How to Breakdance
Posted on April 12th, 2009 by Marck
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It’s time to hit the floor, go high, low, and start some serious breakin’ up in here. Breakdancing, also known as b-boying, is one of the most popular dance routines to hit clubs and even professional dance performances. Breakdancing may look difficult at its advanced stages, but it’s easy to learn the basic moves you need to take it to the floor.
Watch It In Action
The best way to get an idea of how breakdancers get down is to visit places where b-boys and b-girls hang out. If you’re eager to learn, they may even teach you some moves here and there to get you started. Here are some places where you can watch breakdancing in action:
- Clubs. Clubs that cater to the hip-hop movement are great place to watch amateur and professional breakdancers in action.
- Side streets. Breakdancing originated from small groups of people who hang out in side streets and dance to the beats coming out of the boom box. As long as you respect their privacy and their space, you can watch them dance to the tune of their own steps.
Move Sets
Like any other dance, breakdancing has a group of move sets. What makes b-boying unique from other styles of dance is that the steps can be transitioned from one dance step to another. Breakdancing is all about fluid dance styles, but you have to keep the basic move sets of breakdance in mind:
- Top rock are moves done by a dancer while standing up. Top rock almost always starts a sequence of breakdance routines. Top rock usually starts off with hand gestures, although some steps can be done during this step. The top rock stance is also a considered to be a rest stance for breakers starting or ending a powerful sequence.
- Down rock are moves performed by a dancer to move around or dance on the floor. The down rock almost always begins with a six-step sequence, although some steps and pumps can be used to transition to a drop, a power move, or other moves.
- Drops are moves where a breaker moves his or her body closer to the floor. A drop may be used to gain momentum to execute power moves. Drops may also be used to taunt the other breaker to top a move or a sequence of steps.
- Power moves like windmills, flares, back spins, and air tracks are the most recognizable dance steps in breakdance. Power moves require a lot of flexibility, momentum, and athleticism to execute. Most power moves are used toward the end of the routine, where the breaker uses the initial sequence of moves to perform the step.
- Freezes are moves done to end the breaking routine. The b-boy or b-girl ends with a stylish pose that is used to challenge the other breaker to top the dance sequence he or she just performed.
Safety
Breakdancing is very acrobatic, and performing difficult moves without practice can cause serious injury. Do not attempt to perform breakdance moves if you’re not warmed up, if you’re not flexible enough, or if you’re not skilled enough to execute power moves. If you’re starting out, you may want to wear a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and basketball shoes.
Whether it’s a simple challenge on the floor or serious stuntin’, breakdancing is a great activity to be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. With these tips to start you breakdancing, you can get down and groove it all day long.
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