Why You Shouldn't Call Urban Dance Hip Hop | STEEZY.CO

Why You Shouldn't Call Urban Dance Hip Hop
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Hey STEEZY Nation,
What’s the difference between Urban Dance and Hip Hop? Are they the same thing? How do they relate??
Our inbox is full of questions asking about the differences between certain styles, why this style is called this, if one style is in another style’s “umbrella,” and so on so we decided to address this topic.
We encourage y'all to leave your thoughts in a comment and let's discuss!
If you're interested in reading a more in-depth explanation with interviews from Moncell Durden, B-Girl Asia One and Buddha Stretch, check out our blog article in the link below!
LINK:
bit.ly/URBANDAN...
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[@steezystudio]

DISCLAIMER: We didn't come up with the term "URBAN DANCE"! It's not a perfect label, but we're using it in this video to make a separate point about its (whatever it's called) relation to Hip Hop. Love seeing the discussion though, let's keep learning! Click here to read more: bit.ly/URBANDANCEYT

[@limen7679]

Why is it called Urban?

[@ClaydohBoon]

There are many unknown reasons and factors that contribute to why it is called that, but main idea is that Urban means "relating to a city". The term originally had nothing to do with black culture contrary to popular belief. This culture was sprouted from middle class college students in the Orange County area. City kids!

[@robert-tonywright4528]

I know its not completely correct but i would just say your a choreographer

[@urbanshinde_inc_wc]

Hey steezy please you can tell me what since starting urban dance style

[@dexter-jy3yk]

it is hiphop. hip hop evolves many time. rap music in 80s is even closed to 2010s rap song. the best thing of hiphop is that its welcome anybody creativity.

[@dragonwithamonocle]

2:45 "To make our bodies look like the music" That's the most beautiful and clear way to describe what dance is that I've ever heard. If I had to explain what dancing was to an alien who had no idea what the concept entailed, I could never have come up with something as clever as that.

[@nkk284]

Steezy's videos are more useful than my high school education. 😂

[@BrianShuffle]

i start my dance journey with Kpop dance cover, then i try some basic popping and bboy, i just wanna be the one with music when i feel it and i wanna look cool too.... then i found this kind of dancing....this is so cool... my mind just blow up...and this video make me know more about it... THANK YOU SO MUCH AND YOU'RE SO CUTE :)))

[@arththth8189]

Omg. Same path!!

[@lalajean452]

Me too . I started to Bts baepsae , Jhope now is my inspiration i like how he dance and ever since then i start to explore hip hop then got to urban dancing .Nowadays my fav. Song to choregraph is you know all those music were it has a lot of beats but chill and groovy . ( idont know what its called theres a lot of music genre nowdays ) I like to choreograph my own dance but i still have a lot to learn . I dont dance to kpop now especially girlgroup dance since its not my style but i still dance to some boy groups dances since some of there moves can be really helpful for me to learn more and come up with different dance moves .

[@michellesmirnova4471]

I believe a lot of us k-pop fans gravitate towards urban dance or open style choreography because it’s pretty much what k-pop dances are

[@MeepsNcheese]

>paying to take classes and workshops >paying to be on the team >paying to perform at shows Oh godddd true tho

[@gnqan00]

MeepsNcheese this sounds like me trying to get to explain to people why i do Brazilian jiu jitsu

[@redtalisman8056]

@@gnqan00 Physical hobbies are expensive man, but at least we get to show off ig 😔🖐️

[@dao9964]

2016 : Why you shouldn't call Urban Dance Hip Hop 2020 : Why you shouldn't call Urban Dance Urban

[@dancereaper]

2024: Why you shouldn't call Dance Dance.

[@zorororonoa2469]

2028: Why you shouldn't call

[@DouglasJunior]

The Urban Dance scene is flourishing, it’s nice to see a video cementing a definitive meaning for it 👍🏾

[@rokkimaize7333]

