It is no longer viewed as just someone spinning on their head! It's an art form that can take years of practice and dedication to master. It's birth on the streets of New York City to the limelight of the Olympics, we hope you enjoy our short history of breaking!
Breakdancing, officially named Breaking but also known by b-boying or b-girling, is a street dance style that burst on the scene as part of the Hip Hop culture in the early 1970s in South Bronx, New York City. This dance style spread like a wild fire to other parts of the city and eventually to the rest of the world, becoming an integral part of Hip Hop culture and now a major part of dance culture worldwide.
The Origins of Breaking
Breaking was born out of the Hip Hop culture that emerged in the South Bronx in the late 1970s. It was created as a way for the youth to express themselves through dance and competition, as well as to showcase their athletic abilities. Breaking was seen as a way for people to break free from the violence and poverty that surrounded them.
One of the key elements of Breaking is the battle or cypher, where two or more b-boys or b-girls face off against each other in a dance competition. This aspect of Breaking has contributed to its growth and popularity, as it encourages dancers to showcase their skills and push the boundaries of what is possible in the dance form.
The Spread of Breaking
As Hip Hop culture spread across the United States, Breaking followed. By the early 1980s, Breaking was becoming a popular form of entertainment, with competitions and dance battles taking place in cities across the country. The rise of Hip Hop music and breaking also led to the creation of other Hip Hop dance styles, such as popping, locking, and house dancing.
In the 1990s, Breaking went global, with competitions and battles taking place in countries around the world. This helped to spread the popularity of Breaking, as well as the Hip Hop culture it was a part of.
The Impact of Breaking on Hip Hop Culture
Breaking has had a significant impact on Hip Hop culture. It has been a major part of the evolution of Hip Hop dance, as well as a key component of Hip Hop music and fashion. Breaking has also had a positive impact on communities, providing youth with a positive outlet for self-expression and creativity. In many cities, Breaking has become a way for young people to come together and form tight-knit communities, as well as to showcase their talents and compete against one another.
Moreover, Breaking has helped to bring Hip Hop culture to a wider audience. With its athletic and acrobatic elements, Breaking has been featured in movies, television shows, and music videos, helping to spread the popularity of Hip Hop culture to new audiences around the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Breaking has had a significant impact on Hip Hop culture, helping to shape and define the genre. From its origins in the South Bronx to its addition to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, Breaking has become a beloved form of expression and competition that continues to evolve and impact communities around the world. If you're interested in learning more about Breaking and its impact on Hip Hop culture, consider joining a local dance community, attending a workshop or competition, or exploring the rich history of Hip Hop through books, movies, and music.
2024 Olympics in Paris France 🇫🇷
Before we dive into the breakdancing rules, let’s look at the three basic elements that make up breaking – top rock, down rock and freeze.
Top rock refers to all moves that are performed while standing up - generally a combination of stylish hand movements and footwork whereas freeze is when the breaker comes to a standstill in an unusual position (on their head or hands) in the middle of their routine.
Explained: Breaking rules, moves and format
Breakdancing was part of the 2018 Youth Olympics and is a medal event at Paris 2024.
From the streets of New York in the 1970s to the grand stage of the Olympic Games, breaking has charted a course not many would have thought was possible.
Breakdancing, as breaking is popularly known, is a form of dance sport that blends urban dance with remarkable athleticism, making it worthy of a spot in the Olympic programme.
And after its successful introduction at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, breaking is set to make its big Olympic Games debut at Paris 2024.
However, unlike its beginning on the streets, breaking has evolved into a proper dance sport, with a fixed set of rules that make for fair competition.
Breaking moves
But, before we dive into the breakdancing rules, let’s look at the three basic elements that make up breaking – top rock, down rock and freeze.
Top rock refers to all moves that are performed while standing up - generally a combination of stylish hand movements and footwork whereas freeze is when the breaker comes to a standstill in an unusual position (on their head or hands) in the middle of their routine.
But the most crucial and often the highlight of the performance is the down rock, which involves all moves done on the floor. It features spins, footwork, transitions and, most importantly, power moves.
Power moves are a complex set of movements the breakers showcase by spinning their whole body on hands, elbows, back, head or shoulders. The gravity-defying, acrobatic movements require superior strength, balance and flexibility.
For instance, the air flare power move requires dancers to rotate their body, whilst upside down, while alternating their balance on either arm and moving in a circular path.
Explained: Breaking rules, moves and format
Breakdancing was part of the 2018 Youth Olympics and is a medal event at Paris 2024.
From the streets of New York in the 1970s to the grand stage of the Olympic Games, breaking has charted a course not many would have thought was possible.
Breakdancing, as breaking is popularly known, is a form of dance sport that blends urban dance with remarkable athleticism, making it worthy of a spot in the Olympic programme.
And after its successful introduction at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, breaking is set to make its big Olympic Games debut at Paris 2024.
However, unlike its beginning on the streets, breaking has evolved into a proper dance sport, with a fixed set of rules that make for fair competition.
Breaking moves
But, before we dive into the breakdancing rules, let’s look at the three basic elements that make up breaking – top rock, down rock and freeze.
Top rock refers to all moves that are performed while standing up - generally a combination of stylish hand movements and footwork whereas freeze is when the breaker comes to a standstill in an unusual position (on their head or hands) in the middle of their routine.
But the most crucial and often the highlight of the performance is the down rock, which involves all moves done on the floor. It features spins, footwork, transitions and, most importantly, power moves.
Power moves are a complex set of movements the breakers showcase by spinning their whole body on hands, elbows, back, head or shoulders. The gravity-defying, acrobatic movements require superior strength, balance and flexibility.
For instance, the air flare power move requires dancers to rotate their body, whilst upside down, while alternating their balance on either arm and moving in a circular path.
What's an airflare?
Flare is a common acrobatic move that is also done by gymnasts. It involves balancing the torso on alternating arms and swinging the legs underneath in circles.
Alexander Artemev of the USA performing a flare. (2007 Getty Images)
Breakers combine all three elements in their routine on beats provided by a hip-hop DJ when facing each other in a one-on-one competition called a battle.
Breaking battle format
Athletes, or breakers, as they are called, go up against each other in a 1 vs 1 battle and take alternate turns or throw downs to perform their routines.
A battle generally features a fixed number of sets from all breakers. Most major competitions, like the Red Bull BC One, have either two or three throw downs until the final, which has three or five throw downs.
Moreover, each throw down cannot be longer than 60 seconds but there are no penalties for performing too short or too long.
Each battle is conducted in front of a panel of judges, which usually comprises respected dancers from the breaking community. The judges rate each performance on clearly defined criteria.
Breaking judging criteria
A minimum of three or more uneven number of judges score the battles on six criteria - creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity and musicality.
Each parameter has different weightage in a battle, with technique, performativity and creativity constituting 60 per cent of the total score while variety, musicality and personality make up the remaining 40 per cent.
The judges submit their votes after each round and the breaker with the highest points is declared the winner.
At the 2018 Youth Olympics, the judging panel comprised five judges.
Breaking was added to the 2024 Paris Olympics medal programme, along with other youth-centric events like skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing, which form an integral part of today’s culture.
There will be separate competitions for men and women, where the best 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls of the world will face off in solo battles.
And undoubtedly, we will get to see the new generation of Olympic stars arise in Paris from a movement that started half a century ago in New York.
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