Hip Hop:

Hip Hop began in 1973 at a party hosted by DJ Kool Herc, who looped the instrumental "breaks" of funk records for dancers. This sparked a culture that includes breaking, party dances, MCing, DJing, and graffiti. Over time, Hip Hop evolved into a freestyle form that draws from foundational grooves like bounce, rock, roll, wave, and skate. Moves like the Smurf, Prep, and Cabbage Patch laid the groundwork for what we now know as Hip Hop dance.

Want to go deeper? Learn directly from pioneers like Buddha Stretch on STEEZY.

Chicago Footwork:

Chicago Footwork was born from house, juke, and ghetto house music. The style developed in Black communities across Chicago, where crew battles and party scenes helped it grow. The footwork is fast, intricate, and full of bounce. Common steps include Ice Skates, Percolator, Dribbles, Mike & Ikes, and Bangs — all performed on the primarily on the balls of your feet, with a lifted posture and expressive upper body.

Salsa:

Salsa emerged through the fusion of Afro-Cuban, Latin, and European dance traditions, and became globally popular in the 1960s and 70s. Salsa On1 (LA style) is a version of Salsa where you begin dancing on the first beat of a musical bar, the 1. In this dance form, you'll learn basic steps like Forward and Back Basic, Suzy Q, Right Turn, and shines, which are solo improvised moments during partner breaks.

Explore flavor, technique, and musicality in our Salsa Programs on STEEZY.

Tap:

Tap dance evolved from rhythmic footwork practices like the Juba dance, created by enslaved Africans in response to bans on drumming. Over time, tap became a theatrical and expressive form, blending percussion and movement. Foundational steps include toe drops, heel digs, flaps, cramp rolls, and rhythm patterns that emphasize syncopation and musicality.

Detroit Jit:

Jit is Detroit’s fast-footed, high-energy dance rooted in ghetto tech music and street battles. More than just footwork, it’s a full-body dance that incorporates flagging (armwork), girl dancing (flamboyant groove-heavy movement), and groundwork. Moves include the Shuffle, Kick Wiggle Back, Ram Bisco, and breakdowns to the floor.

Kathak:

Kathak is a classical Indian dance form that combines storytelling, rhythm, and drama. It features intricate footwork, spins (chakkars), hand gestures (mudras), and percussive ankle bells (ghungroo). With many Hindu and Persian influences, Kathak has evolved over thousands of years while maintaining its core rhythmic and expressive elements.

Jazz:

Jazz dance was born from African American traditions and spread during the Great Migration and Harlem Renaissance. The style is grounded, rhythmic, and expressive — often shaped by social dances like the Sugar, Mess Around, and Temptations Walk. Rooted jazz honors this cultural legacy by preserving its call-and-response energy, musicality, and asymmetrical posture.

Start building your jazz foundations with Laura Ann Smyth and explore rooted jazz on STEEZY.

Contemporary:

Contemporary dance draws from other styles like ballet and jazz, but gets most of its techniques—such as Graham and Horton—from modern dance**.** It emphasizes emotional expression, freedom, and grounded movement. Dancers explore improvisation, floor work, spirals, contractions, tilts, and breath-driven phrases. It’s a personal, ever-evolving style shaped by the dancer’s own interpretation and experience.

Dive into Karen’s Contemporary program to explore expression through movement.

Lindy Hop:

Lindy Hop is a partner swing dance created by Black Americans in the 1920s. Known for its bounce, improvisation, and aerials (like lifts and drops), it blends jazz rhythms with joyful social dancing. Signature moves include the Swing Out, Lindy Circle, Tuck Turn, Sugar Push, and Side Passes—all rooted in momentum and musicality.

Heels:

Heels is a modern fusion style influenced by so many dance forms such as jazz, ballroom, vogue, and even the strip club movement. More than just dancing in stilettos, it’s about posture, power, and sensuality. Foundations include walks, isolations, floorwork, bevels, and posing—with a focus on confidence, flow, and extensions. Technique and musicality meet personal expression in this evolving style.

Try Kayla Brenda’s Heels classes to train in confidence and control.

Ready to Get Started?

You don’t need to be an expert to try a new style—you just need to be open and ready to move. Pick the style that speaks to you, dive into its history, and start learning from dancers who live and breathe it.

Watch all episodes of Back to Basics Season 2 on STEEZY’s YouTube and train in the STEEZY app to go even deeper.

‍