How to Break Dance

In the club, on the street or in your home, break dancing commands attention and--if done correctly--adoration. It's a spectacle in itself, an athletic feat, and an accomplishment in body movement. And, like any dance form, all you need is practice and instruction.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Become physically able to break dance. The strength-to-weight ratio of break dancers is substantial. They are very quick, with an emphasis on smooth and explosive strength as opposed to long-term repetitive cardiovascular exertion.

2. Start learning moves. You can accomplish this by searching for free online clips of break dancing. There is even a name for dancers that learn and post moves on the Internet: eboys. Use that in your search.

3. There are many books on the subject. Some people have trouble learning movement from a stationary book, though. So if your city is large enough, go to a dance studio for instruction.

4. Develop your routine. Focus on your strengths for a performance. If you're good at head-spinning or freezes, center your routine around those. A good break dancing routing can be constructed around little else.

5. Practice. Find a secluded place with a slick floor or throw down a piece of cardboard and try out all your new moves.

6. Perform. Whether as a street performer or at parties to show your skills, try to perform to music you're familiar with and flow your routine along with it. Be prepared to improvise once you know the type of move that makes the crowd go nuts.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that learning this dance form, like any other, takes time and practice.

• Warm up before dancing and build up to difficult moves to avoid injury.

• Where gloves and pads to avoid burns and cuts.