What is Breakdancing?
Breakdancing—more accurately termed breaking, b-boying, or b-girling—is a dynamic street dance form that emerged from African American and Puerto Rican youth communities in the South Bronx, New York City, during the early 1970s. The dance consists of four fundamental movement categories: toprock (upright footwork), downrock or footwork (floor-based movements using hands for support), power moves (acrobatic spins and rotations), and freezes (static poses held for emphasis). Dancers, called b-boys and b-girls, typically perform to breakbeats—the percussive, drum-heavy sections of funk, soul, and hip-hop records—in competitive face-to-face battles within a circle of spectators known as a cipher.
The term “breakdancing” itself represents a media-created misnomer from the 1980s; practitioners and pioneers consistently prefer “breaking,” “b-boying,” or “b-girling.” The “b” in b-boy/b-girl most commonly refers to “break” (as in breakbeat), though some argue it also references the Bronx. Many within hip-hop culture view “breakdancer” as a term that obscures the dance’s cultural roots and can even be considered disrespectful, particularly when applied to those who practice the movements without understanding or engaging with hip-hop’s broader traditions.
Origins & Lineage
Breaking emerged at the intersection of several historical forces. On August 11, 1973, DJ Kool Herc (Clive Campbell), a Jamaican-American DJ, hosted a back-to-school party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx’s Morris Heights neighborhood—a date many historians mark as the birth of hip-hop culture. Herc pioneered the technique of isolating and extending the “breaks” of records using two turntables, creating continuous percussive sections that energized dancers. According to Herc himself, the term “breaking” came not merely from the musical breaks, but from African American slang of the late 1960s and early 1970s meaning “getting excited” or going to one’s “breaking point.”
The dance developed during a period of severe urban decay in the Bronx—marked by arson, poverty, gang violence, and municipal neglect following the New York City fiscal crisis. Early breaking incorporated influences from capoeira (the Afro-Brazilian martial art), James Brown’s “Good Foot” dance from 1969, the Lindy Hop, gymnastics, and martial arts. Pioneers including DJ Afrika Bambaataa, who founded the Zulu Nation in 1977 to channel gang energy into creative expression, and Grandmaster Flash expanded the scene through block parties and community center gatherings.
Crucial crews that shaped breaking’s evolution include the Rock Steady Crew (founded 1977, led by Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón), the New York City Breakers, and the Dynamic Rockers. The 1982 Roxxy European Hip-Hop tour brought Rock Steady Crew to London and Paris, while appearances on late-night television (David Letterman, 1983) and in films like Flashdance (1983), Wild Style (1983), and Beat Street (1984) introduced breaking to global audiences. By the mid-1980s, the dance had spread to Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, and beyond.
How It’s Practiced
Breaking is fundamentally a battle dance—a competitive, improvisational art form performed in ciphers where dancers take turns showcasing skill, creativity, and musicality. A typical breaking routine progresses through distinct phases: the dancer enters the circle with toprock (standing dance), executes a “go-down” (transition to the floor), displays footwork (intricate leg patterns while supporting the body on hands), performs power moves (windmills, head spins, flares), and concludes with a freeze (a held pose, often gravity-defying).
The music—critical to the practice—consists of breakbeats: short instrumental sections heavy on percussion, often from funk and soul records. DJs play a central role, selecting and mixing tracks while reading the energy of the battle. Dancers must improvise to unfamiliar music, adapting movements in real-time to the rhythm, melody, and energy shifts.
Battles follow an unwritten code emphasizing respect, originality, technique, and “foundation”—knowledge of breaking’s history and core vocabulary. Dancers are judged (formally or informally) on six criteria: musicality (synchronization with the beat), vocabulary (range of moves), originality (innovation and personal style), technique (execution quality), performativity (stage presence and confidence), and creativity. The cipher culture creates both competition and community; after intense battles, participants often show mutual respect through handshakes or “props” (acknowledgment of skill).
Breakdancing Today
Breaking experienced a “golden age” in the early-to-mid 1980s, followed by a period of reduced mainstream visibility that practitioners call the “dark ages” (late 1980s-1990s). During this time, underground communities sustained the dance through local jams, international competitions, and video magazines. The 1990 Battle of the Year competition in Germany became the world’s premier breaking event, while Red Bull BC One (established 2004) elevated the competitive scene with high-production global showcases.
Breaking made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (August 9-10), following a successful appearance at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Sixteen b-boys and sixteen b-girls competed at Place de la Concorde in one-on-one battles judged by a nine-person panel. While breaking was not included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, its Olympic appearance brought unprecedented visibility.
Contemporary seekers encounter breaking through:
- Local jams and battles: Weekly or monthly community gatherings in cities worldwide
- Classes and workshops: Offered at dance studios, community centers, and universities
- Online platforms: YouTube tutorials, Instagram showcases, and virtual battles
- Major competitions: Red Bull BC One, Battle of the Year, World Breaking Classic, Freestyle Session
- Documentaries: The Freshest Kids (2002), Planet B-Boy (2007), Break the Floor series
Common Misconceptions
Breaking is not simply acrobatics or gymnastics set to music. While it incorporates athletic elements, the dance fundamentally emphasizes musicality, personal style, and cultural knowledge. A technically proficient dancer without understanding of hip-hop culture or connection to the music would not be considered a true b-boy or b-girl.
Breaking is not synonymous with all hip-hop dance. It is often incorrectly conflated with popping, locking, and other funk styles that developed independently in different communities (primarily California). These are distinct dance forms with separate histories, though they coexist within hip-hop culture.
The competitive battle format does not eliminate community and mutual support. While breaking features intense one-on-one confrontations, the culture emphasizes “peace, love, unity, and having fun”—values articulated by Afrika Bambaataa. Battles serve as spaces for artistic exchange rather than personal antagonism.
Breaking is not exclusively male. Though early history emphasized b-boys, b-girls have been present since the beginning. Pioneers note that “burning”—an early competitive dance style that influenced breaking—was often initiated by women. Contemporary breaking features prominent b-girls at the highest competitive levels.
How to Begin
Those interested in breaking should start with foundation: the core movements, history, and cultural context. Beginners typically learn basic toprock steps (Indian step, cross step), fundamental footwork patterns (six-step, three-step), and simple freezes (baby freeze, chair freeze) before progressing to power moves.
Essential resources:
- Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang (2005) provides crucial cultural context
- Foundation: B-boys, B-girls and Hip-Hop Culture in New York by Joseph G. Schloss (2009) offers ethnographic insight into b-boy culture
- The Freshest Kids (documentary, 2002) features interviews with pioneers
How to practice:
- Seek local breaking communities through social media or dance studios
- Attend ciphers and jams as an observer before participating
- Study foundation under experienced b-boys/b-girls who can transmit cultural knowledge alongside technique
- Listen extensively to funk, soul, and breakbeat music to develop musicality
- Approach the practice with humility and respect for its cultural origins
Many major cities have established breaking communities with regular practice sessions. The culture values mentorship, and experienced breakers typically welcome newcomers who demonstrate genuine interest and respect for the art form’s history.