Old School Dancers

 Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is highly regarded as the King of Pop, however, a lot of his dance moves find their origin in hip-
hop dance. He married hip-hop dance styles with funk, soul and electric boogaloo to create a unique blend of pop,
and hip-hop worthy dance. His style is revered worldwide for its uniqueness and fashion.

 Run-DMC

For you younger readers this name may not even ring a bell. Run-DMC was a product of the 80’s and they were
the ultimate hip-hop group equipped with timeless hip-hop moves.

 Aaliyah

Aaliayah was a famous hip-hop and pop singer in the 90’s. She was ranked by BET (Black Entertainment
Television) as one of the top 25 dancers of all time. Her style was unique, fluid and utilized many hip-hop styles.
Unfortunately, she was killed in 2001 in a plane crash. During her career she shared the stage with prolific hip-
hop artists like Timberland and Sean Combs.
  Paula Abdul

Despite her recent burst in popularity because of her position as a judge on American Idol, Paula Abdul has always
had a cult following for her musical talents and choreography skills. As a hip-hop dancer and choreographer,
Abdul organized dance routines for top-name performers like Janet Jackson and The Jackson’s and even
choreographed the piano dance scene performed by Tom Hanks in the movie Big. She’s won several “Best of
Dance” awards.

 Doctor Ice

Doctor Ice was born Fred Reeves. He was a part of UTFO (Untouchable Force Organization) a hip-hop group in
the 1980’s. He began his career as a dancer for the rap group Whotini, of whom his brother was the frontrunner.
His style is heavily concentrated in breakdancing. He performed on the Phil Donahue Show and has had numerous
appearances worldwide for his hip-hop style dancing.

 MC Hammer

Can’t forget about MC Hammer. One of the most famous hip-hop artists and dancers of all time. His heyday was
the 80’s and 90’s where he showcased his dancing skills across many platforms; creating a following of
the Hammer Dance, The Running Man and The Butterfly. He is also the founder of the culture Hyphy which is
short for hyperactive. Hyphy was coined to describe the music and culture associate with urban hip-hop.
  James Brown

While James Brown may not strike most hip-hop enthusiasts as a traditional “hip-hop dancer” he invented
the Mashed Potato dance move which became a craze in the 1960’s. This move has been incorporated into many
hip-hop dance routines and is considered a standard move although many may not call is by its food-oriented
name.

Modern/New Style

 Ciara

Ciara is an American singer and dancer who released her debut in 2004. She is known for her hip-hop and pop
infused style of music and dance. She won the Best Dance Performance at the 2010 Soul Train Music Awards
and has worked with big names like Akon, Flo Rida and Ja Rule.

 NappyTabs (Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo)

This couple is unstoppable. They met in school and began choreographing hip-hop performances for the dance
company Culture Shock. They are currently residential choreographers for So You Think You Can Dance, they
organized dance performances for Michal Jackson: The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil. They’ve also
worked with countless top names like Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion and
Madonna.
  Les Twins

The Les Twins are identical brothers of French descent. They are recognized internationally for their new style
hip-hop talents. They have won several hip-hop awards including the World of Dance in 2010. They’ve been
highlighted on BET, Good Morning America, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and have worked with people like
Beyoncé, Kanye West and Timberland.

 Shane Sparks

Best known for his work on So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew, Sparks is a world-
renowned hip-hop dancer and choreographer. He has worked with names such as Aaliyah, Monica and Lindsay
Lohan – to name a few.

 Beyoncé

Everyone knows Beyoncé. Well, almost everyone. She is one of the most powerful female vocalists and dancers
of modern times. She started off as a member of Destiny’s Child and after the dissolution of the group went on to
a solo career. Her hit single “Single Ladies” started a world-wide dance craze where Beyoncé’s famous moves
became staples in many hip-hop routines.
  Soulja Boy

Ever heard of Crank That? If you have then you know what Soulja Boy is capable of. If not, you should. Crank
That was Soulja Boy’s debut song and the song video introduced the Crank That dance which has become a
keystone of his career. He won the 2007 BET Best Hip Hop Dancer award.