Breakdancing has become an umbrella term that includes California-based dance styles including popping, locking, and electric boogaloo.
Afrika Bambaataa and pioneering b-boys Richard "Crazy Legs" Colon and Kenneth "Ken Swift" Gabbert cite James Brown as the inspiration for many of the breaking moves.
Breaking transitioned from being a party dance to a competitive art form, with events taking place all over the world, from one-on-one battles to crew competitions.
Breaking is part of the hip-hop subculture, along with MCing, DJing, and writing (also known as graffiti).
In 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include breaking in the Paris Olympic Games 2024.
When a breaker propels their whole body into a continuous spin, this is called a power move. Examples are head spins and windmills.
Promoters and the media started to take notice of b-boys and b-girls when they were dancing at parties, parks, and in clubs, providing breaking with the exposure that made it mainstream.
In 2018, breaking was added to the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires.
Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art and dance form, is said to have directly influenced break dance.
DJ Kool Herc would play and mix two copies of the same record so that he could extend the break, allowing dancers to have more time to show off their moves.
Breakers often add a unique twist to conventional steps, freezes, or power moves. Examples are the hopping air chairs and leg threading.
The international Battle of the Year was created in 1990 and was the first large-scale breaking competition.
In 1982, the Rock Steady crew performed on stages in London and Paris. They also appeared on the American talk show 'Late Night with David Letterman' in 1983.
A b-girl is a girl or woman who performs breaking. The terms b-boy and b-girl were coined by Kool Herc.
Cyphers are circles formed around a breaker to dance with another b-boy or b-girl. A cypher can happen anywhere and everywhere, from parties to public spaces.
After its peak in the mid-1980s, breaking began to wane in popularity. However, it experienced a resurgence in the 1990s when original b-boys came out of retirement to judge competitions.
The New York City Breakers performed for President Ronald Reagan during the 1984 Kennedy Center Honors, which was broadcast nationally.
A freeze is when a breaker holds a solid shape with their body for a few seconds.
In 2020, the International Olympic Committee voted to include breaking or breakdancing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, when 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete for medals at the Place de la Concorde in the heart of the French capital. While it may be a new addition to the Olympics, breaking has existed for decades, originating in African American and Puerto Rican communities in the Bronx in the 1970s.
This gallery explores what breaking is, the elements of the dance sport, and how it took the world by storm. So, if you're curious, click to discover more.
A b-boy is a boy or man who performs breaking.
While women and girls have always been involved in breaking, it is an industry dominated by men. However, as popularity grows, some international competitions have introduced separate b-girl battles, allowing women to showcase their skills independently.
Breaking emerged from the African-American and Latino communities in New York in the 1970s. Afrika Bambaataa, a DJ and pioneering hip-hop artist, convinced members of the Bronx street gang to challenge rival gangs with dance battles instead of guns and knives.
When throwing neighborhood parties, DJ Kool Herc noticed people would dance with more sporadic and dynamic energy when the breaks (instrumental or percussion section) of the track he was playing would come in.
Breakers use their hands for support when they move their legs through footwork steps on the floor. These steps include six-step, three-step, and CCs.
Some basic top rock steps are the Indian step and the Cross step. They happen when breakers are standing before they go to the floor.
B-boys and b-girls also appeared in music videos and blockbuster movies, including 'Flashdance' and 'Beat Street.'
In the summer of 2024, 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete for Olympic medals at the Place de la Concorde.
The media coined breakdancing and breakdancer when breaking gained popularity, unaware that breakers do not add 'dance' to the name of their art form.
Breakers dance to break beats, funk, rap, and soul. Some of the most famous tracks associated with breaking are 'Apache' by the Incredible Bongo Band and 'It's Just Begun' by the Jimmy Castor Bunch.
Victor Montalvo (b-boy Victor), a two-time Red Bull BC One champion, will represent the USA in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Sources: (Red Bull) (Team USA) (Dance Magazine)
See also: The greatest and most inspiring Olympic moments
The history of breakdancing: from the streets of NYC to the Olympic Games
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LIFESTYLE Dance sport
In 2020, the International Olympic Committee voted to include breaking or breakdancing in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete for medals at the Place de la Concorde in the heart of the French capital. While it may be a new addition to the Olympics, breaking has existed for decades, originating in African American and Puerto Rican communities in the Bronx in the 1970s.
This gallery explores what breaking is, the elements of the dance sport, and how it took the world by storm. So, if you're curious, click on to discover more.