So you've got the basics down. You can groove to a beat, you know your right from your left, and you're ready to push past beginner territory. But intermediate hip hop dancing isn't just about learning more moves—it's about sharpening your technique, understanding the culture behind the styles, and learning how to build combinations that actually flow.
This guide breaks down seven foundational moves and styles that every intermediate dancer should have in their toolkit. Each section includes progression drills, common pitfalls, and tips for integrating the move into your freestyles or choreography.
1. Popping
Let's clear this up first: popping and locking are two distinct styles, not a single move. Popping is a funk style built on rapid muscle contractions—called hits or pops—that create a sharp, robotic effect against the music. Locking, developed by Don Campbell in Los Angeles, involves stopping motion and holding positions with a more playful, character-driven energy.
For intermediate poppers, the challenge isn't just hitting on the beat. It's controlling your dime stops (sudden freezes without rebound) and layering pops with angles and levels.
Drill to try: Pop your chest on the snare for 8 counts, then shift to hitting your biceps, forearms, and legs in isolation. Once clean, combine two body parts on alternating beats. Practice to 90–100 BPM funk tracks to build precision before speeding up.
Common mistake: Rebounding after a hit. A true pop should freeze the moment it peaks, not bounce back.
2. The Glide
Often confused with the moonwalk, the glide is actually a family of footwork moves that create the illusion of frictionless travel. The moonwalk—popularized by Michael Jackson—is a backward glide. But glides can travel forward, sideways, and in circles.
At the intermediate level, you should be able to glide on multiple planes and transition smoothly into other footwork.
Drill to try: Start with a backward glide for 4 counts, shift into a sideways circle glide for 4 counts, then exit into a pivot turn. Keep your upper body relaxed and your weight shifts invisible.
Pro tip: Practice on a smooth surface first, but don't get dependent on it. A controlled glide should work on most studio floors.
3. The Wave
The wave is a staple of hip hop and popping vocabulary, but intermediate dancers need to move beyond the basic arm wave. You should be developing body waves (chest through hips), tutting waves (geometric hand and arm pathways), and the ability to break and restart waves at different points in your body.
Drill to try: Stand in front of a mirror and execute a full body wave from head to toe over 8 counts. Now try the same wave over 2 counts—then freeze it at your chest and redirect it through one arm. Musicality matters: match your wave speed to the melody, not just the drums.
Common mistake: Letting the wave "skip" a body part. Use slow-motion video to spot gaps in your connection.
4. The Harlem Shake
This is not the 2013 viral meme. The original Harlem Shake is a shoulder-popping dance that emerged in Harlem, New York, in the 1980s. It involves rapid, rhythmic shoulder movements while keeping your lower body relatively still—though advanced versions incorporate footwork and level changes.
For intermediates, focus on isolating your shoulders from your chest and adding rhythmic variation.
Drill to try: Shake your shoulders on the off-beat for 8 counts, then switch to double-time for 4 counts. Add a slight lean or knee bounce without letting your shoulders lose their sharpness.
Cultural note: The viral meme was widely criticized for mocking the actual dance. If you use this move, respect its origins.
5. The Dougie
The Dougie exploded out of Dallas, Texas, in the late 2000s and became a mainstream party dance thanks to Cali Swag District. At its core, it's a lean-and-swing motion, but the difference between a beginner Dougie and an intermediate one is all in the details: head nods, shoulder rolls, and the ability to travel while doing it.
Drill to try: Lean to your right, swing your left arm across your body, and pass it behind your head. Now add a step to the right. Repeat to the left. Once comfortable, layer in a head nod on every other count and try freestyling your arm paths.
Pro tip: Watch footage of dancers like Smoove or the original Cali Swag District members—not just viral copies—to catch the authentic flavor.
6. Krump
**Kr