I’ve been thinking about this since Kinjaz announced that they’d be removing the word ‘urban’ and this video happened to resurface on my recommendations. Here are my thoughts, context is important. The word ‘urban’ in and of itself is rather innocuous, however the problem arose when radio and the music industry adopted the word. ‘Urban’ was code for black; it was code for ghetto. It was used to marginalize black artists, limiting marketing and limiting airplay. Where white artists were labelled ‘pop’, black artists were labelled ‘urban’. When it comes to dance I’m not sure ‘urban’ carries the same connotations. Urban choreography is a mix of various styles, but I would argue that it’s foundations lay mostly in popping and party dance. I’m of the school that the funkstyles (Popping, Locking, etc) are Hip-hop, however there is a strong argument against that because those styles are derived from funk music, and geographically they originate in California and not New York, the birthplace of Hip-hop. I don’t think that the word ‘urban’ was used in a way that marginalizes black people in the dance community. But I also don’t necessarily object to urban choreography being called ‘Hip-hop’. It’s roots are firmly based in black culture, but also what would you call a dancer whose foundations are based in urban choreography but happen to be freestyling? They’re obviously not doing choreography, so wouldn’t they be dancing Hip-hop? My final point being against the argument of calling ‘urban choreography’ just ‘choreography’. I would say that it’s a rather egregious move to label it ‘choreography’ because it erases the history of the dance being created by black people. If this dance is going to be categorized, then surely it requires a name that honors and respects the history that it comes from. I don’t know if urban choreography and/or Hip-hop is the best term, but it’s not the worst either. Feel free to agree or disagree.

[@amandaa7708]

I agree with this. And although I don’t find it offensive, I’ve always personally resisted using the term ‘urban’ because the idea that it’s ‘wrong’ to call it hip-hop never resonated with me.

[@paulking5199]

The thing is, hip-hop has a specific kind of movement (often, you hear about the bounce and rock). Urban (now usually called open) style choreography does not necessarily have the hip hop foundation. It's like calling contemporary dance as "ballet".

[@ShineBright506]

​@@paulking5199Just a question! I'm learning choreography, and if someone asks me, ''what kind of dance style are you dancing'' should I answer open style dance or just choreography?

[@stinkyudon]

bout time people learn about what's not hip-hop.

[@jameshawilkerson541]

just do et it's about time to call it something else and stop ripping off a term that has nothing to do with what you are talking it.

[@ClaydohBoon]

Although I understand what you mean, saying that "Urban Dance" has nothing to do with Hip Hop truly minimizes the influence of Hip Hop. The choreography scene would be nothing without the foundation that Hip Hop Culture has lain. But yes, it is time that it's called something other than (a diluted version of) Hip Hop!

[@Dom-Andre]

@@ClaydohBoon so true, you can see that is just a hiphop fusion with other styles bc every urban dancer i've seen came from different styles and then just got into trap/rap music and started just mixing and like talking with their bodies, less bounce and less groove but the influence is still there 👀 so i'd say urban is a style as it's own but it's obviously derived from hiphop, even tho now most of people just learn choreos and that's it, it's beautiful what steezy and kinjaz do, the art of talking with your body

[@christopheraldeguer734]

I like this definition better for hip hop with what you said, “escape to, express themselves, earn respect, connect with each other, to make a statement”. Hip hop culture taught me to be free with who I am and that’s why I don’t mind calling it hip hop but of course I now don’t because of the politics. Hip hop seemed more like a cultural movement in those days to where now that cultural movement reflects on our physical movement, and it is to be free. I feel “urban” dance choreography would not have existed if it wasn’t for the HIP HOP culture... it’s hard to actually express my view via text but here you go... My intention in this message, is to create peace and love through the understanding of this topic so that there isn’t hate on each other in this world!! So please read it with my intention in mind 😇😇😇

[@jaziaaizaj8253]

Thank you for this definition, i believe i just understood my style. As a freestyler, i didn't really understand where my style came from or what i was doing i just moved my body. I was pretty much rolling with freestyler or free flow, or "i just move to the music" when people had asked me what style of dance do you do... I guess I now define myself as a urrban based dancer. Though no 100% way of defining my own style. I AM ME

[@shooker244]

Finally somebody does a video about this misconception

[@jeremys2364]

Okay, thats it! this video made me subscribe!! I started dancing "hip-hop" 6th/7th gr(1979?) and people don't get it when I explain why todays "studio/choreo" dance isn't quite hip-hop. I met you all at the Hawaii 18' wkshop & I'm EXTREMELY impressed with the knowledge you & Clay have, but THIS topic hits a personal nerve. I've lived "Hip-Hop" all my life & if my daughter (AntTrp peaches&crm solo) only listened to me 2yrs ago when she started .... anyway-THANK YOU/Clay for all the education and "culture" you spread! In my 39yrs of hip-hop, you2 are the best ambassadors of 'dance' that i've seen. MAHALO Jesse and Clay! HIP-HOP YA DON'T STOP!

[@steezystudio]

Thank you, Jeremy!

[@Paris__Michael]

INSTANT like just off of how well broken down SOME of my own people's cultural history was tackled!!✊🏾💯💯🔥!! Big ups big ups big ups! Nah, in all seriousness though, DEF was feeling this!

