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at MTV Street Festival, Thailand.]] Breakdance, '''breaking''', '''b-boying''' or '''b-girling''' is a Street Dance style that evolved as part of the Hip Hop Movement among African American and Puerto Rican youths in the South Bronx of New York City during the early 1970s. It is normally danced to Funk or Hip Hop Music , often Remix ed to prolong the Breaks , and is arguably the best known of all Hip Hop Dance styles. A breakdancer, '''breaker''', '''b-boy''' or '''b-girl''' refers to a person who practices breakdancing. ORIGINS: FROM STREET TO DANCE .]] Breaking was born when street corner DJ's (in legend it is DJ Kool Herc who was first) would take the Breakdown Section s (or " Breaks ") of dance records and string them together without any elements of the song per se. This provided a raw rhythmic base for improvising and further mixing, and it allowed dancers to display their skills during the break. One of the major break dance street culture pushes was Michael Jackson 's Robot Dance , firstly performed on television in 1974. The performance received big following in the country with many later break dance pioneers further popularizing break dance in the late 1970s. Popular speculations of the early 1980s suggest that breakdancing, in its organized fashion seen today, began as a method for rival gangs of the Ghetto to mediate and settle territorial disputes.NPR Present at the Creation Breakdancing In a turn-based showcase of dance routines, the winning side was determined by the dancer(s) who could outperform the other by displaying a set of more complicated and innovative moves.The precise origins are unclear. The general consensus among actual survivors of the gang scene is that while the dance may have had the effect of mediation, peaceful interventions were not always the intent nor the outcome of these confrontations. Often, violence was incited as a result of such friendly duels, otherwise known as "battles." It later was through the highly energetic performances of the late funk legend James Brown and the rapid growth of dance teams, like the Rock Steady Crew of New York City , that the competitive ritual of gang warfare evolved into a pop-culture phenomenon receiving massive media attention. Parties, disco clubs, talent shows, and other public events became typical locations for breakdancers, including gang members for whom dancing served as a positive diversion from the threats of city life. Though its intense popularity eventually faded in the 1980s, it has today grown into a well-known and accepted dance style, portrayed in commercials, movies, and the media, and often available at common Dance Studio s. Some large annual breakdance competitions can be seen today, such as Battle Of The Year or the heavily sponsored Red Bull BC One . THE DANCE .]] Breakdancing is generally unstructured and highly improvisational, allowing the incorporation of many different elements. A basic routine might include Toprock , a transition into Downrock , a display of Power Move s, and finally a climactic Freeze or Suicide . Toprock refers to any string of steps performed from a standing position, relying upon a mixture of Coordination , flexibility, style, and most importantly, rhythm. It is usually the first and foremost opening display of style, and it serves as a warm-up for transitions into more acrobatic maneuvers. In contrast, downrock includes all footwork performed on the floor as in the 6-step . Downrock is normally performed with the hands and feet on the floor. In downrock, the breakdancer displays his or her proficiency with foot speed and control by performing footwork combinations. These combinations usually transition into more athletic moves known as power moves. is a popular Power Move .]] Power moves refer to moves that require momentum and physical power to execute. In power moves, the breakdancer relies more on upper body strength to dance, using his or her hands to do moves. Power moves include Windmill , Swipe , and Flare . Because power moves are physically demanding, breakdancers use them as a display of upper body strength and stamina. Many moves are borrowed from gymnastics, such as the flare, and martial arts, with impressive acrobatics such as the Butterfly Kick . , commonly used as a Freeze .]] Freezes halt all motion in a stylish pose. The more difficult freezes require the breakdancer to suspend himself or herself off the ground using upper body strength, in poses such as the Handstand or Pike . Whereas freezing refers to a single pose, lockingThough commonly associated with popping and Locking (dance) (two elements of the Funk Styles that evolved independently in California during the late 1960s) breakdancing is distinct from popping and locking in that moves require a greater sense of athleticism as opposed to the contortion of limbs seen in pop-and-lock. Dancers who wish to widen their expressive range, however, may typically dabble in all types of Hip Hop Dance . entails sharp transitions between a series of freezes. Suicides are another type of end to a routine. Breakers will make it appear that they have lost control and fall onto their