Extra Special thanks goes out to Mr. Wiggles Web Site where this page information was taken from. Thanks again Mr. Wiggles
KING TUT STYLEInspired by ancient EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS. It was those great positions with the arms in different angles that inspired young funk style dancers to imitate and add on there own styles. Especially a brotha by the name of MARK BENSON aka "KING TUT" who is widely regarded as the creator of this style. It is also said that cartoons like BUGS BUNNY and his famous "ikidy akidy ook" scene that got young dancers trying it, as well as a skit on Saturday Night Live by the famous comedian STEVE MARTIN. While there were many who attributed to the manifestation of KING TUT style into the FUNK STYLE scene. It is still being researched.
(refer to WEST COAST DANCE HISTORY page on the "BIRDMAN2" link for more history)
The best way to approach this style is by simply finding a resource for the earliest positions in EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS, and studying them. In KING TUT style you don't have to pop, you can just hit these positions on beat and it is still very respected. But adding a pop to it will also create more ideas and concepts as well. So my advice would be to learn how to POP every angle that you learn. Things that you should do to learn this style:
1- STUDY ORIGINAL EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHICS
2- REALLY MASTER THE ANGLES BY MAKING THEM AS PERFECT AND FLAT AND SQUARE AS POSSIBLE, THIS WILL GET YOU MORE RESPECT
3- PRACTICE POPPIN EACH POSITION
4- ALWAYS KEEP THEM ON BEAT
5- CREATE COMBINATIONS FOR YOUR ANGLES THAT CONNECT AND MAKE BETTER TRANSITIONS GOING FROM ONE ANGLE TO ANOTHER
6- CREATE RHYTHM PATTERNS FOR YOUR TUTS TO MAKE IT MORE FUNKY
-MR. RE
-SLICK NICK
-BUG BUNNY (Angelo)
-MR WIGGLES KING TUT VIDEO
-JR. BOOGALOO
POPPINWhile the debate still continues as of who is considered the creator of this dance, in my belief and opinion, I believe that BOOGALOO SAM created the dance called "POPPIN" that I have grown to love. The style and complexity of this dance is based on continuos flexing of the muscles to the beat while executing precise and funky angles that are based on many styles created by Sam's group THE ELECTRIC BOOGALOO. these angles provide funky and rhythmic positions for a popper to hit while flexing his or her muscles to the beat. But learning how to pop each muscle correctly is very important. Here is a basic way to learn:
1-always have music on when practicing any dance, and the music for poppin is FUNK, so dig up an old CAMEO, PARLIAMENT, or ZAPP CD that has a classic funk sound.
2-start by practicing poppin a different body part to each entire song on the funk CD.
3-ARM POPS: Stretch your arms out in front of you slightly bent inward. Now flex and relax your arm muscles (forearms, triceps, and biceps) flex on the beat and relax off the beat. We will start with 4 beats per measure, now flex on each beat, and remember to relax in-between each pop. Do this for at least a quarter way through the song. Now do the same thing but double time (8 beats per measure), now play around with this for the entire song, now you must learn a step called the "FRESNO" to really get this right, so leaning side to side pick one arm up and pop it and then lean to the other side and pick that arm up and pop it, and keep it on beat and funky, the FRESNO is a smooth side to side dance movement where you pop on each side your leaning on. Complete the whole song with just arm pops and then stretch your arms out.
3-LEG POPS: Now for this you still need to learn to FRESNO. So letting your CD play to the next song, shift from side to side and on each side that you lean towards, SNAP your knee back as if you were hyper extending it. Do this on each side on beat (4 beats per measure). So now your basically snapping your knee back in a sharp motion to get a good pop. As you are learning , no need to snap your knee too hard, just a soft one until you get used to it. Now do these same knee pops but double time (8 beats per measure). Now do it 2 snaps per knee still double time. Keep it on beat and funky. Complete the entire song doing nothing but knee pops and then stretch your legs out.
4-CHEST AND NECK POPS: Now for this style of poppin your gonna feel a lil weird. But it is a very effective pop. Basically what your doing is flexing and relaxing the neck and chest muscles. To get a good chest pop I suggest doing allot of pushups. Now on the 3rd song on the CD start by flexing and relaxing both your neck and chest muscles. To get an effective neck pop, try adding a slight front neck movement on each beat (sort of like a chicken, but very slight). Also for the chest try sinking in your chest occasionally with your shoulders out and flex it. Now the key secret to getting a good chest pop is like breathing in and out. Or sucking in your stomach when flexing, and blowing your stomach out when relaxing. Every time you bring your chest up flex right at the peak of that motion. Do this just like the arms exorcise. First on 4 beats per measure and then double up to 8 beats per measure. Pop your chest for the entire song and then relax and stretch.