[@rebelian7]

So glad you guys touched on this ^^ also the editing on this vid was on point with the animations and graphics! Props to whoever made those

[@steezystudio]

Thanks for your feedback!! Kevin is blushing.

[@ClaydohBoon]

WHO SAID THIS... I edited it 😂

[@rebelian7]

O: oh my

[@AttackingTucans]

Whenever somebody asks me what type of dance style I do, I tell them it's hip-hop dancing, because for somebody who doesn't dance they won't know what urban dancing is and they would leave the conversation confused. If I have enough time to explain to them what I do, I tell them they would know it hip-hop, but the actual name for it is urban dance and that hip-hop is more of a cultural thing. For people who aren't into this culture or dancing, it's hard for them to understand sometimes. I live in south-west Missouri where hip-hop and dance culture is just now starting to become more prevalent due to the internet. I just got into dancing a little over 3 years ago, but I've learned so much and have been inspired in these past 3 years that I'm doing whatever is in my power to spreading the power of dance in my area. By making my own music, performing downtown with my friends, starting dance circles at clubs, making dance videos, etc. I'm still not the best dancer, but my friends are amazing, and I really hope to see them doing amazing things with their craft someday. :)

[@rupzrayem]

I disagree, I don’t think it’s ever right to call urban dance hip hop. Even though you are talking to non-dancers, there are alternatives in describing it. “ I do choreography that takes influences from various street dances - mixture of styles.” Calling urban dance “hip hop” also disrespects the work, culture and the foundation that the originators have built in the hip hop culture. You don’t see contemporary dancers telling us that they performed jazz, you don’t see ballet dancers saying that they performed contemporary, they’re very specific to what dance style they’re performing because of the respect they have for the historical content of that specific dance - hip hop should be treated with the same discipline. Dancers who do not correct people of how the term urban dance is used are simply making the same mistake the B-Boys did awhile back when the media started calling it “breakdancing”. I remember I saw an interview once that they said that they SHOULD HAVE corrected the terminology, but at that time, they decided to let it go.

[@VictorOsegueda]

Ruperto Abelgas I see what you’re saying. First of all I have to get used to calling it urban dance myself a little more which I’m working on. Anyway I can see how non dancers/dancers that are not familiar with hip hop and/or urban dance would be confused with the explanation of what urban dance actually is no matter how you try to put it. Some of those people might have some idea and have grown up calling it hip hop and not recognizing that it’s a culture. Also, some studios especially mine would call it hip hop because it would seem easier than advertising my class as urban dance. I don’t like calling my class (that I teach) hip hop but I know it would likely turn some students away if they saw it as urban dance. Also I live in a small coast town in Oregon with not a lot of hip hop culture to begin with so that doesn’t make anything else easier and as far as I know I’m the only one who knows the difference

[@rupzrayem]

Yep, exactly my point. It has to stop haha. Many studios use the term "hip hop" to market and advertise their classes - which is in fact wrong and also very disrespectful to the hip hop culture. This has been going on for ages and OGs are ALWAYS talking about these kinds of situations. I mean imagine you coined the term for a concept you came up with that went viral and then a few years later someone uses that same term to describe something different. If I'm not mistaken it's also one of the factors the terminology "Urban Dance" was made - in order to avoid calling it Hip Hop. People need to know the difference if they plan to take "hip hop" classes. I feel that given that you're in a small town with no hip hop knowledge (except for you), it is your job as a dance teacher to educate your students on what kind of class you're teaching and what you go through in class. There are different marketing strategies instead of just calling it "hip hop".

[@shadowspider18]

Ruperto Abelgas I agree 100% with you! At my studio we advertise ourselves as an urban dance Choreography studio but, also as a studio that teaches various dance styles that are exclusive to urban dance! It's not hard to say "I dance urban Choreography meaning I dance to Choreography that is widely influenced by other various street and club styles such as hip-hop, popping, locking, house, femme, etc." I can see where people get confused about the terminology but like you said it's disrespectful to the hip-hop culture and it needs to stop!

[@TheEnock10]

What’s urban dance?

[@DanishDances]

Sooo now here we are 2 years later and we’re in the midst of a major BLM Movement and many people in the dance community are coming out and saying they will no longer use the term “Urban” because it is dismissive and disrespectful to foundational dance forms and the associated cultures. Would love to know how your thoughts have changed now if they have. Maybe a new video would be appropriate?

[@mackenzieweber1867]

i was just thinking this! I was asked to teach a hip hop class, and as a white person trying to be more anti-racist, I was doing some research because I also heard what you heard.... Then I came across this video. Very stressed right now hahah

[@lalajean452]

So if they dont call it urban dance then what do they call it ? Im new to this , ive been dancing ever since little but not really focus to it , i just dance as a hobby . Now i want to learn everything , i just came across about urban dance and hip hop being different . Then also i came across one steezy video on why they dont use the word urban dance anymore because its offensive so what do they call it now ????