backs, stomachs, etc. The more painful the suicide appears, the more impressive it is, but breakdancers execute them in a way to minimize pain. In contrast to freezes, suicides draw attention to the motion of falling or losing control, while freezes draw attention to the final position. "Battles" refer to any level of competition in which breakdancers in an open space (typically a circle or even on stage) participate in quick-paced, turn-based routines, whether improvised or planned. Participants vary in number, ranging from head-to-head duels to battles of opposing Breakdance Crews , or teams. Winners are determined by the side exhibiting the most proficient and varied combinations of moves. "Cyphers," on the other hand, are open-forum, mock exhibitions where competition is less emphasized. IN POP CULTURE , next to a stereotypical Boombox .]] Since its inception, breakdancing has provided a Youth Culture constructive alternative to violent urban street gangs. Today, breakdancing culture is a remarkable discipline somewhere in-between those of Dancers and Athletes . Since acceptance and involvement centers on dance skills, breakdancing culture is usually free of the common race, gender and age boundaries of a Subculture and has been accepted worldwide. THE WORLD SCENE Social interaction centers on practices and competitions, which are occasionally intertwined because of its improvisational style. While featured at dance schools, breakdancing is very difficult, typically taught to newbies, or beginners, by more experienced breakdancers and passed on to new generations by informal word-of-mouth. Clubs and hip-hop schools do exist, but are rare in number and more so in organization. Music As the clichéd quote "break to the beat" insists, music is a staple ingredient for breakdancing. The original songs that popularized the dance form borrow significantly from progressive genres of Jazz , soul, Funk , electro or Electro Funk , Disco , and R&B. The most common feature of breakdance music exists in Breaks , or compilations formed from Samples taken from different songs which are then looped and chained together by the DJ. The tempo generally ranges between 110 and 135 beats-per-minute with Shuffled Sixteenth and Quarter beats in the percussive pattern. History credits Kool Dj Herc for the invention of this concept, later termed breakbeat. The musical selection is not restricted to hip-hop as long as the tempo and beat pattern conditions are met. It can be readily adapted to different music genres (often with the aid of Remix ing). World competitions have seen the unexpected progressions and applications of heavily European Electronica , and even opera. Some b-boys, such as Pierre, even extend it to rock music. Fashion .]] For most breakdancers, Fashion is a defining aspect of identity. The breakdancers of the 1980s typically sported flat-soled Adidas , Puma, or Fila shoes with thick, elaborately patterned laces. Some breakdancing crews matched their hats, shirts, and shoes to show uniformity, and were perceived as a threat to the competitor by their apparent strength in numbers. B-boys also wore Nylon Tracksuit s which were functional as well as fashionable. The slick, low-friction material allowed the breakdancer to slide on the floor much more readily than with cotton or most other materials. Hooded nylon jackets allowed dancers to perform head spins and windmills with greater ease. Additionally, the popular image of the original breakdancer always involved a public performance on the street, accompanied by the essential Boombox and oversized sheet of cardboard, which serves as a dance floor. The b-boys today dress differently from the b-boys in the 80s, but one constant remains: dressing "fresh". Due to the spread of breakdancing from the inner cities into the suburbs and other social groups, different perceptions of "fresh" have arisen. Generally the rule that one's gear needs to match has remained from the 80s, along with a certain playfulness. Kangol s are still worn by some, and track pants and nylon clothes still have their place combined with modern sneakers and hats. Trucker Hat s were reintroduced to the scene in the late 1990s, well before the mainstream pop culture began wearing them again in numbers. .]] Function is heavily intertwined with b-boy fashion. Due to the demands on the feet in b-boying, b-boys look for shoes with low weight, good grip, and durability in the sole as well as elsewhere. Headwear can facilitate the movement of the head on the ground, especially in headspins. Bandannas underneath headwear can protect against the discomfort of fabric pulling on hair. Wristbands placed along the arm can also lower friction in particular places, as well as provide some protection. Today's breakdancing styles, which emphasize fast-paced, fluid floor moves and freezes, differ from that of two decades ago, requiring more freedom of movement in the upper body. Therefore, less baggy upperwear is more common today (though pants remain baggy). Some dancers and crews have begun to dress in a style similar to " Goth " or Punk rockers in order to stand out from the more traditional toned-down b-boy appearance. Certain clothing brands have