VietNamNet Bridge – King of Pop Michael Jackson has passed on but his jerky dance movements are still alive and "popping" in Ha Noi.

Popping in: Young people pratise jerky dance movements or popping at 6 Thai Phien Street, Ha Noi. (Photo: VNS)

"As far as I know, popping appeared in Viet Nam from 1992," Long said. "At that time, dance styles were divided into three kinds: strong, soft and hard (breaking, locking and popping) , generally called breakdance because dancers didn't know the jargon

Many people wanted to learn breakdancing because of its attractive moves and those who did, came to understand more and love the style.

A person usually takes about six months to learn the basic movements of popping and its characteristic style.

However, some pick it up in only two months. For instance, Doan Chi Tin from the Quang Trung High School, picked it up in his first lesson in 2009. After only two years, he beat other dancers to represent Viet Nam in a popping competition in South Korea.

"Beginners are taught to make pops, waves and rolls as well as other moves like waving, floating and liquid dancing," Long said. "Experienced students take it to a higher level.

"Before opening classes in 2008, I compiled my knowledge and arranged lessons in easy-to-difficult order to help students practise step by step.

"If you listen to music for popping and breaking dances, you will realise the difference in the speed of the beat. Poppers could use funk music like lockers (locking is a hip-hop dance style using fast and definitive moves of hands and arms with a loose body) but there are only a few common songs. At present, DJs create music for popping through electronic equipment."

Every lesson lasts two hours, including 20-30 minutes for warming up and 15 last minutes for appraisal. Newcomers are asked to stand in the front row and others are ranked behind on ability.

To practise popping, students should choose loose clothing and sneakers.

Each student comes to popping class with a different purpose. Some want to express themselves, others want to perform on stage. Few people consider it solely as a physical exercise. Nguyen Ngoc Huyen, a student from the Thang Long High School, decided to learn popping four months ago after watching moves on the internet.

"Popping helps me be more healthy. Although I have a university entrance exam next year, I will still spend time practising the dance," she said.

Tenth grader Tran Dinh Khanh said he took up popping a month ago after watching dancers on youtube.com. He asked his classmate Nguyen Le Nghia to join him. "I realise that popping is not entertainment," said Khanh. "Sometimes I feel bored but I will never quit the class. Perhaps when I learn more and become more confident, I will perform popping dance on stage."

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News