[@mohanbennett6953]

Personally I don't see the issue with it being called 'Urban' (whoever deems themselves the board of these dances creation and evolution need to pick one). I mean if a dancer has been trained in many styles but dances / teaches choreography to Hip Hop music fusing and evolving the dance for themselves its their own personalised choreography. There are many martial arts that have evolved over time to become more suited and fit for purpose - just look at MMA. Dance will continue to evolve and adapt with the music and to the trends of the time. Commercially people need a name to sell the product.

[@notreallyafamousartist695]

Stop crying you’re not even black 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@AkshayBhosaleDance]

well explained cheers :-)

[@Vce702]

I love this video and I appreciate your perspective! Iit really helps people distinguish both the similarities and, more importantly, the differences between the cultures of dance and hip-hop. I usually describe choreography by telling people, "Do you know that show ABDC? Yeah, It's sort of like that"

[@LethalLemonLime]

All I got from this is that it's choreographed hiphop dance... literally the fact that they choose to call it "urban" and the fact that the dances are specifically black dance styles that are danced/made to be danced to hiphop just tells me it's hiphop.

[@TheMsklg1981]

Leslie Exactly.

[@autonomyseeker6082]

Its not hip hop because hip hop is a culture, a way of life. And choreo dance does not follow that, they just borrow moves in the hip hop styles and make it into a chreography, theres no hip hop essence in urban dance, so therefore its not hip hop. Its like if i spoke a language you do not know, you can mimic the sound/tone and get it accurate, but if i asked you what it meant, you wouldn't know.

[@anonfalco7880]

Because they borrow moves from Hip Hop. But Hip Hop the dance needs to have bounce, rock and groove. But Choreos don't necessarily have those things. They take the moves but don't always have the foundation. It'd be like calling a poem a rap because they both use words. Nothing wrong with choreos, they just aren't Hip Hop

[@Saffronikka]

I really appreciated this video. I had absolutely no idea & have been calling it hip hop forever, along with most other dancers I know. Granted, I live in a small town in Oregon, U.S., but I still would rather know accuracy & history. I feel dumb, not gonna lie😅but I want to help teach others what I have learned today. It's important to me to recognize when we make cultural mistakes in society & correct it, regardless of how ignorant I felt/feel sometimes. 🙏🏻💗🙏🏻

[@AbaNPreach]

Just call it what yall do choreography or dance. Yall may use elements from the inner city culture, from hip hop but what you do isnt from the culture so to even allude to it with the word "urban "as if you had anything to do with the ghetto is wrong. It aint because I use pirouettes in my krump freestyles that id call it "modern krump" or "classical krump". If I do some hip hop grooves in my salsa choreography it isnt "urban salsa" or "ghetto salsa". The reality is what you guys do is a set of personalized movements with no cultural/historical context within a larger culture. Like; - Party dances with hip hop music, - Breaking with breakbeats, - Salsa/bachata with latino music. - House dancing born from house music. So to me what you guys do is just dance or choreography.

[@steezystudio]

Again, this is its own topic. But you are so right!

[@Swoldridge]

What y'all doing on here!? You gonna start dancing in your videos?

[@combatsportsyes9429]

Who is replying? Who at Steezy is replying

[@jeremys2364]

STEEZY - technically, he may be right but I still say you deserve huge props for all the effort STEEZY puts toward educating the public & the fact that there actually IS a diff between HipHop & studio dance choreo "styled" for hip-hop music! HIP-HOP YA DON'T STOP!

[@sammybee2105]

The problem with just calling it dance or choreography is those terms are all encompassing. Ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, salsa, square dancing, bhangra etc. are all dances. Anything that is not freestyle/improvised is choreography. People like to label things, so urban is what this has been called. And as they said, they didn't come up with the name. It's not like it could be called modern (it's already taken). Also urban simply means city and does not refer to the ghetto.

[@T15ucker]

Same here.. I just tell em that I do hip hop and lyrical. This video just taught me something new again about dance that I didn't know. I'd rather look at it as Urban cuz it's gives a broader perception cuz I don't necessarily consider myself a hip hop Dancer

[@jameshawilkerson541]

T-1 urban is a hip hop term. If you don't consider yourself a hip hop dancer don't use the word urban to describe what you do. Simple. Be creative and find something else.

[@melanieguerrero4802]

Wow this was amazingly informative. It gets across what I've been trying to tell me fellow dancers. I'm going to refer them to this. It's like calling the Kpop style dancing that's popular at the moment and calling it hip hop. Big difference. I love this video. Thank you.

