If you ask several people to define the term hip hop, chances are you will hear several different answers. Hip hop is much more than a way of moving to hip hop music...it is a way of life. Hip hop is a lifestyle that includes its own language, music, wardrobe style and style of dance.

Some people believe that hip hop dancing is simply moving to hip hop music. However, hip hop as a dance style is anything but simple. Hip hop dancers frequently engage in friendly battles or informal dance competitions. In an article appearing in Dance Teacher magazine, Rachel Zar discusses the top five elements of hip hop dance.

Source: Zar, Rachel.A Dance Teachers Guide to Hip Hop: Breaking Down the Five Essential Elements of a Hip-Hop Curriculum. Dance Teacher, Aug 2011.

Created by Sam Solomon in Fresno, California and performed by the Electric Boogaloos dance crew, popping consists of quickly contracting and relaxing your muscles, causing a jerk in your body. These jerks are known as pops or hits. Popping is performed with other dance moves and poses to the beat of the music.

Created by Don Campbell in Los Angeles and introduced by his crew The Lockers, locking consists of performing a series of locking movements, which involves performing a quick movement, locking into another position, then holding the last position for a few seconds. The hips and legs usually remain in a relaxed position while movements of the arms and hands are more distinct and exact. Movements are big and coordinated closely with the beats of the music. Locking has a bit of a comedic flair and is usually performed to funk or soul music. Dancers who perform locking movements are called lockers.

Breaking (also referred to as b-boying or b-girling) is probably the most well-known element of hip hop dance. Breaking is very unstructured and improvisational, and evolved from a style of dance known as uprock. Breaking, or breakdancing, is composed of movements performed at different levels: toprock (performed while standing), downrock (performed close