trick artist?

[bbkid07]

Hey I've been popping for like two years now but just recently realized I suck. So I'm going back to basics and am going over the stuff I skipped.
One of the things I don't understand is the complaint of poppers from other poppers that they do too many tricks.
What does that mean?:confused: Popping is a dance full of illusions.(waves glides pops robotting) It's technically all tricks. So can someone explain to me what "they" mean when they say it. I feel like I'm missig something.
Thanks :rolleyes:!

[Riaz]

Sure, popping is full of illusions, but your supposed to dance using the illusions. Doing tricks isn't dancing.

[bbkid07]

what are the tricks what does it mean to do too many tricks

[mandaryn]

Tricking too much means relying on certain illusions to curry favor with audience members or viewers whereas popping should be dancing - to the music, not for the people.
Many a dancer will say "dance to express, not to impress"

Someone more experienced and learned than I am care to correct me if I'm wrong? I'm a beginner too, bbkid.

[bbkid07]

thanks, thats basically the kind of answer I was looking for.:)

[JustBust1]

you can never have too many tricks or create too many illusionals, and with that on top you should never stop dancing to the music. You need both!

too many poppers are on that tip where you should rely on just dancing to the music, if you're planning to smoke somebody in a battle or do a performance how're you gonna get any love by just dancing for yourself and not try to impress, or out-do your opponent?

[Riaz]

you can never have too many tricks or create too many illusionals, and with that on top you should never stop dancing to the music. You need both!

too many poppers are on that tip where you should rely on just dancing to the music, if you're planning to smoke somebody in a battle or do a performance how're you gonna get any love by just dancing for yourself and not try to impress, or out-do your opponent?

I hope someone comes in here and starts a debate.

[Yovi]

Im impressed by people who dont try to impress. Look at yourself, and others will too.


Unless the persons impressive. In that case, im impressed.

:D

[Boy Wonder SS]

you can never have too many tricks or create too many illusionals, and with that on top you should never stop dancing to the music. You need both!

too many poppers are on that tip where you should rely on just dancing to the music, if you're planning to smoke somebody in a battle or do a performance how're you gonna get any love by just dancing for yourself and not try to impress, or out-do your opponent?

this is definitely right, you need both to be versatile and to show everything your capable of; I think what the 'to many tricks' thing is when someone is just doing move after move after move and thats it;

[mandaryn]

First off, my bad I thought I read 2 weeks, not 2 years for your experience -__-
Sorry about categorizing you with me as a beginner.

Second, Jet Li and Boy Wonder are right. There needs to be more to your performance than simply expressing yourself. Nobody wants to watch you just move along to the music unless you're doing something interesting, something new, something they can't do, or something they never thought of. Unless you're a hot chick. Go with the music and use tricks too. Don't just show off one crazy move after another if they don't fit with the music or routine.
It should be "dance to express and impress" I guess. Just don't stress - more can be less. ...Okay I just got carried away with the rhymes.

I think trick artists' problem is that they rely heavily on a couple amazing crowd pleasers and they recycle these moves over and over to the point where they become too predictable or mundane.

[thaSMiZofESV]

Yeah, I believe some poppers take the whole "Dance to express, Not to impress" in the wrong context. I think (MO) that it means you should take up Poppin (or any form of dance) to express yourself and use it as a form of expression. I think it means you should'nt start Poppin' just to impress anyone because your motives would be wrong. Once again, my opinion.

When you battle you have to IMPRESS the JUDGES or CROWD with EXPRESSION. I dont think just flashy tricks and illusion by themselves is a form of expression....unless your a magician from birth...but thats gettin off topic. Bleh.

Anyway! I try to use Funk and Illusion! Woot!

[test_this]

I suppose, if (as some people do), you "do the robot" for a while, then go back to normal, thats a trick, and not really dancing in the correct sense. Wheras if you take it as a style, and you are botting, creating a convincing illusion rather than small trick, then thats dancing :). Or the same for any illusion really, I think if it comes from the mindset that you are doing the specific technique to show off the technique then its a trick, wheras if you are doing it for musical expression or whatever, then its dancing.

[iamPROTOTYPE]

Listen to Jet Li... and BoyWonder, and anybody who says you need both. Jet Li said it best though...

SALAH used to get hated on so much because they said he was a "trick artist" and wasnt dancing... He was shunned by most of the popping community back in early 2000s.. his moves, or "tricks" were always ON BEAT though!!! Usually way deeper into the music than anyone else too. i NEVER understood the hate.. that is dancing to me, maybe not to others though. salah is a beast, ha.

There will be people who take it to both extremes. Some people get into popping to impress others.. they are so focused on biting and learning all these cool tricks and moves from vets that they neglect learning how to dance. These performers arent really concerned with feeling the music or expressing to anyone how that music makes them feel... they are worried about impressing people with cool tricks. you see em at the clubs, and it works...
the general public would rather watch a "trick artist" than somebody just grooving out and "expressing himself". its natural. they wanna be entertained.

Dancing is great for expressing yourself. Its fun to just groove out by yourself to some good music... doing simple basic things and going deep inside the music. And that is fuckin wonderful if your by YOURSELF, or just kickin it with homies or chillen at the club or whatever.. its my favorite thing to do! but dont expect to be invited to do any shows or performances, and dont be surprised if you get smoked and humiliated in a battle.
9 times out of 10, a "trick artist" will win in a raw battle (not a dance contest judged by dancers).. because most battles (used to be) spontaneous and the crowd was just random people, the general public... and whoever makes the biggest impact, impresses, and wins over the crowd is the victor. thats a battle.

dance contests are completely different.

So depending on what your goal and intent with dancing is, you can focus on either aspect but to be a WARRIOR.. you need that BALANCE so you will be ready for anything. A dancer that can dig into the music and ride the rhythm and still be entertaining a crowd with his his "tricks" on beat (moves) takes the most skill, and most impressive.

DANCERS who can ride a beat AND work a crowd:

FLATTOP
BOPNDRE
SALAH
BIONIC
ACKY
FRANTICK

there are many many more that im forgetting at the moment, but these guys stand out to me off the dome.

Its good to have an arsenal of ORIGINAL, CREATIVE crowd pleasers.. moves, "tricks", blow ups, etc in your reserves.. ready to pull out at any moment. But you will get much more respect from REAL DANCERS if you can keep your dance flowing in and out of these moves so it looks like a seemless sequence.. a logical progression.. and NOT lookin like your going from move #1 to move #2, etc.
you get even more resepct if you can throw in these crowd pleasers in your dance at the right time, and always always always!! ON BEAT in the music!

my opinion.