What is Hip-hop dancing?
Hip-hop dancing is a high-energy style of dance that originated on the streets and is usually performed to hip-hop music. It includes a mix of freestyle movements, sharp isolations, footwork, body control, and rhythm-based steps. Unlike formal dance styles like ballet or ballroom, hip-hop dancing is more relaxed, expressive, and often improvised.
We were given a task by our P.E. teacher to perform a dance. We were divided into six groups, and each group was assigned a different dance genre. Our group was assigned to the hip-hop category.
It was very challenging for us because, first of all, most of our group members aren't into dancing. On top of that, we had to edit our own music for the performance. Since no one else in our group knew how to do it, I ended up editing the entire remix by myself.
Although I have some editing experience, it was still a challenge because I usually edit videos, not music. I had a hard time finding proper beats and drop sounds for the transitions since they were difficult to source. I had to redo the mix multiple times from scratch. We were only given one week to prepare for our performance, and I spent six days just working on the editing to make sure the sound turned out great.
That left us with only two days to practice (just the weekend). Unfortunately, even that was tough because I wasn't available due to religious activities. So, as the group leader, I asked one of my members to finalize a choreography that would match the music I edited. Only those who were available practiced together, while the rest practiced at home.
By Monday, all of us were finally complete, and we finalized the steps. We were still out of sync because most of us really aren’t dancers hahah but we pushed through anyway because our performance was already scheduled for Tuesday.
Practicing was really tough. That night, we also decided on our outfit to match the hip-hop theme. For the bottom, we wore jorts and for the top, black t-shirts. As for props, we used sunglasses, caps, and handkerchiefs to look more like street dancers because that’s what hip-hop is all about.
On the day of the performance (Tuesday), all the girls in our group came early so we could braid each other’s hair and get ready. To be honest, we were all extremely nervous when it was our turn to perform but we still managed to pull it off until the end.
Hip-hop dance group, Folk dance group, Cheer dance group, Festival dance group, Contemporary dance group, Ballroom dance group
In the end, even though we struggled a lot, we still managed to pull off the performance together. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real, fun, and definitely unforgettable. What mattered most was the teamwork, the effort each one of us gave, and the memories we made throughout the process. Until now, I’m proud of how far we came despite all the challenges. This experience reminded me that sometimes, it’s not about being the best it’s also about showing up, trying your best, and finishing what you started.
