From my boy (and dope Chicago Footwork dancer) Rob C.
A GUIDE TO IDENTIFYING STREET DANCE FOR NON-DANCERS DURING A CYPHER/BATTLE
If that dancer in the battle has been spinning on any appendage for over a minute irregardless of what is happening in the song: B-Boying/B-Girling
If that dancer is flapping their arms repeatedly and pointing dramatically in all directions, and you can see their striped socks from underneath their pantaloons: Locking
If that dancer has kicked their legs more times than taken breaths during their round and it looks like they might seriously injure themselves or their opponent: Chicago Footwork
If that dancer is wearing a bucket hat: Hip Hop
If that dancer has, at any point, laid down on the ground during a round, arched their back, and looked at you like by doing that move they could take you home but simultaneously just executed a perfect fatality in Mortal Kombat: Punking/Waacking
If that dancer at any point had you thinking to yourself "Hey, They're Pop-Locking!": They're Popping. That other thing doesn't exist.
If that dancer has taken off their fitted cap and/or shoe and appears to be trying to punch it: Krumping
If that dancer's rotator cuff is where their ear should be and they've got both arms stuck out at one side of their body like a Boschian nightmare: Flexing
If that dancer is expressing all the beats and feels but you suspect they might be on acid because their round has lasted ten whole minutes and they're lost in the sauce: House
If that dancer is expressing all the beats and feels but you suspect YOU might be on acid because their round has lasted ten whole minutes and you're lost in the sauce: Animation
If that dancer has the cleanest shoes you've ever seen and a cap that says "DOPE" on it but has not entered the circle once and appears to be spending most of their time on Snapchat: Choreo
Cause if you can't laugh about and make fun of your style and all the #stylewars, what's the point?
Rob C is a member of Creation Global crew. Hit him up at Instagram @rob_of_creation and his site dotherightbang.com.