[@BboyBabyCAkes]

I don’t like how A LOT of the urban dance community doesn’t take the time to learn the history of hip hop like certain OGs who contributed to the dance scene with many of the moves/styles that are done or seen within choreography. As a result there are so many urban dancers who are biters, don’t understand how to train on their own, and can’t freestyle to save their lives. It’s watering down the scene because a lot of the time I just see “studio moves.” And the OGs are not choreo cookies or GRV. I’m talking about people like Ken Swift, Poppin Pete, Bboy Flo Master. Dance is getting a lot of exposure because it’s what’s hype right now and to some extent it is good to have more people get involved in dance but if you’re really just gonna only learn through watching competition stuff like VIBE or Franklin Yu’s new “dope piece” like come on... I hope you guys can get some OGs to talk about originality and the foundations of hip hop and hip hop culture more

[@TheMsklg1981]

Andrew Rosales Preach 🙌🏾

[@francisduplayna2909]

literally doin a speech for my college Communications class explainin what urban dance is :)

[@shemdavidgasataya145]

I Love you STEEZY

[@steezystudio]

Love ya right back 💘

[@teampied]

sooo...... "urban dance" is to dance genres what "pop" is to music genres? (i mean it in the sense that it's everything but nothing at the same time) can someone help me out? i'm still confused.

[@xrduna]

Thank you very much for making this type of videos, I am bboy but I also do urban dance and it is important that people know what they are doing for simple respect to what one loves, much love from mexico stezzy! ❤

[@MixedSoup]

Tough subject but great way to articulate the matter. Really starting to teach my students the difference between both.

[@kachunchiu9551]

Love the video! This is much needed for the world to know Hip Hop is a culture rather than a choreography work!

[@B-Moye]

What makes this dance Urban/Street? Call it choreographed dancing. Sure urban sounds cool, but doing contemporary dance inside a parking structure or in an alley doesn't make it Urban anymore than doing break dancing in a nice studio makes it less 'street' or hip-hop. I love the 'Urban' choreography scene, but definitely think there should be a different name for it imo.

[@B-Moye]

Sure, calling it hip-hop isn't the perfect fit, but calling it Urban doesn't make it more correct, it's just different. If that makes any sense. Idk, shrug

[@steezystudio]

You're absolutely right! Check out our post on Facebook - lots of interesting discussion there, too.

[@steezystudio]

But the point of THIS video was just to make the distinction that "Urban"/choreography/whatever just.. isn't hip hop.

[@jeremys2364]

STEEZY - thank you! That is definitely a point that needed to be addressed!

[@sammybee2105]

The problem with just calling it dance or choreography is those terms are all encompassing. Ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, salsa, square dancing, bhangra etc. are all dances. Anything that is not freestyle/improvised is choreography, so each one of the previously named dances could be choreographed. People like to label things, so urban is what this has been called.

[@eternalsnow101]

To the dance community: ive recently become aware that people are no longer using the word "urban" to avoid being offensive. What term are we replacing it with? Or are we no longer performing what used to be the urban dance style?

[@rodenrren2]

How in the actual living fuck is the word urban offensive now??? This I gotta hear.

[@sophiacampos6298]

guys, really, i can't stop watching your videos. you are so amazing i want to meet you guys one day one more fan from brazil love you

[@helenh2442]

Finally got the clear answer of what is urban dance. Basically it is actually “choreography “ not a style

[@KathehFIT]

Interesting. This actually I want to learn more about.

[@StanleySugianto]

So I just knew my dance style is actually called Urban instead of Hip-Hop... Thanks! Been dying to know about my dance style LOL XD

[@LICKMYNYNE]

Either way most if not all dance styles mostly started in urban inter cities anyway so one can technically call House, breaking, hip hop, locking, poping and strutting ect, all urban dancing...

[@TheMsklg1981]

LICKMYNYNE Spot on. They’re jumping through hoops to make this not be true.

[@HYPEREX]

I didn't have much care for dancing but after watching this I can see how big it really is for people

[@bobsburgers8497]

I like dancing bc it’s mastering the ultimate control over yourself. It’s how I found my personality, spirituality, physicality, rhythm, discipline, confidence, etc.

