Party Machine Dance: How to Do This Hip Hop Kick & Hop Move

Introduction
The Party Machine is a popular move in hip hop dance styles like popping, locking, and breaking. It requires coordination, rhythm, and control to execute smoothly. The move involves kicking out to the sides while alternating between being flat-footed and on the balls of the feet, often accompanied by twisting hip movements and arm accents.
Video Demonstration
Dance History of The Party Machine
While the exact origins are unclear, the Party Machine gained widespread popularity in the hip hop dance scene in the late 2010s. It became a staple in dance battles, cyphers, and choreography, showcasing dancers' footwork skills and groove.
Step By Step Instruction
Start with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent.
Kick your right leg out to the side, shifting your weight to the left.
Hop onto your right foot, bringing your left leg up behind you while twisting your hips.
Repeat the kick and hop sequence on the left side, twisting your hips in the opposite direction.
Continue alternating the kicking, hopping, and twisting movements in a rhythmic pattern.
Tips For Learning The Party Machine
Keep your knees bent and engage your core for balance and control.
Start slowly, focusing on the smooth weight transfer between each kick and hop.
Use arm movements to accentuate the rhythm and add style
Practice transitioning the Party Machine into other hip hop dance moves.
Conclusion
The Party Machine is a lively and energetic hip hop dance move that showcases footwork skills, rhythm, and groove. By mastering this move, dancers can build a strong foundation for improvisation and self-expression in hip hop dance styles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Party Machine dance?
The Party Machine is a hip hop dance move built on alternating side kicks, hops, and twisting hip motions. It combines kicking one leg out to the side while shifting weight and hopping on the other foot, with an added hip twist for style. The move is popular in battles, cyphers, and freestyle choreography for its energetic, rhythmic quality.
Where did the Party Machine dance come from?
The Party Machine gained widespread popularity in the hip hop dance scene in the late 2010s. Its exact origin isn't fully documented, it emerged from battle and cypher culture, spreading through dance videos, choreography classes, and social media. It's become a staple in contemporary hip hop freestyle, particularly in the US competitive scene.
Is the Party Machine hard to learn?
It's moderate difficulty. The kick-and-hop action is accessible, but adding the hip twist AT THE SAME TIME as the weight transfer takes coordination practice. Most beginners need 30-60 minutes to get the basic pattern, and 1-2 weeks of daily practice to make it flow smoothly with music.
How long does it take to learn the Party Machine?
The kick-hop foundation takes 20-30 minutes. Layering in the hip twist takes another 30-60 minutes. Adding arm accents and making it battle-ready, confident, musical, and clean, takes 1-2 weeks of practice. Start slow, match the beat, and increase speed only when the form is locked in.
What's the most common Party Machine mistake?
Forgetting the hip twist. The kick-and-hop without the hip twist is just Happy Feet, the twist is what distinguishes the Party Machine and gives it its signature groove. Commit to rotating your hips on each side, and the move instantly looks more polished and funkier.
More Hip Hop Dance Moves
If you liked the Party Machine, these moves share the same kick-and-hop alternating footwork and hip-twisting groove:
- 6 Simple Steps To Learn The Happy Feet, Happy Feet uses an almost identical side-kick-and-hop pattern as the Party Machine, but without the hip twist, making it the simpler prerequisite move to master first.
- How to Learn the Steve Martin Dance Move, the Steve Martin's side kick with a bounce shares the Party Machine's kick-out rhythm and the same late-80s/early-90s energy in battle and party contexts.
- How to Do the Monastery Hip Hop Dance Move, the Monastery is a footwork-centric move like the Party Machine, and both are used in battles and cyphers where clean, rhythmic footwork transitions matter.
- Mastering the ATL Stomp: Atlanta's Iconic Hip-Hop Dance Move, the ATL Stomp shares the Party Machine's stomp-and-hop structure and works well as a Southern-flavored alternative in the same freestyle sequence.
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