What is popping?
Popping is a funk street dance from 1970s Fresno, California. The dancer quickly tenses and releases muscles so the body seems to jolt, or pop, in time with the music.
The hit
A pop, or hit, can come from the chest, arms, neck or legs. Poppers often combine several at once for a bigger, sharper jolt.
Contract and relax
Every pop is a cycle: loose muscles, a split-second contraction, then release. Staying relaxed between hits is what makes them look sharp.
On the beat
Hits land on the beats of the music, counted in phrases of eight. The dancer becomes a visible part of the rhythm.
Waving and tutting
Between pops, dancers add styles: waving sends a smooth ripple through the body, while tutting builds crisp right-angled shapes with the arms.
Dime stops and robot
A dime stop glides and then freezes instantly, and the robot moves in the same stop-start way. The contrast between flow and freeze is the heart of popping.