop
- dance classesballet class, jazz class, tap class, masterclass, beginner class
- movement artsballet solo, creative movement, breakdancing, freestyle, choreography
- street lifesidewalk cafe, food cart, food truck, taco truck, hot dog stand
street danceballroom dance
Formal coupled movement style
classical ballet · ballet · formal dance · ballroom · classical dance
street danceclassical ballet
Formal European theatrical dance
court dance · minuet · courtly dance · gavotte · pavane
dance, street, dancer, dancing, dancers, streetwise, streetlight, side street, back street