Is there a name for the hip hop dance where the dancer rotates both feet outward, then back to straight
Executive summary
There is no single, universally accepted name for the generic hip‑hop foot motion described as rotating both feet outward and then returning them straight; multiple related moves and vocabularies in hip‑hop, popping and general dance glossaries use similar outward rotations under different names such as “lowrider” variations, “scissor” or swivel steps, and elements of the “happy feet” or heel‑toe family [1] [2] [3]. Different schools and tutorials label the same visual action differently, so identification depends on context, style (popping, breaking, house, general hip‑hop), and whether the move is grounded, rhythmic, or theatrical [1] [4] [5].
1. The landscape: no single label dominates contemporary sources
Contemporary online glossaries and tutorial sites present multiple names for foot rotations rather than converging on one single term, indicating that dancers and teachers commonly reuse similar mechanics across different move names [1] [2].
2. Lowrider and popping: the grounded rotation with feet turned out
Descriptions tied to lowrider hip‑hop vocabulary — a popping‑derived ground styling where the dancer drops low with knees inward and feet outward — explicitly reference the outward foot position as a defining visual, connecting toe/heel orientation to the move’s name and aesthetic [1].
3. Scissor, swivel and heel‑toe families: technical terms that match the motion
Dance glossaries list “scissor step,” “swivel,” and heel‑ball‑cross or heel‑toe patterns that include rotating toes outward and returning them, describing the same mechanical rotation in classical and social dance lexicons [2] [6].
4. Happy Feet and heel‑toe variations: rhythmic outward turns as a motif
Tutorials for the “Happy Feet” and heel‑toe variations teach pivoting between heels and toes and deliberately turning feet outward then back as part of the basic picture of the move, showing how the outward rotation appears across house and hip‑hop adaptations [3] [5].
5. Theatrical uses and one‑move references: the Matrix and collapse cues
Some moves named for theatrical effect — for example the Matrix/collapse tutorials — instruct dancers to point toes outward as part of falling or arching back mechanics, illustrating how outward foot rotation can be an instruction within a larger trick rather than the move’s name itself [4].
6. Why terminology splits: lineage, community, and teaching style
The split in naming reflects lineage (popping vs. breaking vs. house), whether the motion is a ground stylization or a standing footwork picture, and the priorities of teachers and communities who emphasize groove, percussive impact, or visual shapes — factors that cause the same outward‑and‑back foot rotation to be subsumed under different labels [1] [7] [2].
7. Practical identification: how to name the move in conversation or choreography
If the outward rotation is paired with a low, car‑mimicking pose and popping textures, calling it a lowrider‑style foot orientation is defensible [1]; if it is a standing pivot between heel and toe pulses, “happy feet,” “heel‑toe,” or “scissor/swivel” terminology from dance glossaries fits better [3] [5] [2].
Conclusion
The most accurate answer is that the outward‑then‑back foot rotation is a common mechanic across several named hip‑hop and related moves rather than a single uniquely named dance; usage varies by community and context, and sources treat the outward foot position as either a defining characteristic of lowrider/popping styling or as a technical element within heel‑toe, scissor, swivel, and happy‑feet families [1] [2] [3] [4].