Hip Hop Divisions, Pop, Locks and More

Hip-hop Dance competition categories are defined by hip-hop styles, divisions and more. Here's a breakdown:

Core Hip-Hop and Street Dance Styles:

Popping:

This style emphasizes sharp, controlled muscle contractions ("pops" or "hits").

Locking:

Characterized by freezes ("locks") and distinct arm and hand movements.

Breaking (B-boying/B-Girling):

A highly athletic style with intricate footwork, power moves, and freezes.

Krumping:

An expressive and energetic style with powerful, improvisational movements.

Hip-Hop Freestyle:

This is where dancers improvise and blend various styles, showcasing their musicality and creativity.
This will include many social dances, and party dances.

Social Dances:

These are dances that have come from the hip-hop culture and are often seen in freestyle settings.

Examples include:

Competitions often organize dancers into divisions based on:

Age:

Group Size:

Style Specificity:

Some competitions have dedicated battles or categories for specific styles (e.g., breaking battles, popping battles).

"All Styles" Battles:

Where dancers from various street dance backgrounds compete against each other.

World Championships - Phoenix , Arizona , USA - 26th July to 2nd August 2025
Hip Hop United - Netherlands ( Maastricht ) - 30th May to 31st May 2025
Netherlands Hip Hip Dance Competition - February 2026

HHI is a major player in the world of hip-hop dance competitions. They host events worldwide, with divisions for various age groups:
Junior (typically younger age ranges)
Varsity (high school age)
Adult
They also have MegaCrew divisions.