Breakdancing, or B-boying, began in the Bronx, New York City, in the early 1970s, where the hip-hop movement first emerged. Popularized by African American and Puerto Rican communities, it quickly became a creative outlet and art form, with its own subculture and philosophy, lexicon, and history, featuring routines more sophisticated than many other dance styles. While breakdancing’s energetic and vibrant nature appeals mostly to younger generations, it continues to showcase true talent and creativity worldwide. Today, it’s celebrated not just for its bold, rhythmic moves but also as a representation of the enduring legacy of hip-hop and street art.
Where Did Breakdancing Originate?
When learning breakdancing, you may have wondered, "Where did breakdancing originate?" or something like "When did breakdancing start?" may have crossed your mind at some point in your life.
While some people may think breakdancing is a new dance form, sources show that breakdancing began in New York City during the early 1960s and 1970s.
Often associated with the street gangs prevalent during that time, breaking emerged as a form of artistic expression and competition in the streets. During the 1960s and 1970s, the street gangs in New York City mainly included the African American and Latino-American population. Though breakdancing's history is often misunderstood, it played a key role in showcasing the vibrant culture and creativity of marginalized groups, transcending racial and cultural barriers over time.
Combative Roots
Interestingly, many of the foundational moves of breakdancing evolved from martial arts. In the street culture of the 1970s, breakdancing served as a non-violent means of settling disputes and asserting dominance. While most of the initial steps of breakdancing derived from self-defense moves, they quickly evolved into something much more complex and athletic.
Physical Requirements
Breakdancing is one of the most physically demanding dance forms. It requires incredible strength, flexibility, and coordination. So while learning about breakdancing, it is crucial to understand that it is very physical and demanding. Those who practice it often develop toned physiques and impressive endurance.
It’s no surprise that breakdancers, often referred to as B-boys or B-girls, inspire admiration for their physical prowess and ability to make their demanding routines appear effortless. If you're interested, you can find dance classes here on Superprof!
The Name
But, why is it called breakdancing? The terminology 'breakdancing' may confuse many people as breakdancing is a very physical form of dance. The term "breakdancing" derives from the musical "breaks" that were popularized by DJs in the 1970s.
Pioneered by DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican artist living in New York City, the technique involved isolating and repeating the percussive sections of songs—often referred to as “cutting breaks.”
Kool Herc’s method of mixing identical records allowed him to create a seamless, continuous beat, providing an ideal backdrop for dancers.
His calls of “B-boys go down!” signaled dancers to hit the floor and showcase their acrobatic moves, cementing the break as an integral part of the dance style.
The Music
Music has always been central to breakdancing, with the energetic, rhythmic beats of hip-hop serving as the driving force behind its movements. DJ Kool Herc’s innovations not only defined the music of breakdancing but also introduced new creative possibilities for live performance.
By using turntables to extend and manipulate music breaks, Kool Herc inspired an entire generation of DJs and dancers, establishing the foundation for modern hip-hop culture. Hence, this is how breakdancing was initiated.
The Evolution
After a few years of popularity, new breakdancing moves started to teach in this dance form. These were known as 'locks' and 'pops' that were a little unique from the original breakdancing features during the 1960s. The 1980s marked a turning point for breakdancing as it transitioned from street corners to global stages.
During these years, Michael Jackson performed some aspects of breakdancing music in his concerts. The 1980s marked a turning point for breakdancing as it transitioned from street corners to global stages. Icons like Michael Jackson brought breaking into the spotlight. Jackson’s famous moonwalk, which debuted during his live performances, fascinated millions and sparked a widespread fascination with the style.
Around the same time, the term "breakdancing" was adopted by the media to describe the dance, though it often lumped together various styles like popping and locking, which were popularized on television shows such as Soul Train. Since breakdance had become so popular, music producers insisted on including R&B, pop, and breakdancers in most music videos. Britney Spears even embraced breakdancing by making it a worldwide phenomenon. As a result, breakdancing now symbolizes a massive culture and ideology.
Features of Breakdancing
Breakdancing remains deeply tied to its street origins. Dancers often embrace a casual, functional style, including baggy pants, baseball caps, and running shoes. As you see, breakdancing involves a very 'street-looking,' vintage, and grungy style.
For example, street dancers wear jeans or baggy pants to give their body space and freedom to move when performing very physical moves.
The reason why they also wear baseball hats is to protect their heads when performing spins or use running shoes for better grip to avoid injury.
Though the dance appears improvisational, it is often a meticulous blend of classic techniques and personal creativity, ensuring that each performance leaves the audience mesmerized.
Headspins
Breakdancing is empty without any headpins. If you are doing headspins, you need to make sure that the surface you do it on is soft to help your head move smoothly while protecting it at the same time. Trying headspins on concrete is one of the worst ideas you could ever think of! Yet, while headspins are unnatural, they are still the most recognized moves in breakdancing.
