For everyone involved in dance directions, the names have long been familiar and close: Hip-Hop, club dances, Street Dance, Street Jazz, City Jam, etc. And all these dances are united by one concept – Funk or Funky.
Funky is all about mixing different styles and is ideal for fitness. Therefore, in the dance classes presented in fitness clubs, you can find mainly a mixed format of classes. Lessons include jumping and bouncing moves from Hip-Hop, and Jazz Modern figures taken from Street Jazz, and even the rather complex Break Dance elements that Street Dance is based on.
For an instructor, to combine different dance styles in one lesson Funky is creativity, and for those who are engaged – the opportunity to better feel their body and learn to dance in different modern styles. The name of the Funky class in each club may sound different, it depends on the established traditions of the club or the preferences of the instructor.
What’s the secret behind Funky’s popularity? It’s just that it is now in vogue all over the world. Clips with choreography in this style are broadcasted on all music channels. And, of course, I want to be at least a little like pop stars who dance from the screen.
This has always been the case, and you can look a little into history. For example, in the stellar years of Michael Jackson’s work, who did not try to repeat his famous moonwalk? And the popularity of rap in the late 80s and early 90s was a consequence of the massive passion for Hip-Hop and Break Dance. Break continues to evolve and continues to be danced in clubs and on the streets.
It was around the beginning of the 90s that the first large fitness centers began to be created, where dance trends became an integral part of group programs. At first, only young people from 12 to 25 years old came to Funk, and then people of mature age showed their interest, and now they make up about 30% of the total number of students.
As for the effect of Funky on the body, it, like all other types of aerobics, exerts sufficient stress on the cardiovascular system, respiratory system and muscles. During the dance, endurance develops, coordination of movements improves, a sense of rhythm is brought up.
Now Funky classes are available for both beginners and advanced students, and are either subdivided into different degrees of difficulty of classes, or are designed for an intermediate level of training, and everyone can study in such groups.
Of course, prior experience in classical aerobics and knowledge of basic terminology will always serve as a good basis, but if you perceive everything new well, then the English-language names of Funky elements: Step-Touch, Open Step, Box Step will become familiar to your hearing.
If you like to study at home, you can learn Funk at home as well, since there are countless video courses. 2-3 meters of free space is enough so as not to damage the furniture, and a full-length mirror will not hurt either.
Good luck to you!