Like most large people groups, HipHop dancers have created a culture around their style. Growing up in HipHop culture, I thought I knew all the in's and out's of what we liked, how we acted, and why. This wasn't completely true. I learned something about HipHop culture by stepping outside of it and looking in.

When I first moved to Virginia I didn't take a lot of HipHop classes. I was too busy teaching HipHop, and I didn't know where to find the HipHop culture in the 757. When I finally found it, it struck me how much affirmation is interwoven into every part of HipHop. Take a look at this HipHop battle compilation*. Pay special attention to the points in the video where you can see the audience or judges. We yell, throw our hands, hop up and down, turn to the next person like, "YO. Did you see that?!" We show our approval in the loudest way possible.

I realized that this culture shaped me as a person. I still react with over-sized gestures and admittedly get very loud when I am excited, but it is because HipHop taught me if I like something, show it. I think we can all learn to give more affirmation to those around us -- even to people we don't know!

See someone has sweet shoes? Freak out over them!

Someone did something well? Yell "AYYYEEE! I see you!!"

It's about time we turn the volume up on positivity.

Until next. Live In Motion.

-Joél Casanova

*This video contains explicit language. I do not condone it and apologize on behalf of the creators.