[@directorx1193]

I love the way u explain the concepts of hip hop and urban style😀😀

[@glancedancecentre5411]

You Guys Cleared This Matter For Hip Hop And Urban Dance But lot More Information Needed Because Hip hop Started Growing Elements Years by Years then some Hip hop Dancers who were doing choreographies more finally started mixing many style in it than they felt something different style are exploring, want to take creator title of Urban dance that's your plan and making videos like this. We're was Urban dance so many years? What you were calling the Urban dance when you started hip-hop? Why suddenly giving a separate name for hiphop choreography? Why it is needed ? Why can't we add this Urban dance under hiphop for the new generation? We are dancing for hiphop beats and we are taken 80% styles from hip-hop culture and we have been doing since so many years sorry for my bad English

[@etheldeidre1491]

this is so good thank you for sharing this thought hope to watch more videos from steezy

[@honeyhong24]

Thanks to this video I just learned that the dance style that I like and have always been dancing to is actually Urban Dance and not Hip Hop! Cool!

[@thwethninsan1543]

Omg this video is exactly what I was looking for.

[@huhohstudiosllc4785]

THANK YOU! Appreciate you for spreading the knowledge!

[@meep3051]

Would love a comparison \ basic explanation\ history video of house for someone who knows nothing about it. This is awesome explanation of urban dance

[@charlesalpon7475]

Well said!! Thanks for clearing things up :D

[@diego.bcdancer]

Muchas gracias por la enseñanza, aprendo mucho con ustedes. 🙏🏼

[@SagarSharma-db3ln]

I love steezy dancing bashik

[@faithj.3872]

Makes Soo much sense 😌💕

[@ginamariko]

Great job distinguishing between hip hop and choreo, but I'd still love to hear the explanation of what makes this dance "urban"? Most "urban dancers" do their dance in studios in the suburbs. There's nothing urban about it. Using the term 'urban' is just another way of appropriating black culture because this word directly related to black music. Let's just call it what it is: the choreo dance community. No need for other descriptive words. You do choreo in diff styles. Name those styles and pay tribute where it's due. And if you're not naming the styles it means you don't know what styles you're doing and that's the problem.

[@steezystudio]

Again, different topic, but you are absolutely right!

[@TinyTalesBookClub]

I agree, the video clearly says they pull from a bunch of sources and is choreographed dancing, might as well just call it choreo or choreographed dancing. No confusion there, pretty clearly labeled and easy to understand. Saying, "urban dancing," will lead to questions like, what is that. If you say choreographed dancing and you like to pull moves from a bunch of sources, it's easier to understand.

[@sammybee2105]

The problem with just calling it dance or choreography is those terms are all encompassing. Ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, salsa, square dancing, bhangra etc. are all dances. Anything that is not freestyle/improvised is choreography, so any type of dance can be choreographed. People like to label things, so urban is what this has been called. And as they said, they didn't come up with the name. It's not like it could be called modern (it's already taken). Also, most dance studios are in cities...

[@rr-jy9xs]

O fuck off with your black community gtfo jeez

[@TheMsklg1981]

Preach!! U NAILED it sis 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@agnettablessing8554]

Thank you for clearing this up! Very useful!

[@bboyqbunia608]

As a bboy I appreciate sharing truth about HipHop

[@72PSI]

So good. I need this whole thing on my phone so next time someone asks about dancing..........

[@earth2grace107]

Yes i am in a urban dance and my parents pay for everything the class it self, recital fees such as outfits, playing a part in recital, tickets, how many shows. its a lot and i feel really bad about it.

[@Benito722]

Wow I couldn’t agree more 1000%.

[@warmdusk]

The Bronx is start not doin well but we’re getting better. Love the video!!

[@cassenav]

“Life was really difficult in ways we probably can’t comprehend” ....probably in ways that YOU can’t comprehend, but people in America are still living like this on a large scale

[@LameBushido]

Yeah that was really tone deaf

[@UrbanDanceLegends]

Urban Dance is an umbrella term for dance styles that developed in urban communities. There are many unique urban dance styles: Poppin, Breakin, Krump, Memphis Jookin, Turfin, Jerkin', Yeekin' & Crankin', Beat ya Feet, Brukup, Flexin', Light Feet, Chicago Footwork, Boppin', Detroit Jitt, etc. Styles like contemporary and jazz are definitely not urban.

[@parniasworld]

Thank you 😊

[@All_Is_Funk]

Henry link said - Urban dance ("jazz funk", "street jazz", etc..) is better to name as "stage performance".

[@insanegirl5058]

Well this helped me...i had been searching about what is URBAN DANCE nd what is HIP HOP.....

[@MichaelChavinda]

Saying that urban choreography is different to hip-hop because hip-hop is only party dancing and breaking is like saying hip-hop music is only stuff from the 80s and everything else should have a different name. Is Playboi carti a hip hop artist? If you ask a Puritan he isn't. But to most of us he's a hip hop artist with a number of other influences. I think the same of what you term urban dance. It's an evolution of hip hop dance. A large number of urban choreography is to hip hop music. If it were simply inspired by hip hop there would be a more then l even distribution of song choices.

