The Why: This isn't just a move; it's the heartbeat of Hip Hop. Every other step, groove, and freeze comes from this fundamental pulse. If you don't have the bounce, you're fighting against the music's core rhythm.

The How: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft. Don't squat—think of a gentle, continuous pulse driving from the balls of your feet through your knees and hips. Let your whole body relax into an up-and-down recoil. Find a beat (80-100 BPM is perfect) and just… pulse. It should feel natural, like you're nodding your head with your entire body.

The Why: This is your primary method of traveling and transitioning. It's the connective tissue between power moves and freezes, allowing you to move with purpose and grace without breaking rhythm.

The How: From your bounce, shift your weight completely onto your right foot. As you bring your left foot to meet it (the "touch"), shift your weight back to center. Then, step to the left with your left foot, transferring weight fully. Repeat side-to-side. The magic is in the weight transfer—clean, decisive shifts from one foot to the other, all while maintaining that bounce.

The Why: This move teaches you isolation and fluidity. Hip Hop isn't all sharp hits; it's about making your body move in waves, connecting separate parts into one smooth motion. It adds musicality and style.

The How: Stand with feet apart. Isolate your chest forward, then roll it upward. As your chest lifts, let your head follow back, then continue the wave down through your spine. Reverse it: start by dropping your chest, then roll through the spine. Practice in sections: just the chest, then chest and head, then adding the lower back. Connect the dots slowly until it's one seamless roll.

The Why: A staple from jazz that Hip Hop fully adopted, this move is about dynamic footwork and quick weight shifts. It's the base for countless combinations and adds a sharp, rhythmic punctuation to your dancing.

The How: It's a three-part move: 1) Kick your right foot forward (just a small, controlled kick). 2) As you place that foot down, immediately step onto the ball of that right foot. 3) Change your weight by quickly stepping back onto your left foot. The rhythm is "kick-step-STEP" (quick, quick, slow). Start slow without music, then speed it up.

The Why: This foundational breaking move unlocks coordination, pattern memory, and agility. It teaches your feet to work independently from your upper body and builds the stamina for more complex floor work.

The How: Start standing. 1) Cross your right foot over your left. 2) Step your left foot back. 3) Kick your right foot out to the side. 4) Swing that right foot back behind your left. 5) Step your left foot to the left. 6) Bring your right foot in to meet it. Practice the pattern slowly on the ground, saying the steps out loud. Speed comes with muscle memory.