About Break Dancing

You may have seen it and wondered how they do it--spinning on head-tops and performing mind-boggling dance moves that look dangerous. Break dancing is a form of street dancing that has turned into a cultural phenomenon. Its popularity has allowed it to spread quickly from the streets and into the media. It has been widely practiced by dancers of different races.

History

Break dancing, also known as breaking, first emerged from the Bronx in the early 1970s and is closely related to the hip hop culture. It started with African American street gangs who regarded it as a form of dance but did not recognize it as a cultural movement. Back then, break dancers (B-boys) danced in groups of two and were challenged to create more impressive moves than their opponents. When the gang culture began to decline in 1975, break dancing began spreading among other cultures.

Power Moves

A power move is a showy and impressive dance move used in break dancing to highlight a performance. It requires amazing upper-body strength and agility. The dancer must twist his torso and swing his legs in a circular motion while depending on increased momentum to gain a perfect execution. Power moves emerged from the art of Kung fu, capoeira and gymnastics.

The Windmill

The windmill is a complex power move which can take between two and six months to learn. The dancer must twist her legs into a V-shape through the air while spinning her torso (upper back and chest) in a circular motion on the floor. The twirling of the legs is similar to twirling a math compass and the momentum gained during this exercise is what gives the dancer most of her power. It is one of the most popular power moves in break dancing and was implemented by Crazy Legs of the Rock Steady Crew in the Bronx.

Head Spins

Originated by B-boy, Kid Freeze, a head spin is one of the easiest power moves to learn. However, if not done properly, it can result in serious injuries. Wearing a stocking cap or handkerchief on the head, the dancer spins on his head. Some dancers perform "tapping" where they use their hands to accelerated the spin.

Basic Moves

Along with power moves, break dancing is comprised of basic moves that are simpler to perform. The Top Rock is an easy to learn move that break dancers use to introduce their sets. The six-step move involves walking in a circle while keeping one hand on the ground. It is used as a stepping stone for the remainder of the dance. With the Moonwalk, the dancer glides backwards but appears to be going forward. Practicing basic moves is the best route when starting to learn break dancing.

Evolution

The initial break dance period was later replaced with electric boogie moves (twitching of the muscles to match the beat's tempo). Some common electric boogie moves are the Robot (Mannequin), the Wave, the King Tut and the Float. By 1982, electric boogie moves were replaced by free style break dancing where dancers created and executed their own styles.