Hip-hop in Nantes: Hip Opsession and street jazz

Every winter, Hip Opsession makes Nantes a capital of hip-hop. And what if, after watching, you felt like dancing in turn?

Hip Opsession, the Nantes hip-hop event

Since the mid-2000s, Hip Opsession has brought hip-hop culture to the heart of Nantes every winter. The festival is not limited to dance: concerts, battles, shows, exhibitions and talks unfold across several venues in the metropolis, bringing together curious newcomers and connoisseurs. It is a high point, where the local scene meets artists from elsewhere, in an atmosphere that is both demanding and generous.

A culture, not just a dance

Hip-hop grew out of a broader movement, blending dance, music, graffiti and a certain art of living together. On stage, this comes through as immediate energy, a frank relationship with the floor, marked accents and real room left for each person's personality. To watch a battle is to understand in a few minutes why this dance appeals to so many: it is direct, sincere and deeply alive. You can feel the joy of dancing before any technical display.

Watching is good. Dancing is even better

Many spectators leave a hip-hop evening with the same thought: "what if I gave it a go?" Good news, there is no need to have been born on the street or to have started as a child. Urban dance can be learned, at any age, as soon as you accept starting with the basics. What matters is not to be able to do everything straight away, but to rediscover, week after week, that energy that appealed to you as a spectator.

Street jazz, an ideal way in

At the Atelier du Mouvement, in the Doulon district, in east Nantes, the street jazz class is designed for exactly this. It takes up the groove and energy of urban dance, but with the rigour of a proper class: warm-up, isolations, grounding, work on accents, then a choreography built up over time. It is often the discipline that draws teenagers and young adults into dance, because the style is close to their music and progress there is quick and rewarding.

What you gain from it

Session after session, the body becomes grounded, coordination sharpens, the sense of rhythm becomes clearer. You learn to fill the space, to mark a beat, to give character to a movement. All of this in a group where you move forward together, with no competitive spirit. To better understand the spirit of this discipline, the article "Street jazz, an urban dance" sets out its roots and its style.

From the auditorium to the studio

The best way to know whether street jazz is right for you is to try it. The first class is free, all year round, with no commitment. Come with loose-fitting clothes and the urge to move, we take care of the rest. If you are torn between several disciplines, our find my class tool guides you, and you can write to us at any time via the contact page. After applauding the dancers of Hip Opsession, it would be a shame to stay in the audience.