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Love & Hip-Hop

The Top 10 Dance Moves of All Time, That Are No Longer in Rotation.

By Princess Rev. Nnedi Iwuchukwu, M.Msc., LMT, LMI, MMP, Yogi Published 3 years ago 10 min read
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Love & Hip-Hop
Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash

Growing up in the ’90s, I always watched MTV and in-demand, tv-shows and movies, hoping to discover the newest [popular] dance moves to use at school dances and family social events.

In my 20’s I was still able to get away with many of these dances in nightclubs, but now that I am nearing my 40’s, I have concluded that my favorite dance moves of all time, are no longer considered in style. I can no longer find them anywhere, nor in any music video. It made me wonder, “is it just me, or have times really changed? Man, I wish they would come back."

Often, when listening to interviews between prominent journalists and famous choreographers, you hear them referring to the late and great entertainers of all time, by the likes of Bill ‘Bo Jangles’ Robinson, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Alvin Ailey, Sammy Davis, Jr., Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, Gregory Hines, and many others, as their inspiration for their modern-day work. So, I never thought that these dance moves would ever go out of style, seeing how, choreographers are known to recycle older dance fads.

So, as I reminisce, join me, as I look back on the top 10 dance moves - that I consider to be “the greatest of all time," but are no longer used today in mainstream media.

Beginning with:

#10 – The Cabbage Patch.

Mainly associated with rap music, this dance involves both hands out in front of the person. The hands are free and can do whatever they want to do; they don’t always have to be balled-up, in a fist. The arms now move in a circular motion along the horizontal plane, prompting the arms to move towards the chest and then away from the chest. For the experienced dancer, the shoulders move side to side with the beat of the music.

Speaking of music, there are many songs about this dance, written by many artists, such as:

• Rare Item & the Bud Buddies - "The Cabbage Patch Dance" (1983)

• Delmar Donnell - "In the Cabbage Patch" (1984)

• Experience Unlimited - "Doing the Cabbage Patch" (1986)

• XII - "Cabbage Patch" (1986)

• R.P. Cola - "The Cabbage Patch Dance" (1987)

• Gucci Crew II - "The Cabbage Patch" (1987)

• World Class Wreckin' Cru - "Cabbage Patch" (1987)

#9 - The Snake.

Facing the front: this dance is often begun with snapping the fingers, specifically to hold the beat. Leading with the head, as the neck follows, and down the rest of the body, the head, neck, shoulders, and hips glide to the left and the right, going along with the beat of the music.

From the side: this dance can also begin with snapping the fingers to hold the beat. While the head and neck, leading with the chin (in a scooping motion), rolls backwards as the chest automatically rises, causing the back to arch, the pelvis, working opposite of the back, moves forward, as the chin moves forward towards the chest, slowly, resetting the body back to its neutral position.

According to world-renowned choreographer, dancer, singer and songwriter, Paula Abdul, The Snake originated from the East Coast.

#8 - The Roger Rabbit.

This dance is quite complex as it requires both the torso and the lower extremities to work opposite each other.

First, begin with the arms, to the side at 180 degrees or with the elbows bent at 90 degrees, as if one is preparing to do bicep curls.

Second, pump the arms, while in 90 degrees, forwards and backwards, to the beat of the music.

Third, beginning with the right foot planted, as the arms move forward, taking the left foot back behind the right foot.

Fourth, repeat the third step, but this time, with the left foot planted, and the right foot going back.

#7 - The Running Man.

Simply put, The Running Man is a dance that has the person running in place. With the arms straight down at one's side, at 180 degrees, or with the elbows bent at 90 degrees, push (or pump) the arms forward and back to the beat. Beginning with the right foot planted (and sliding back, for the advanced dancer), as the arms (or elbows) go back, pick up the left foot, and then plant the left foot down while picking up the right foot. When one continues this motion, alternating feet with the arms, going forwards and backwards in unison, they have danced, The Running Man.

#6 - The Step Out.

The Step is a dance done by couples (or lovers). The beginner’s moves are as follows: 1) On the beat, while holding hands, take 1 step on both the left and right sides.

2) In front of the partner, separate the hands and turn, coming back to neutral, holding hands.

3) Facing each other, while still holding hands, squat down to the floor bending the knees at 90 degrees.

4) Now, standing up, take one wide step back at 180 degrees, opening the chest away from the partner.

5) Come back to each other, face to face and chest to chest, as if slow dancing, and slide towards the direction of one's choosing (this step varies from person to person and is optional, as seen in the music video below).

The swingout evolved from the breakaway, which in turn evolved from the Texas Tommy. The first documented mention of the swingout pattern that resembles breakaway was in 1911, to describe a "Texas Tommy Swing" show done at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Its variants are used in Jive, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing and Modern Jive (Wikipedia).

#5 – The Smurf.

Dancing on the beat:

1) Planting both feet, while lightly bouncing the body up and down, with the hands and arms to the side at 180 degrees. Take the right arm, when the body is rising from the downward position of the bounce, and swing the right elbow up to the level of the right shoulder, bringing the hands across the mid-section, out in front of the body.

2) Repeat this motion, but do so on the opposite side. In this case, it would be the left arm.

