How to Dance to Rap Music

Last Updated: March 2, 2023 References

Dancing to rap music is an incredibly enjoyable activity. While dancing can be intimidating to some, it’s easier to learn than you think! Start by learning the basics and then practice at home as much as you can. When you feel like you’ve gotten the hang of a few different moves, get out to a club and try it out.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Mastering Simple Dance Moves

1
Do a step-touch by alternating side-to-side steps with your feet. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, move your right foot a step to the right, then bring your left foot next to it. Then, move your left foot to the left and bring your right foot next to it. Keep your knees bent as you do this.^{[1]
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- When you practice this move, step to the right and left twice, alternating as you go.
Tip: To help yourself stay in rhythm, clap your hands as your feet come together. Clapping is also a great way to keep your arms engaged.
2
Try a variation of the step-touch to mix things up. Start with your feet together, step to the side with your left leg, then bring yourself back to the original stance right away. Do the same thing with your right leg. Only one leg should be moving at a time and you should always return to the original stance of having your knees bent and feet together.^{[2]
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- Don’t be afraid to turn your hips out as you move your feet. The less stiff you are, the better your dance moves will look!
- As you practice these moves, always stay on your toes so you can move quickly.
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3
Do a slide hop by side-stepping with one leg and sliding your other leg next to it. Take a big step to your left with your left foot and then slide your right foot along the ground until it’s next to your left foot. Then, make a big side-step with your right foot and slide your left foot until it’s next to the right foot. Step with both feet twice to complete the move.^{[3]
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- As you drag your feet, remember to stay on your toes. This makes the drag easier to execute.
4
Kick your leg out to do a basic kick ball change. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and kick your right leg out. Then, bring your leg back and cross it over your left leg. Finally, step your left leg back so that it’s shoulder-width apart from your right leg but slightly behind it. To repeat the move, take your back leg and cross it front of your front leg. Then, step the original front leg to the side to return to the shoulder-width stance.^{[4]
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- When you first practice this move, do it slowly to get every motion down pat. As you get more comfortable with the move, speed up the pace.
- Your arms should move in front of your body as your feet cross in front of each other. They should return to your sides as you move back to the shoulder-width stance.
5
Cross your arms and shake your hips to get your whole body moving. Begin with your feet next to each other. Then, step to the side with one leg while keeping your other leg planted. As you move your leg out, widen your arms so that they’re outside your body. Next, bring your arms back in and have them cross over each other to create an “X” shape. As your arms move out and in, shake your hips from side to side.^{[5]
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- While your arms are moving out and in, keep your feet shoulder-width apart. The only time they should be together during this move is at the beginning of it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Leaning Popular Dance Moves

1
Mix in the dab for a simple, cool-looking dance move. This is one of the easier moves to learn and it only takes a few minutes to get it down. Start by lifting your arms out to your sides. Then, bend one arm and bring it towards your body like you’re about to sneeze into it. Tuck your head down towards the bent arm while keeping the other arm straight and jolt your head into your elbow once. You can switch arms once you’ve dabbed into one arm.^{[6]
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- As you dab with your upper body, try moving around your lower body at the same time. You can slide back and forth, hop around, or wiggle your hips.
2
Hit the Quan by bending your knees and swinging your arms. Begin by placing your feet shoulder-width apart and bending your knees. Then, bring your arms to your sides and swing one arm forward so that it stops in front of your torso. As this arm comes forward, the other arm should go back behind you. Finally, move your hips back and forth and as your swing your arms around so that your entire body is moving to the beat.^{[7]
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- This dance comes from a popular rap song called Hit the Quan. When you practice this dance move, do it while listening to this song.
3
Try the Shmoney dance when you hear a slower song. The Shmoney dance originated with a song of the same name by Rowdy Rebel and Bobby Shmurda. Start this simple dance by putting your feet shoulder-width apart and bending your knees slightly. Then, twist your hips back and forth and have your knees move along with your hips. Finally, move your arms in time with your hips by swaying them back and forth over your head or twisting them back and forth in front of you.^{[8]
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- As you get more comfortable with this dance, try to bend your knees so that you’re really close to the ground. Keeping that low, flexible base allows you to try out your own variations of this dance.
Other songs that go with the Shmoney Dance:
“Anything” by SWV
“Can’t You See” by Total
“Flava In Ya Ear” (Remix) by Craig Mack
“I’m Fly” by 213
“Doin’ It” by LL Cool J
4
Dance the cha cha slide when the song comes on. Start by putting your feet together and clapping your hands on the offbeat of the song. As you clap, bounce your body with the beat of the music. Then, follow the instructions in the lyrics. Hop forward when the song says “1 hop this time.” When the song says “Cha-Cha real smooth,” step your right foot a few inches in front of your left. Then, bring your right foot back and place your left foot directly in front of your right foot.^{[9]
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- The song has other instructions, such as “criss cross,” where you jump up and down and make your legs move in a scissor-like motion and “how low can you go,” where you put your hands on your knees and move your body downwards.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Practicing Your New Dance Moves

