Hip Hop is an expressive form of dance that anyone can begin to learn with a little bit of practice. Four basic moves that every beginner Hip Hop dancer should know how to do are the Back Slide (many people call this the Moon Walk), Body Rolls, Ball Change and various Isolations.
The back slide is performed by bringing the heel up on the back foot with a forced arch and then sliding the front foot staying flat on the ground back to meet the foot that is arched. When they meet the foot being dragged back goes into a high forced arch and the other foot now goes flat, you then repeat the move alternating with each sliding foot. It is important to keep the foot that is sliding back completely on the ground as if you are trying to wipe something off the bottom of your shoe. Many variations are used using this dance step.
Body rolls are performed by dipping your chest towards the ground then arching your back and collapsing your chest and stomach as if you were just punched in that area. Body rolls can be performed using many different levels (ie: dipping low to the ground or staying upright).
Ball Change is a technique widely used in many forms of dance. The move is performed by separating your feet, normally hip width apart and then you make a very small hop onto one foot while the other foot is lifted and placed in front of the foot that just hopped.
Various isolations are very important and require control and practice. You can start with isolating the neck by moving your neck side to side keeping only that part of the body in motion and the rest of the body still (isolated). You can then move the head back and forth and once comfortable try moving the neck in a circular motion while keeping the rest of your body still. The same technique can be applied to the torso.
These are basic moves that anyone can practice and are safe to do without a dance teacher. Of course watching a video demonstrating these moves would be helpful and you have access to a professional dance instructor this would help expedite the learning process greatly.
Out of these four moves the technique every good Hip Hop dancer should know is the Ball Change as it is used widely in most choreography. Unlike ballet Hip Hop is a form of dance that the movements have no restrictions or boundaries and is one of the more fun styles of dances to try and master since it is ever changing. You use your body to tell a story and simple day-to-day moves can be incorporated to help show that story. People that practice Hip Hop dance will learn control of their bodies and connect their mind to their movements all while getting a healthy workout. Hip Hop Dance is so free and very expressive and just plain fun to do. A great way to learn Hip Hop is from a professional which you can find by calling up your local dance studio to see what classes they have to offer.