Want to learn how to krump, breakdance, or do the chicken noodle soup? MC Hammer can help. While best known for bringing parachute pants to the masses, Hammer (who sometimes goes by the name of Stanley Burrell) is behind a startup launching this weekend that aims to build an online community around amateur dance videos.

DanceJam has several components. Users can upload their own videos or watch videos uploaded by others. Many of the videos currently available on the site right now appear to be lifted from YouTube, but if DanceJam catches on, we expect to see more videos using DanceJam's Flash player, which features a slow motion button which can come in handy if you're trying to figure out how to do a step, or how the performer did that step without breaking his or her neck.

Probably the most compelling part of the site is the "battles" section where you can watch videos of two dancer and then vote on your favorite. Because nothing builds communities like a little animosity between competitors.

It'll be interesting to see if DanceJam catches on. It's not particularly difficult to find dance videos on YouTube and other online video sites. But we can see how the idea of a one-stop shop for all things dance might be compelling. Well, maybe not all things dance. We noticed that we didn't get many results when we searched for ballet, Bhangra, or tap dancing. The site is definitely aimed at a younger, more contemporary, and western audience.

[via NewTeeVee]