Collegiate level dance teams are all about synchronicity and technique. A big part of technique includes hip hop tricks. Hip hop tricks can be used to create visuals within a routine or used to enhance the quality of a routine.
There are many hip hop tricks that can be incorporated into a routine. These tricks can be partner tricks or solo tricks. Some of the more common solo tricks include kip ups, headsprings, and aerials. All of these tricks require strength, focus, and determination. It’s almost impossible to get a trick on your first try, but practice makes perfect.
Today, rising Adelphi senior and Dance Team member Briana Barczik will be giving us tips and demonstrating how to do some of these solo hip hop tricks.
Kip Ups
Kip ups require strength in both your arms and your core. To do a kip up, start standing up with your feet apart. Then, roll back onto the floor and hitting a “pike position.” Your arms are shoulder width apart and bent behind you.
From there, you must hit a “squish” position. This is what gives you momentum before you kick your legs to stand back up. Arch your back while pushing off your arms throwing them forward to pick your chest up.
The key to a kip up is bringing your chest up immediately after throwing your legs forward. By bringing your chest up and using your arms, you will be able to land in a standing position.
“Be sure to use your core strength when doing a kip up. Once you have a kip up, you can take it a step further with a no-handed kip up!”
Briana Barczik, rising senior on the Adelphi Dance Team
Headsprings
Before whipping out a headspring, you must first get comfortable with being on your head. You can start by balancing in a “bug position.” Do this by making a triangle with your hands and have your head at the point. Balancing on your head requires a lot of strength in both your arms and your core so be sure to squeeze your muscles!
After you have mastered this position, you can then try to hit an “upside down pike position.” In this position, your hands and head are in the same triangle on the floor and your body is making an “L” shape.
Once you have this position, you’re ready to do a headspring. Start with your feet apart and your knees bent. Place your hands and head in the triangle mentioned earlier and hit a pike position. From there, use your arms and your momentum to spring you forward. For safety purposes, be sure to land your headspring with bent knees.
It is important that when you’re flipping over you keep your legs and feet together. This allows you to properly land your headspring and it is also makes the trick more appealing to the eye.
“One of the most important parts of doing a headspring is making sure your arms and head are in the proper position. If you do not have the proper placement, you won’t be able to do the headspring.”
Briana Barczik, rising senior on the Adelphi Dance Team
Aerials
Aerials are basically cartwheels with no hands. In order to not put your hands on the ground, your legs must have speed, power, and momentum. It is also important that your chest comes up fast as soon as your first foot lands. This will help with momentum and will prevent you from putting your hands on the floor.
When learning an aerial, dancers tend to run into it to help them gain momentum. Advanced dancers can do aerials out of turns by simply stepping into it.
To make an aerial look good, dancers must have straight legs and pointed toes.
“The biggest mental block is putting your hands down; just go for it! Tell yourself you can do it because it’s just a mental game.”
Briana Barczik, rising senior on the Adelphi Dance Team
Once all of these solo hip hop tricks are mastered, they can then become partner tricks with a partner’s assistance. One example of a partner trick is having one dancer do a headspring off of another dancer.
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Adelphi Dance Team 