been associated with breaking, for instance, ''Tribal''. Puma is also well known in the breaking community. Both brands sponsor many b-boy events. But aside from these generalities, many b-boys choose not to try too hard to dress for breaking, because one would want to be able to break anytime, anywhere, whatever the circumstances. This is part of the reason why many breakdancers would rather learn headspins without a helmet even though helmets allow them to learn the technique more easily. Breakdancing as a folk dance There is some academic interest in whether breaking can be considered a Folk Dance . In particular, street dances are living and evolving dance forms, while folk dances are to a significant degree bound by Tradition . Breakdancing was in the beginning a Social Dance but in its later years, because of media and television exposure, it has become a more performance oriented dance. Breakdancing as a stage show .]] In many different countries, most notably South Korea , different stage companies and individual breakdancing crews are creating musicals and stage shows that are either based on, or focus on breakdancing. Among the most notable is A Ballerina Who Loved A B-Boy , a musical telling the story of a ballerina who falls in love with the power of breakdancing. It is played by professional breakdance crews, including Extreme Crew, Maximum Crew, and Able Crew. Another breakdancing musical is Marionette , performed, created and choreographed by Korean breakdancing crew Expression . Many entertainers have incorporated breakdance moves into their stage performance, ranging from Professional Wrestler Booker T to Korean singer Se7en . Media exposure In the 1980s, with the help of . The film captured the essence of the culture and accurately traced the origin, evolution, and position of the dance within the Hip Hop movement. CONTROVERSY Though recreational, the dance is not without its heated debates. Name Some practitioners state the original terms ''b-boying'' or ''breaking'' are better names for the dance as ''breakdance'' was supposedly created by the media as a marketing device. As such, the term ''breakdance'' is said to lack the depth and history of the older terms and are today looked down by some who consider its use as an evidence of ignorance and disrespect to the history of the dance style itself. Style vs. technique Multiple stereotypes have emerged in the breakdancing community over the give-and-take relationship between technical footwork and physical prowess. Those who focus on dance steps and fundamental sharpness—but lack upper-body brawn, form, discipline, etc.—are labeled as "style-heads" and specialists of more gymnastics-oriented technique and form—at the cost of charisma and coordinated footwork—are known as "'''power-heads'''." Such terms are used colloquially often to classify one's skill, however, the subject has been known to disrupt competitive events where judges tend to favor a certain array of techniques. Gang association It has often been stated that breakdancing replaced fighting between street gangs, though some believe it a misconception that b-boying ever played a part in mediating gang rivalry. These gang roots made breakdancing itself seem controversial in its early history. Uprocking Uprock ing as a dance style of its own never gained the same wide-spread popularity as breakdance, except for some very specific moves adopted by breakers who use it as a variation for their toprock. When used in a breakdance battle, opponents often respond by performing similar uprock moves, supposedly creating a short uprock battle. Some state that because uprocking was originally a separate dance style it should never be mixed with breaking, and that the uprock moves performed by breakers today are not the original moves but poor imitations that only shows a small part of the original uprock style. Injury risks Often the danger inherent in breakdancing is overemphasized. As with any other strenuous activity, a measured risk of physical injury exists. Breakdancers should practice using professional supervision to decrease the chances of personal injuries. POP-MEDIA REFERENCES TO BREAKDANCING
BREAKDANCING IN FICTION In 1997, Korea, Kim Soo Yong began serialization of the first breakdancing themed comic, Hip Hop (comic) . The comic was immediate success, and sold over 1.5 million books when it was published into books. Hip Hop is credited for introducing the Hiphop and breakdancing culture to Koreans, and inspired many teenagers to begin breakdancing, which was still looked down on in Korea those days. Many Korean breakdancers such as Bruce Lee (dancer) admitted they were first introduced and inspired to breakdance by reading Hip Hop when they were teenagers. The first breakdancing-themed novel, Kid B , was published by Houghton Mifflin in 2006. The author, Linden Dalecki, was an amateur b-boy in high school and directed a short documentary film about Texas b-boy culture before writing the novel. The novel evolved from Dalecki's b-boy themed short story The B-Boys Of Beaumont , which won the 2004 Austin Chronicle short story contest. NOTES REFERENCES
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