Breakdancing

What is Breakdancing?

Many people, including accomplished dancers, often view breakdancing as a form of dance that peaked in the 1980s and is now defunct. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Breakdancing actually began before the height of its popularity 20 years ago, as a 1970s trend popular with young African Americans and other ethnic minorities in the Bronx. These kids would bring their radios out into the streets and try out different moves. The dancers became known as “breakers,” and breakdancing spread across the nation.

Evolving Into Mainstream Society

It didn’t take long for breakdancing to grab the attention of more seasoned professionals within the dance world, and soon it was becoming popular all over the United States. Dance offs started in the streets, often to break up arguments between feuding gangs, and soon these informal competitions became more organized events. Soon dance teams were stealing breakdance moves and performing them in studio performances, discos and various other public venues. Today there are large competitions devoted strictly to breakdancing, and many dance studios offer lessons in breakdancing. Oftentimes these moves are taught in conjunction with more modern day hip hop.

Breakdancing is now an international phenomenon and is popular in places such as Japan.

The Moves of Breakdancing

Breakdancing has four unique genres – power moves, freezes, toprock and footwork. Each has its own function in the flow of breakdancing, and an accomplished dancer will become proficient in all four. Toprock is a series of steps executed from a standing position. A lot of the moves demand a fair bit of flexibility and rhythm, and many dancers use them as an introduction into the more gymnastics-driven stunts of breakdancing.

Footwork is the complete opposite, performed primarily on the floor. Any rolling or spinning images famously associated with breakdancing is an example of footwork. Again, these steps are often used to lead into acrobatic maneuvers.

These aforementioned acrobatic skills are known as power moves. Their name is derived from the amount of sheer power it takes to perform them, and these are often used in formal dance offs when a breaker is pulling out all the stops. Upper body strength and endurance is often essential in power moves, and those who do not have the proper training can get seriously injured.

Lastly, freezes are ending poses. These get tricky as some freezes involve upside down positions that are impressive to an audience and challenging to a dancer. Freezes range from basic to extremely advanced, and each and every breakdancer uses them in their routine at one point or another.

Street Dancing Females

Women were, for decades, sidelined in the breakdancing world. However in recent years, “b-girls” have really found their niche in the spotlight. Girls now form their own crews, as well as dancing alongside their male counterparts. Many dance disciplines are more “feminine” than breakdancing, and many parents would much prefer their little girls to be aspiring ballerinas than competitive street dancers, however many girls have made a name for themselves in the hip hop world. Women can be great for a breakdance team, as it is still somewhat of a rarity and can be a great crowd draw.

If you are interested in learning more about breakdancing, then check out your local hip hop studio. If they don’t offer courses in such a style, they may be able to refer you to someone who can. Breakdancing is a great way to not only get in shape physically, but can rev up your cool quotient as well!