5-ALL TOGETHER NOW: Now you are ready to put it all together. So on the 4th song, start by just poppin your arms (side to side in the FRESNO style motion leaning on one side and lifting that arm and popping it, and then leaning on the other side and lifting that arm and poppin it), now start adding your knee pops, and keep that side to side motion going (the Fresno. Leaning to one side and poppin the knee and arm of that side and then repeating this on the other side). Now add the neck and chest, keep playing around with mixing all three styles of poppin during the song.
this is really hard to explain with words, but when you actually see a popper execute these movements, you will really understand. But if you live in an area where there are no resources, hopefully this will help you out. Check out this OZ clip for a reference on hard pops, and on this MR. WIGGLES clip there is a quick FRESNO step in it.
-POPPIN PETE
-POP n TACO
all of the ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS
BACK KNEE SLIDEthis is a move that i created by accident, it was way back in like 1981, I had heard a rumor that a brotha by the name of POPIN PETE did a knee slide that was incredible, so i decided to basically try the move from what I imagined it looked like (I personally never seen him do it), so I assumed that what he did was imitate a back slide (what they called a moonwalk back then) but instead of doing it on my feet, I did it on my knees. I did the move in the movie BEAT STREET as well as in performance on TV for the president, and it became famous, but when I finally saw footage of the knee slide that POPIN PETE did , I was amazed, it was incredible, but it looked nothing like the move I did. what PETE did is now known as the ET walk, which became part of the foundation for today's ground moves. hehe, so i ended up creating a dope move and was very happy about that...lol
well the for the knee glide you will need knee pads fasho
NOW BEFORE YOU START DOING THIS MOVE, I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE DOING IT AT YOUR OWN RISK, SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER WORK THIS MOVE, AND TAKE IT EASY, IF YOU FEEL ALLOT OF PAIN DO NOT CONTINUE PRACTICING THIS MOVE, AND YOU SHOULD LEARN SOME STRETCHES AND KNEE STRENGTHENING EXORCISE BEFORE YOU TRY THIS MOVE AS WELL.
and basically you should practice your back slide standing up first and focus on the foot movement that your doin because it's the same exact movement but on your knees
then:
1-get on your knees
2-put your left foot flat on the floor and raise your right foot
3- now slide your left foot back
4-now switch your feet at the same time,(drop the right foot flat and raise the left foot)
5-now slide the right foot back
6-now switch your feet again (drop the left foot flat and raise the right foot again)
7- now slide the left foot back again and keep repeating this format over and over again
8- tips: start out with knee pads doing this movement very slow and eventually when you memorize the movements speed it up, and if you feel any sharp pain on your knees, then stop and take a break..aright
peace and good luck with the back knee slide
peace wiggles
-MR WIGGLES in USHER'S MY WAY VIDEO
FLOATING AND GLIDINGThe history of floating seems to be a lil cloudy as far as the origins of the exact heel toe movement, ive seen similar moevments done by HOOFERS, MIMES and even the famed Broadway choreographer Bob Fosse, it seems that this type of move might probably even go further back in time for all we know, but the first POPPER that i have seen to introduce this move to the FUNK STYLES world was CREEPIN CID of the ELECTRIC BOOGALOOS, and it was the version that he did on a famous SOUL TRAIN episode back in the late 70's that popularized the FLOAT. When CID did this move he also made the illusion look like a dance by floating on beat and adding a side to side rock that made it real funky.
And of course from the flaot came the even more popular and exagerated illusion called the GLIDE. The glide takes floating to the next level in illusion. if you have seen singers like USHER, GENUWINE, and of course MJ do this move. It is because it is such a instant crowd pleaser. But before anyone can really learn a good glide, i would first advise them to learn how to FLOAT correctly.
so here is a basic breakdown for FLOATING to the right:
1- make both feet point inward and flat on the ground
2- at the same time raise your right toe and left heel up
(with your left toe and right heel down)
3- now shift your right toe and left heel to the right and your feet should now be pointing outward and both flat on the ground
4- now at the same time raise your left toe and right heel
(with your right toe and left heel down)
5- now shift them both over to the right again and your feet should be flat on the ground and pointing inward
6- now keep repeating this over and over again
now for the GLIDE going to the right:
(the glide is done with the same motion as the float, but with an added push and pull with the movement)
1- make both feet point inward and flat on the ground
2- at the same time raise your right toe and left heel up
(with your left toe and right heel down)
3- now push off of your left toe and slide your right foot (heel) to the right
4- now shift your right toe and left heel to the right and your feet should now be pointing outward and both flat on the ground
5- now at the same time raise your left toe and right heel
(with your right toe and left heel down)
6- now pull your left foot (heel) across to the right with your right toe
5- now shift them both over to the right again and your feet should be flat on the ground and pointing inward
6- now keep repeating this over and over again
good luck yall.