3) While still bouncing up and down, complete the upper body movements, discussed, alternating between arms and hands.

4) Putting the steps together, The Smurf, to life.

The best music video for this dance is seen in the very beginning of TLC's Waterfalls.

#4 - The Carlton.

Dancing to the song, It’s Not Unusual, by the singer, Tom Jones, The Carlton, was first demonstrated to the world by actor, dancer, director, game show host, comedian, and tv personality, Alfonso Ribeiro.

This dance is quite easy. Bending the elbows at 30-60 degrees, and on the beat, snap the fingers, moving the hands from side to side. The swinging motion of the arms will move the rest of the body in the opposite direction. The movement of the feet can vary as one does this dance while either sedentary or moving their feet from side to side.

#3 - The Humpty Dance.

Sung by the rap group, Digital Underground, from their debut album called the Sex Packets, “The Humpty Dance” song was released as the second single from the album in January 1990, when it reached No. 11 on the Pop chart, No. 7 on the R&B chart, and No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart. The song was originally sung by Gregory Edward Jacobs (August 25, 1963 – April 22, 2021), also known as Shock G's, alter ego, "Humpty Hump". This appearance was the second musical appearance the character, "Humpty Hump," made, the first being on the pre-album video single released in 1989 titled, "Doowutchyalike." The song was sampled by many rappers and producers; and, in the song's video, one will be able to see a young rapper by the name of Tupac Shakur visible in the background.

In 2008, "The Humpty Hump Dance" rap song, was ranked No. 30 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop and No. 65 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s in 2007. It was selected as one of the many songs to hear and download in the musical reference book, 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die: And 10,001 You Must Download. The song was nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer.

The Humpty Dance is a crossing and uncrossing of the feet, a hop while one arm swings behind the person as the other arm follows, and repeat.

#2 – Gangnam Style & The Harlem Shake.

Gangnam Style is a song by South Korean singer Psy, released on July 15, 2012, by YG Entertainment as the lead single of his sixth studio album, Psy 6 (Six Rules), Part 1 (Ssai Yukgap Part 1). As a K-pop and dance-pop song, the term "Gangnam Style" was a Korean neologism that referred to having a lifestyle associated with the Gangnam District of Seoul.

Some call this “Riding a horse dance”. This dance is done, on the beat, with the hands crossed at the wrists in front of the body, while the wrist joints are open (or loose) and not closed (or locked in place). Moving them, up and down, in that position with the elbows slightly bent while the feet are slightly apart, being raised one at a time, causing a “gallop-like” motion.

The Harlem Shake is a jerky arm and shoulder movement just in time to the music. The dance was created in 1981 by Harlem resident Al. B. (also known as Ali Saadat and Al Cisco), whose legal name was Albert Leopold Boyce, who died in 2006 at the age of 43. The dance was initially called "The Albee" or "The Al. B.” because he was known for performing it during breaks at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic, a basketball tournament held at Rucker Park.

Beginning with the right shoulder, shaking the shoulders, forwards and backwards, on the “1-2” count, accentuating the motion with a pause on the “3” count, landing back on the right side, pausing, begin the move again, doing the same “1-2” count, with the pause now being on the left shoulder this time; thus, repeating the process, alternating shoulders on every "1-2" count with the "3" count being accentuated. When doing this dance, the torso and hips tend to follow.

Combining both styles of dance, makes for a phenomenal performance:

#1 - The Moonwalk.

The Moonwalk or Backslide is a dance move where the performer glides backwards with their feet while their body actions suggest a forward motion. It became popular around the world following Michael Jackson's moonwalk during the performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, which was broadcast on May 16, 1983. Jackson has been credited as being the one who renamed the dance, the “backslide” to that of the “moonwalk”, making it his signature move.

Before this dance technique was made famous by Michael Jackson, an entertainer by the name of Bill Bailey, was the first one to be documented using this move in performances through television; however, Cab Calloway was the first to perform this dance in 1930.

Beginning with the feet together, planting the right foot flat, to the floor, while lifting the left foot onto the ball of foot, simultaneously extend and push the right leg and foot back, sliding the feet, while the left foot is on its ball, slowly bring the right foot to the ball of its foot and plant the left foot onto the floor, extending and pushing the left leg and foot back in a gliding motion.

To end, these are my top 10 hip-hop dance moves of all time, that are no longer relevant today in 2021; and, although, the style of dance and music have changed, I feel very honored to have been apart of its history and innovation as a supporter and life-long student of its methodology.

Hip-Hop has made an impact on not just America alone, but to all across the globe. With its colorful and flamboyant artistry, providing a platform for musical griots and dancers all over the world both professional and amateur; this industry, as a whole, has brought awareness to the many social issues challenging the leaders of this time, and thus, has contributed to POSITVE CHANGE and PROGRESS.

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About the Creator

Princess Rev. Nnedi Iwuchukwu, M.Msc., LMT, LMI, MMP, Yogi

Rev. Nnedi, is an ordained minister, licensed celebrity medical massage practitioner, instructor, dream interpreter, entrepreneur and is Roman Catholic. A PORTION OF THE TIPS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED, WILL BE DONATED TO VARIOUS CHARITES.

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