[@Ajay34ish]

Plssss keep uploading videos like this.... (real knowledge)

[@tigerstreetdancer]

I agree that "urban dance choreography" should be labelled as such and not "hip hop". For the simple reason that people who see something ( a dance style) they like and wish to learn it, will know what to ask for when approaching dancers or studios. Keeps everything clean and easy :)

[@centr-chadonamgyel4611]

I wanna established steezy at my place... 💛

[@dangelobarton2735]

I completely agree, thank you

[@viky2216]

and hip hop is not just choreography is to freesteyling and battleing and more.its not easy i dancing six years and i still dont anderstand some things

[@eron8245]

then who coined the term "urban"?

[@hotyoungamyc]

As a person who's been a part of this dance style and it's evolution...I find this video a bit offending! A huge portion of this dance style was created by Black kids on the street...just doing what they do. While "urban dance" might "pull" from other dance styles...it is primarily hip hop in nature! And let's not forget hip hop/rap and other primarily Black music is used. Just like jazz...we wont disregard the fact that others contributed, BUT! We know who the originators of this particular style of dance is. So pardon me if Im bothered when it feels like the Black contribution is being ousted (hence the term hip hop and it's associated images!) Feels very Christopher Columbus ish to me.

[@hotyoungamyc]

It's like finding an orange and saying, "I name this 'citrus ball"...deep down inside...we all still know...it's an orange!

[@Nola504]

Thank you

[@TheMsklg1981]

💯Come through my ppl! Come through!! 👏🏾🙌🏾

[@tavisays9614]

Ok STEZZY here's a sub

[@hennakennedy]

That was actually motivating to hear.

[@Bairindo]

Thank you so much for this video! I'm the head of our, what we call "Modern" dance team. I've always had troubles knowing how to define us. We have multiple choreographers that use styles from hip-hop, contemporary, fem, vogue, swing, jazz, and even folk/traditional dance styles. This really helps me a lot because we primarily use styles of hip-hop, but I don't like to say we are a hip-hop dance team for those exact reasons! Thank you SO MUCH! How do people feel about our name, "PSA Modern", and how we say "modern dance styles"? I've been thinking about that language, and if it's really portrayed accurately?

[@MasterAddy96]

"Be on the dance team that I pay for" Does this mean you pay to join the dance team? or you join the dance team and the team pay money for you? ps sorry poor english user here :3

[@mee7055]

You pay a team for learning the dance. The team pays you when you are a "with contract" professional dancer. Basically: you pay when you are a student You don't pay when you are contracted.

[@ChenKangFilms]

That was a DOPPEEE explanation!!!

[@rayesafan9628]

Ah man, I'm glad I saw this! This is an enigma. Because how do you describe the 2010's chereographed hip-hop/contemporary influenced dance? Now, question, what would differentiate Street from Hip Hop from Urban?

[@mee7055]

I think street is that came from the streets. Hip hop is music style and Urban maybe the same (or kind of the same concept, like is more popular) on Urban places

[@dilip_ahirwar]

Thank you so much for this 😍😍😍

[@Valor06]

So... it's just dancing. Fine by me, I've been doing urban choreography for years in that case. :)

[@trumoovhiphopdancestudio]

Totally agree!

[@bnicolette14]

I also think there is a difference between this "hip hop fusion" that people want to claim is hip hop and between someone who grew up immersed in hip hop culture and developing your own style of hip hop, if that makes sense. Like I will always call what I do Hip Hop because I grew up in it. My dad is a DJ and I grew up going to gigs with him, the music, the parties, the dancing. And outside of my dad's job, I grew up with it as well too of course. We're black, its our culture. He taught me about it without having to teach me about it because it is just simply his interest and mine. So I may add my own style and my own moves I created, but I incorporate a lot of traditional hip hop party moves without even trying. To me, what I do is hip hop and I think to limit what hip hop dance is, is really silly. Hip hop culture itself is diverse and has evolved over the years and decades. R & b music, rap music, all genres of music have changed over the years but we still call them the same genre name. Why should dance be any different? We can respect the history while also allowing it to evolve, otherwise it dies. But yeah there are clearly some people who have no idea of the history nor respect for what hip hop actually is. And tbh you see this more so with the real popular LA dancers on instagram than anyone else. I know there are plenty of amazing and true hip hop dancers in LA, but those people aren't getting as much recognition as the people misrepresenting hip hop.

