An Introduction to Breakdancing: Free Online Dance Lessons

Breakdancing first moonwalked its way onto the cultural scene from the South Bronx in the 1970s. Hip hop and breakbeat pioneer Kool Dj Herc is generally credited with being the first to loop together sections of beats from funk, jazz, disco, R & B and early electronica to create a rhythmic base for dancers to showcase their skills. The innovative and complex combination of moves, which became what we call breakdance, was used first as a method of settling gang turf wars, but soon evolved into a pop-cultural phenomenon in which dance groups like the world-famous Rock Steady Crew introduced the dance craze to the mainstream.

The popularity of breakdancing waned by the late 1980s, but has been recently rediscovered by a new generation of dancers who compete in professional competition. While taking breakdance lessons might seem to violate the very ethos of the “streets” movement which spawned the genre, no one will ever know you learned the basics of breakdancing in a free online video course. Expert dance instructor Julie Urich demonstrates the foundation of toprock, downrock, and power move steps you’ll need to ensure you don’t “get served” during your next battle.