Streetdance" was a term originally used to describe dances that developed outside of the studio setting and in a social space like streets, clubs and parks. The original street dances include Breaking, Popping and Locking. Younger forms of streetdance include Krumping and House. People who practiced these dances did not originally call themselves "street dancers" or their dances "street dancing". In fact, these dances originated at different times and places. The term "street dance" or "street dancing" came along with the terms "breakdancing" and "poplocking", when these dances were popularised in the mainstream in the 1980s.

Nowadays the terms "streetdance" and "Hip Hop dance" are often used to refer to a studio-based version of the forms which came about after established teachers and choreographers of Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary tried to copy the "street" styles when they were popularised. Since this style did not evolve naturally in a social space, it does not have defined steps, which means that anything can be included within it and be put under the umbrella of "street dancing". You may have seen this style in music videos (especially commercial Hip Hop) or performed by backing dancers at music shows. The main difference to understand is that this type of "Streetdance" was invented in studios to be taught in classes and to be performed on stages and videos. In contrast, the original street dances were not invented but evolved, and evolved on the streets, clubs and parks rather than the studio or the stage.