Learn Hip Hop!
Intro to Hip Hop Workshop with John James (JJ)!
Thursday January 8th, 15th, 23rd & 30th / 5:30-6:30pm
Hip-hop dance is an art form that can be quickly mastered – if you have the right teacher! As new as it is (in the commercial dance scene), Hip Hop has now been around long enough to have structured training. This is really good news! Back in the day, you learned to dance this way at a club. Not any longer! Unlike other dance styles, Hip Hop is the most evolutionary of all commercial dance genres because it embraces the zeitgeist of fashion, attitude, musicality and athleticism -which is constantly updating. Add to that the influence of many different musical genres, cultures and popular artists. There’s a reason why hip-hop is so captivating to watch and fun to learn: it’s creative, rhythmic, stylish and very “now”. In this 4 week workshop, you’ll be learning from one of our most popular and celebrated teachers: veteran professional dancer John James (known professionally as JJ). He’s in Atlanta for a gig this January and has offered to teach this workshop. You should jump on this, like right now. What would you like to accomplish in 2026? How about this?
Intro to Hip Hop Workshop Syllabus
Led by John James (JJ)
Week 1 – Groove Foundations
- Hip Hop class etiquette + culture intro
- The bounce, rock, and basic grooves
- Step touch, two-step, and side groove variations
- Freestyle circle (gentle, supportive)
- Short groove combo
Week 2 – Footwork & Levels
- Review grooves
- Intro to footwork: running man, heel-toe, pas de bouree variations
- Level changes
- Across-the-floor groove drill
- Small combo with grooves + footwork
Week 3 – Texture & Style
- Adding arms, accents, and textures
- Intro to popping basics (hits, dime stops)
- Combining grooves with style choices
- Across-the-floor “pick your style” drill
- Choreography: short phrase using groove + texture
Week 4 – Putting It Together
- Review groove foundation + footwork
- Intro to performance mindset (confidence, projection)
- Full combo with musicality focus
- Freestyle encouragement with combo vocab
- Q+A and how to walk into an open Hip Hop class without/despite fear