1
Work on the basics at home in front of a mirror. Dancing in front of a mirror lets you analyze your moves as you do them to make sure you look sharp and confident. Put on some rap music and practice each move individually to really nail the basics.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Expert Interview. 13 September 2021.} Some artists to listen to include Busta Rhymes, Outkast, T.I., Eve, and Timbaland.^{[11]
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- While you should spend time practicing without music to focus on getting the basics right, dancing to music allows you to get better and moving your body to a specific rhythm.
2
Focus on the transition from one move to another to put everything together. As you get more comfortable with the basics, practice going from move to move without stopping.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Expert Interview. 13 September 2021.} This skill will come in handy when you’re in the club because you’ll be dancing non-stop for a long time.^{[13]
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- Only move on to this step once you feel totally comfortable with each move individually. You don’t want to build bad habits, which can happen if you try to combine all your moves without focusing on each one separately.
3
Take time to freestyle to get more comfortable with dancing. Sometimes it helps to just put on a beat and start dancing around.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Expert Interview. 13 September 2021.} You never know what moves you’ll come up with and you might be surprised how good you are at dancing! This is also great exercise that helps you improve muscle strength and cope with stress.
- Other benefits to dancing include losing weight, maintaining strong bones, and increasing balance.
4
Head out to a club to strut your stuff. Not every bar or club in town plays rap music, so you’ll have to do a quick Google search to see which spots have the right playlists. This is a great chance to meet new people who share common interests as well!^{[15]
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- If you’re feeling a bit self-conscious, go to the clubs with a large group of friends to enjoy a fun, stress-free night out!
Tip: Bring cash with you in case there’s a cover charge.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is dancing to rap music called?

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Dariusz Horvath-Krol is a Professional Ballroom Dancer and Dance Instructor based in New York. With more than 20 years of dance experience, he specializes in ballroom dancing, hip-hop, funk, and ballet. He has also spent the last seven years performing and working with Dancing With The Stars professionals. Dariusz has received full bronze, full silver, and gold awards from The Dance Vision International Dance Association.

Dariusz Horvath-Krol

Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

Well, you can dance anyway you want, but if you want to go the traditional way, try to learn some hip-hop.
Question

Is street dance and hip-hop the same?

Dariusz Horvath-Krol
Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor
Dariusz Horvath-Krol is a Professional Ballroom Dancer and Dance Instructor based in New York. With more than 20 years of dance experience, he specializes in ballroom dancing, hip-hop, funk, and ballet. He has also spent the last seven years performing and working with Dancing With The Stars professionals. Dariusz has received full bronze, full silver, and gold awards from The Dance Vision International Dance Association.

Dariusz Horvath-Krol

Professional Ballroom Dancer & Dance Instructor

Expert Answer

I believe "street dancing" is a very inaccurate way to describe Hip-Hop, since all dance styles start as "street dance" in poor neighborhoods and in the streets; they instantly turn to their imaginations and therefore create something new. A hundred years from now, Hip-Hop will not be considered "street dancing"; rather, there will be something else that will be new at that time and be considered "street dancing".
Question

How can I join a cool gang?

Community Answer

Though the media stylizes gang life, it is not advisable to attempt to join a gang. The reality of the matter is that joining a gang will put you, your family, and your future at risk. If you are lonely and in need of friends, there are people you can talk to outside of gangs. Try joining a club at school or an extracurricular sports team. Those kinds of activities will be much healthier for you in the long run.