Windmill
One of the most classic breakdancing moves is the windmill. Originally derived from Kung Fu, the windmill requires repeated motion where the dancer moves their upper body.
Boomerangs
The name 'boomerang' comes from how the legs are kept in the air creating a V shape. This move is very demanding, and breakdancers need to be exceptionally physically fit and flexible to support the weight of their body on their hands. If you feel fascinated by this move, you can get a professional to teach it to you. However, do not try this move at home as it can be hazardous to try it out yourself.
Flares
The flare move was initially derived from gymnastics. To perform a flare, you need to have a lot of upper body strength as you have to move the legs around your upper body without touching the ground. The wider you spread your legs apart, the easier it becomes to perform this move. Hence, it would help if you had a lot of upper body strength even to begin balancing your legs in the air.
The Best Breakdancing Music to Dance to
You may know that dance is lifeless without music if you love dancing! Fortunately, breakdancing has been around the corner since the 1960s and a lot of music producers have produced memorable songs for this dance genre. Moreover, these artists have successfully created a long list of perfect songs for performing breakdancing moves.
Most of these songs were recorded in the 1970s, the 1980s, or the 1990s. These three decades were when breakdancing became one of the most popular dance forms. Here is a list of some of the best songs to perform breakdance to:
- Paid in full - Eric B and Rakim
- Dancing Machine - Jackson Five
- The Mexican - Babe Ruth
- Beat Box - Art of Noise
- Get on the good foot - James Brown
- Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaattaa
- It's Like That - Run DMC
Breakdancing in the 2024 Paris Olympics
The 2024 Paris Games marked a historic milestone with the inclusion of breakdancing, officially called "Breaking," in the summer Olympic event schedule. This hip-hop-influenced dance style was the only new sport debuting at Paris 2024, cementing its place on the global stage. Breaking's Olympic journey began with its debut at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where it captivated audiences and garnered immense success. Its competitive nature, creativity, and appeal to younger audiences earned it a spot in Paris.
In Olympic Breaking, athletes, known as breakers, are judged across five categories: musicality, vocabulary, originality, technique, and execution. Each category contributes 20% to their final score. Battles, or "throwdowns," consist of best-of-three rounds, with each breaker performing a 60-second routine per round. Athletes can also face penalties for misbehavior, adding a layer of discipline to this high-energy art form.
A New Platform for Hip-Hop Culture
The inclusion of Breaking in the Olympics highlights how far this once-street-focused art form has come, elevating it onto an international stage that reaches millions. This historic moment not only validates breaking as a competitive discipline but also honors hip-hop culture by giving it unparalleled visibility and respect. For audiences and dancers alike, it signifies an evolution—where Breaking's fusion of artistry and athleticism aligns with its growing global appeal.
Challenges of Breaking in the Olympics
While its inclusion in the Olympics is a massive win for the dance style, it does present challenges. Unlike traditional sports with clear-cut metrics, breaking is rooted in subjective elements like creativity and style, making scoring a complex process. Athletes must blend athleticism with artistry under immense pressure, as every second of their 60-second routines is critical.
How Difficult Is Breakdancing?
If you think breakdancing is a dance form you want to learn, you can start practicing certain beginner breakdance moves in your spare time. Imagine dancing to your favorite breakdancing music and performing all the activities freely without facing any difficulties. Your friends and family would be impressed! While many people think they can learn dancing on their own, the truth is that dancing is something that requires step-by-step lessons to get your body used to the new moves.
When you try learning breakdancing on your own, you may feel frustrated by how slow things are going and may want to move to an advanced level right away. This can be dangerous, especially when your body is not physically fit enough to perform certain moves like flares and boomerangs. You can hurt yourself or even break a bone! In such cases, it is best to hire a professional tutor who takes things slowly and teaches you everything at a slow pace. This way, not only will your body strengthen with time, it will get used to new moves, and you will be able to move towards advanced forms of breakdancing more quickly and easily.
Where to Find the Best Breakdancing Tutors?
Superprof has millions of professional tutors who can teach you breakdance quickly. In addition, you can hire a personal tutor that offers lessons tailored to the needs of students. Every student has different abilities and learning capabilities. Hence, taking classes in a classroom may not benefit students who require special attention.
Moreover, you can either take online dance classes or in person according at your convenience. The best thing about Superprof is that you can find a tutor that offers the first lesson free. This gives you the chance to decide whether you want to continue with a specific tutor or shift to another one before paying. When taking lessons with Superprof, tutors will teach you all the significant breakdance components, including freezes, footwork, balance, ground moves, and much more! Start breakdancing today with Superprof!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
Very informational i got a 100% on my project grade because of this 5 stars great website
There were many great DJs before DJ Kool Herc that were breaking songs such as DJ John Brown who notably taught DJKH. Also, the dance was started by African Americans. The Puerto Ricans didn’t get into the dance until over 5 -7 years later. The were inspired by the Little Zulu Kings.