Giving movement to the music, b-boys and b-girls (b stands for break) are talented performers who display their athleticism through impressive dance moves. These moves often seem to defy gravity.
While acrobatic street performances have been popular since the 1800s, “breaking” was born in the 1970s. DJ Kool Herc was the first to loop the rhythmic breakdown of songs, creating a beat for dancers to improvise moves to. Many dance moves were inspired by martial arts, gymnastics, the lindy hop, and disco.
Breaking generally consists of four different types of moves. Toprock refers to dance moves performed in a standing position. Downrock, also known as footwork or floorwork, involves the dancer using their hands for support as much as their feet.
Power moves are acrobatic moves in which the dancers use their upper body for support while the rest of their body creates momentum for fast and impressive movements. Finally, freezes are gravity-defying poses in which breakers suspend themselves off the ground, sometimes on just one hand. These usually mark the end of a set, but can be strung together for a dramatic display.
While breaking used to be limited to street corners and parties, it has reached mainstream popularity today. It can be seen in movies and on TV and has been the focus of dance competitions around the world.