[@babitaarya9139]

aaah thanx a lot steezy team u r helping a lot😘

[@irshad1010]

Thank you jessy

[@osbu1904]

Thanks for the explanation :)))

[@hshshsjsjwjwjeke5935]

Jess how the right way to breath when dancing while singing or monitoring lips while dancing but not show that we exhausted while dancing

[@abell2936]

Love this! Thanks!

[@bnicolette14]

I think most dancers dance to express something they can't put into words, no matter the style. I feel there is a lot of animosity in the dance world between street dancers and studio dancers because some street dancers feel what they do has importance and not just a choreographed step. And then some studio dancers try to discount what street dancers do because they don't have studio training. We are all equal and worthy and we all are allowed to dance and we all have purpose when we dance. None of us should try to discount anyone. I think trying to find the perfect term is impossible because you have some hip hop dancers saying not to call it hip hop because it isn't and then others saying that by not calling it hip hop you're appropriating. How about hip hop based/inspired choreography? There will never be a perfect term for it. All styles have evolved but have kept the same names. No one is stopping anyone from doing a style just because they didn't grow up a certain way. Rap has evolved, as well, and there are tons of rappers who didn't grow up a certain way and yet they still call it rap. Things become public and mainstream and people get inspired by and draw to it and so they want to do it as well. Dance is dance and we most of the time don't choose what style speaks to us the most and helps us express ourselves the best. The world is complicated because labels are very necessary and important but they also cause so unnecessary problems.

[@stannymj]

Exactly

[@jessicanicole4350]

EVERY TIME I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IN GREAT DETAIL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN URBAN AND HIP HOP and they’re always like “so...hip hop”

[@jameshawilkerson541]

How about just stop using the word urban and be original since as stated in the video it already has it's cultural ties. Funnily enough most "urban" dance choreography I have seen is centered around hip hop with hip hop music but with people not wanting to say it's hip hop lol. If you don't want to be associated with hip hop stop using hip hop music and stop using the term that is apart of that culture.

[@hotyoungamyc]

I totally agree! Cultural appropriation at its finest.

[@Stephanie-xz7qd]

They didn't name it

[@TheMsklg1981]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾Get em!! They think we think we can’t read between the lines sis!

[@user-fz8kz4tg1k]

So, is urban dance is just a mix of all styles? I still don’t get it...

[@sirsoos3546]

3:05 - 3:25 for the TRUTH.

[@DarioMiticocchio]

to be honest, the real truth is in the first 17 seconds

[@sirsoos3546]

BAHAHAH 100%

[@jtika1978]

Hip hop is its own thing. Coming from an old school hip hop head.

[@michellesmirnova4471]

So, if anyone’s just watched this video recently like I did - I’d like someone to confirm if I understood this correctly So, Hip-Hop is more a culture within the black community, and hip-hop dance is part of that culture, which is basically just “free-styling” and grooving along to the music and expressing yourself in whatever way you feel. And urban dance is choreography-based dancing that is basically just a mix of a lot of different dance styles, and therefore urban dance doesn’t derive from hip-hop culture but more-so uses parts of the dancing as an inspiration for their style Now I also understand that “urban dancing” isn’t a term a lot of people like because the word urban also has associations with the black community and/or hip-hop. Regardless of your opinion on that, I’d like to know what words people tend to use instead of urban? I believe STEEZY uses words like “popular choreography” and “open style”, is there any other words people tend to use? Is there a specific way most people tend to address it? I’m new to dancing and I’m in the process of trying out and understanding different styles (partly through STEEZY) so any help is appreciated!

[@zumirelix]

Seems like just another way to not give proper credit to hip hop (largely black) culture. All those styles you showed at the end were VERY heavily derived from hip hop. I would go as far as to say they're all sub-categories within the larger hip hop umbrella. By calling it hip hop dance doesn't mean you have to have lived and studied its full history and story to appreciate it or be good at it, but imo it's way more respectful that way because it acknowledges its roots.

[@TheEnock10]

My question is what’s urban dancing?

[@Nola504]

Hip-hop. No matter how much they try to separate themselves. We know who started this

[@TheMsklg1981]

A_blues 4Nola It’s so funny bc now we get to see first hand how they stripped us of certain things in the past. There’s a formula to it. This is comical. “Oh let’s just change the label and we’ll go from there”.

[@musicmania7049]

Does the 1 Million Dance Studio choreographies are based on the Urban Dance style?

[@onehappymeal1374]

Thank you.

[@philiplau6687]

Some labels are better than others ;)

[@krishnakhatri3231]

This is osm its all about real knowledge

[@monadrian13]

Shout out to KJ Gonzales aka the Godfather of urban dance