Popping - Rap - http://maxpages.com/dreama/Popping

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The Pop

The Pop is a popping movement of different parts of your body, achieved by tensing the muscles. It is very rhythmic, and matches the popping rhythmic style of the music. You can Pop your elbow by sticking it out, or your shoulder by hunching it. The rest of your body remains still.

The Wave

This is a waving motion of your limbs. It gives the illusion that an invisible force is travelling through your body - Going from one place, say, your hand, through your arm, down your body and ending up at your feet. Waves are standard moves and are included in just about every dance routine. Unlike the other dance moves, it has a fluid, flowing motion, as opposed to being snappy or rhythmic. The Wave does take some of its style from the Pop, but rather the parts of you that Pop, follow a path around your body and are much more smooth.

The Lock or 'Locking'

Locking is doing some fast moves with the entire body, then freezing in one position. The best way to describe the movement of locking would be thus: You know those little-figured toys that are like inside-out puppets on small plastic circular platforms or pedestals, and if you press the bottom of the platform the figure collapses real fast, then when you let your finger up it goes back into shape? Well that's what locking looks like.
(Author's Note: I personally think that Locking should be totally separated from Electric Boogie, or Boogaloo, as it does not appear to be illusionary in nature - More like a fast jazzy dance style.)

The Tick

This move is used in the Robot dance style, and is a big part of almost any Electric Boogie dance. The move gives the illusion that parts of the body are mechanical in nature and stop or start moving with a shake, accomplished by tensing the muscles in the body. French Mimes call this a 'Clique' or 'Toque', which can be accomplished with or without a shake.

The Mannequin or Robot (Robotics)

This is a mechanical dance style that goes back a long way - It imitates the movement that a showroom dummy might make if it could come to life. There are two separate parts to the Mannequin style.

One style will give a Puppet or disjointed rolling movement, as if perhaps the dancer were connected by strings, or being moved by another person. You may have seen mimes do skits on the 'Thunderbirds' puppet TV show, using this technique. The classic puppet walk, is to move the same arm and leg forward as you step, rather than the opposite arm and leg, as would normally happen.

The other style is that of a Robot, often termed 'Robotics' in the UK - This involves moving your limbs at constant speed from one position to the other, ending up with a snap or 'Tick' of the body, just as a mechanical device would. Usually only one part of your body moves at a time, which makes it look as if you are under the control of a program, and systematically doing the moves. (Author's note: I remember back in the early 80's seeing two very successful Mimes doing this on TV - 'Tick and Tock'. I wonder where they are now.)

Further information on this style can be found on my Robotic Mime Performers page.

The King Tut

This move emulates the scenes as pictured on the walls of Egyptian pyramids and temples. It involves positioning your arms so that your shoulder and elbow are at 90 degrees, your forearms are either up or down and your hand, bent at the wrist, either facing away from, or to you. You would then rotate an arm at the elbow, up or down, or rotate one hand about your wrist. This is done with a Tick, as in the Robot style, and each movement is done separately.

The Floats or Glides

The Float or Glide is an illusion created with your legs and is the standard way of travelling around the floor. It gives the appearance that you are attempting to walk in one direction, but you are actually travelling in another. The classic example of this is the 'Moon Walk' made famous by Michael Jackson. The actual illusion is an old Mime trick that goes way back.

The SlowMo

This dance move gives the illusion that you are doing everything just like those 'Slow Motion Replays' that you see in Sports Programmes on Television. Often the dancer imitates walking on the Moon with this style.

Other popular moves

The Lean

This is another popular Mime trick. It gives the illusion that you are leaning against something that isn't there, like an invisible piano for example.

The Collapse

Often used in combination with the Mannequin, this move makes the dancer appear as though they are being deflated like a tyre, or they are a Puppet, and all their strings have just been cut.

The Heartbeat

This is a popular move where you stick your arm under your jacket or shirt, and push the material forward in time, so that it looks as if your heart is beating in your chest. Often, the dancer will move forward on each beat, to give the illusion that their heartbeat is pushing them forward.

The Bicycle

This leg movement gives the impression that you are riding a bicycle. It is yet another Mime trick, and is usually accompanied by the arms being put forward so that they look as if they are holding on to handlebars.

The Toe/Heel walk

This move is always done with the Mannequin dance style and is another great way of travelling around the dance floor. It involves moving sideways by spinning on the toes of one foot, and the heel of the other, and then transferring your weight onto the opposite heel and toe, and continuing. It is best done very smoothly, and makes it look like you are gliding sideways across the floor.

B boy TeK

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Joe
Redmond	Oregon
United States
Dreama2003@aol.com

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Page Updated Fri Feb 23, 2001 7:28pm EST