How to Do the Monastery Hip Hop Dance Move

Introduction

The Monastery is a fundamental move in hip hop dance styles like popping, locking, and breaking. It requires precise control, rhythm, and coordination to execute smoothly. The move involves shifting the body weight between the toes and heels in a fluid, rhythmic fashion, often accompanied by complementary arm and head movements.

Video Demonstration

Dance History of The Monastery

While the exact origins are unclear, the Monastery gained popularity in the early 2000s, emerging from the hip hop dance scene in St. Louis, Missouri. It quickly spread to other regions and became a staple in hip hop dance battles and cyphers.

Step By Step Instruction

1. Start with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent.

2. Shift your weight to the balls of your feet, lifting your heels off the ground.

3. Quickly shift your weight back, putting your heels down and lifting the balls of your feet.

4. Repeat this toe-heel motion in a rhythmic pattern, creating the "bouncing" illusion.

5. Complement the footwork with arm movements pushing down and a loose, bobbing head motion.

Tips For Learning The Monastery

• Keep your knees bent and engage your core for balance and control.

• Start slowly, focusing on the smooth weight transfer between toes and heels.

• Use arm and head movements to accentuate the rhythm and add style.

• Practice transitioning the Monastery into other hip hop dance moves.

Conclusion

The Monastery is an iconic and visually captivating hip hop dance move that showcases footwork skills and rhythm. By mastering this foundational move, dancers can build a strong base for improvisation and self-expression in hip hop dance styles.

More Hip Hop Dance Moves

If you liked the Monastery, these moves share the same toe-heel bounce illusion and rhythmic footwork-based groove:

• How to Do the Pepperseed Hip Hop Dance Move — the Pepperseed uses an identical toe-heel shifting mechanic as the Monastery, originating from LA while the Monastery comes from St. Louis — both are in the same technical family.
• House Dance | Loose Leg — the Loose Leg is the house dance root of this heel-toe bounce family and helps build the smooth, controlled weight transfer that makes the Monastery look effortless.
• How to Do the Heel Toe Hip Hop Dance Move — the Heel Toe applies the same heel-and-toe pivot mechanics but creates a rocking side-to-side motion rather than a vertical bounce, making both moves great for cross-training footwork control.
• How to Do the Party Machine Hip Hop Dance Move — the Party Machine's kick-and-hop alternation pairs well with the Monastery in battle and cypher settings, as both moves are footwork-centric and work at similar tempos.