Jumpstyle
Jumpstyle is a rave dance and electronic music genre mainly practiced in Europe, specifically Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and northern France. The dance is also called Jumpen (English word Jump + the Dutch and German suffix -en, meaning "to jump" or "jumping"). Jumpstyle also refers to a style of music to which Jumpstyle can be performed. Jumpstyle originated in 1997 in Belgium. Jumpstyle is starting to be performed in England as well. Bands like Captain Ahab, Patrick Jumpen,SpringStil and S-Styl33 are becoming more popular internationally.
History
Jumpstyle is originally from Belgium and it started in 1997. It didn’t get popular and didn’t last long unlike other electronic music dances; however, it came back to the public and has been gaining popularity throughout Europe. It did not have the name Jumpstyle when it was first introduced to the world, but it underwent a significant change in the Netherlands in the early 2003. After it changed its name from jump to jumpstyle, it was reintroduced by many European electronica dance clubs and the ones who were interested in the electronic music dances in general. Also, many people found out about it through search engines online like Yahoo or Google. In 2005 to later years, there were European electronica groups such as Scooter (German band) that came out with Jumpstyle music and dances.
Styles
Jumpstyle has various styles, but while all of these styles vary quite a bit, they still fall under the category of jumpstyle. In the descriptions below, suggestions to how the styles are performed will be made. However, the styles are not necessarily limited to these suggestions.
Old Skool/Basis Jump- This is the simplest form of jump that almost all jumpers will learn when starting out. It is something anyone can pick up, which is what makes jumpstyle so accessible to the masses. It is made from 5 basics steps.
Hardjump- The Hardjump is a more complicated 6 step basics and is a little harder to master. However this is the most important and most used part of jumpstyle. While you can do the same moves in old skool jump and hardjump, typically more advanced moves are coupled with hardjump. It is also performed with more power as you are stamping the ground rather than kicking the air.
Sidejump- Sidejump is essentially hardjump with a different set of moves. Most of which will have you facing the side while your jump. While it incorporates the same basic 6 steps of the hardjump, more advanced dancers tend not to use these steps at all and rely entirely on tricks and turns.
Freestyle- (now most commonly known as ownstyle in some parts of the world) Freestyle is generally doing whatever you want, therefore any moves and any basics can be used. Previously this was posted as Hardjump and Old Skool jump, and then a new name was given to styles that included sidejump. The reason for this new name was that sidejump had not been invented when the article was written. So the new name "Ownstyle" was invented to show all three styles. However as will all dances, freestyle does mean "all moves" and "unrehearsed". So Freestyle and Ownstyle are the same thing. This also tends to be the most popular style amongst more advanced jumpers, as it has no restrictions, but for this same reason is less popular in tournaments.
Old Skool/Basis Jump- This is the simplest form of jump that almost all jumpers will learn when starting out. It is something anyone can pick up, which is what makes jumpstyle so accessible to the masses. It is made from 5 basics steps.
Hardjump- The Hardjump is a more complicated 6 step basics and is a little harder to master. However this is the most important and most used part of jumpstyle. While you can do the same moves in old skool jump and hardjump, typically more advanced moves are coupled with hardjump. It is also performed with more power as you are stamping the ground rather than kicking the air.
Sidejump- Sidejump is essentially hardjump with a different set of moves. Most of which will have you facing the side while your jump. While it incorporates the same basic 6 steps of the hardjump, more advanced dancers tend not to use these steps at all and rely entirely on tricks and turns.
Freestyle- (now most commonly known as ownstyle in some parts of the world) Freestyle is generally doing whatever you want, therefore any moves and any basics can be used. Previously this was posted as Hardjump and Old Skool jump, and then a new name was given to styles that included sidejump. The reason for this new name was that sidejump had not been invented when the article was written. So the new name "Ownstyle" was invented to show all three styles. However as will all dances, freestyle does mean "all moves" and "unrehearsed". So Freestyle and Ownstyle are the same thing. This also tends to be the most popular style amongst more advanced jumpers, as it has no restrictions, but for this same reason is less popular in tournaments.
