Parents new to the dance world get hit with a wall of style names — hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, modern, lyrical, K-pop, street jazz, broadway. They overlap, they don’t translate cleanly, and websites don’t always explain the differences.
Here’s the honest version of the three biggest non-ballet styles your daughter might encounter at a Singapore dance studio.
Hip-Hop
Origin: Born out of 1970s NYC street culture. Funk, breakbeats, social dancing.
What it teaches: – Groove — finding the music inside your body rather than counting beats – Body isolations — moving one part while the rest stays still – Freestyle confidence — improvising movement to unknown music – Cypher culture — dancing in a circle with peers, taking turns
Best suited for: Kids who like sharper, harder-edged music. Children who enjoy improvisation more than memorised choreography. Kids who want a foundation that translates to street styles (locking, popping, house).
Less suited for: Kids who freeze when asked to “make something up” — though good coaches help shy kids build into freestyle gradually.
Jazz
Origin: Born out of African-American musical and stage traditions, evolving through Broadway and commercial dance.
What it teaches: – Strong technique foundation (jazz isolations, leaps, turns) – Performance presence and theatrical expression – Polished, presented movement quality – Cross-style versatility (jazz dancers tend to pick up other styles fast)
Best suited for: Kids who love performance, polish, and theatrical expression. Children who want technical foundation that transfers to musical theatre or commercial dance.
Less suited for: Kids who hate “looking like a performer” — jazz is unapologetically presentational.
Contemporary
Origin: Born out of modern dance traditions (Graham, Cunningham, Limón), pushing technique toward emotional and experimental expression.
What it teaches: – Movement that flows from one shape into another (vs. hitting positions) – Emotional vocabulary — using body to express feeling – Floor work — comfort with falling and rising – Choreographic creativity — kids learn to choreograph, not just execute
Best suited for: Older kids (10+) who want depth and emotional range. Kids interested in serious technical training. Students aiming at vocational dance schools or DSA-Dance.
Less suited for: Very young kids (the emotional vocabulary requires maturity). Kids who want quick, polished social-share-able choreography (contemporary is slower to look impressive).
How they cross-train each other
Most serious young dancers in Singapore eventually train in 2-3 styles concurrently. Why:
- Hip-hop dancers who add jazz gain performance presence and cleaner lines
- Jazz dancers who add hip-hop gain groove and rhythmic depth
- Contemporary dancers who add hip-hop gain ground-floor comfort and rhythm
- Hip-hop dancers who add contemporary gain emotional vocabulary and choreographic depth
At EV Dance, we encourage kids to sample all three before committing. Our enrolment structure lets students try a foundation in one style, then add a second style after 6-12 months.
What about modern dance?
In Singapore school CCAs, “Modern Dance” is the dominant CCA dance form. It’s closer to contemporary than to commercial jazz — technique-driven, choreographic, expressive. If your daughter’s school has a Modern Dance CCA, contemporary training at EV Dance directly supports her CCA work.
Read more: Kids Modern Dance Classes in Singapore
What about K-pop?
K-pop sits roughly between hip-hop and jazz — sharper than hip-hop’s grooves, less theatrical than jazz. Most K-pop choreography draws from both. Kids who train in hip-hop AND jazz find K-pop comes naturally.
Read: K-Pop Dance for Kids vs Adults
Our recommendation
If your daughter is 7-10 and just starting: – Try one style for 6 months – Add a second style after 6 months if she’s enjoying it – Don’t worry about specialising — versatility is the better goal at this age
If she’s 11-14 and getting serious: – Pick one primary style + one cross-training style – Start considering whether she wants the competitive or recreational track
Read also
- Kids Hip Hop Dance Classes Singapore
- Kids Modern Dance Classes Singapore
- Kids K-Pop Dance Classes Singapore
- Back to all kids dance classes
