Overview: Hip Hop Dance Classes
Hip hop on a studio timetable can mean several different dances. Most classes teach choreography: a routine set to a track, learned over the hour and filmed at the end. Breaking, popping and locking are foundation styles with their own moves, teachers and scenes.
Breaking had a very Canadian moment at the Paris Olympics. Phil Wizard, a b-boy from Vancouver, won the sport's first men's gold. Breaking isn't on the program for the Los Angeles Games, so for now the competitive path runs through battles.
Look at the floor before you sign up. These styles are hard on knees, wrists and shoulders, and vinyl laid over concrete is where the injuries start. For children's classes, ask whether the music is clean edits, and don't assume.
Our listings show what each studio states on its own website, including the styles it teaches and its class times. Use the province and city lists below to find hip hop studios near you.
Frequently asked questions
Can we cancel hip hop classes after the season starts?
It depends on the province. In Quebec, you can cancel a dance school registration whenever you like. The school can charge for classes already taken plus a penalty the law keeps small. In Ontario, dance classes count as personal development services, so a prepaid contract with a for-profit studio gives you ten days to cancel after you receive it. Send notice in writing.
Is there a national body for breaking in Canada?
Yes. Breaking Canada is a member of Canada DanceSport, the national sport organization, and it runs a national team program. It worked with the Canadian Olympic Committee when Canada named its first Olympic breaker. For a young dancer the path starts much smaller: a foundations class, local jams, and a teacher who still goes to battles.
What should I wear on my feet?
Clean indoor sneakers with a flat sole and some grip. Canadian studios see a lot of salt and slush, so outdoor footwear stays at the door all winter and your indoor pair travels in a bag. Thick running soles catch when you turn, so leave them for the treadmill. Wear loose clothes, and add knee pads for floor work.
Are hip hop classes at a community centre a good start?
Often, especially for breaking. Breaking Canada's president has pointed to community centres across the country where local leaders run breaking programs for young people. Those rooms can be rough around the edges, so check the floor and ask who teaches. A teacher who breaks and brings students to jams is worth a long bus ride.
Can a studio post videos of my child online?
Not without asking you, if it's doing things properly. Canada's federal privacy commissioner takes the position that young children can't give meaningful consent, so a parent or guardian gives it. Ask whether class videos go on social media, who can see them, and how you opt out.
What should parents check before a kids' class?
The music policy and who's in the room. Clean edits are standard at good studios and an afterthought at weak ones. Ask about screening too. For a role with trust over children, the studio decides whether to ask for a vulnerable sector check, and the teacher applies through the police where they live. Ask whether every teacher your child meets has one.
