| Breakdancing is considered as one of the significant | | | | moves, which involve more difficult routines and require |
| elements that make up hip hop culture. Also known as | | | | physical stamina. One of the more common power |
| breaking, b-boying, or b-girling, this street dance was | | | | moves is the windmill. This requires dancers to spin |
| developed in the 1970s among the African-American | | | | from the upper back to the chest while twirling the legs |
| and Hispanic youths of South Bronx, New York. It is | | | | around the body in a V-shape. The windmill is a tough |
| widely believed that breakdancing began as a means | | | | move to perform and usually takes two to six months |
| of rival street gangs to resolve differences or to set | | | | to learn. |
| the location for rumbles. Others say it was an offshoot | | | | Another power move is the flare, which involves |
| of or was heavily influenced by capoeira, an | | | | swinging the legs around the stationary torso in |
| Afro-Brazilian martial art/dance. | | | | continuous circles while the arms carry the weight of |
| Breakdancing was brought into the mainstream | | | | the whole body. In gymnastics where it originated, the |
| through the proliferation of various dance groups, most | | | | flare is usually performed on a Pommel Horse but in |
| notably Rock Steady Crew. Soul and funk legend | | | | breakdancing, it is done on the floor. The headspin and |
| James Brown also popularized the dance style with his | | | | the jackhammer are also among the popular power |
| high-energy performances. In the 1980s, breakdancing | | | | moves. The latter is performed with the dancers |
| faded from pop culture and went back to being an | | | | hopping around in a circular motion while one hand |
| underground phenomenon. It made a comeback in the | | | | supports the body. |
| 1990s and since then has become a fixture of pop | | | | A routine usually ends with a freeze, a full stop in an |
| culture. | | | | interesting and often difficult position. This usually |
| There are no set routines or structures in | | | | means suspending one's body with feet off the ground |
| breakdancing. Rather, dancers employ basic moves | | | | and supported by the hands or the torso. A suicide is |
| while embellishing them with more complex styles and | | | | another way to end a routine. This involves a |
| power moves. Dancers could start off with the | | | | painful-looking drop to the buttocks, back, or stomach. |
| toprock, a relatively simple dance made up of any | | | | The desired effect is for the dancers to look like they |
| variation of steps performed while standing up. This | | | | injured themselves. |
| serves as a warm-up in preparation for further | | | | Today, breakdancing has gained international |
| acrobatic moves. The downrock, in contrast, is | | | | recognition and has become popular in Europe and |
| performed with the hands and feet on the floor. A | | | | Asia. Annual competitions are held in Germany, Britain, |
| common downrock move is the 6-step, which looks | | | | Japan, and the United States. It has also inspired |
| like walking in a circle while one hand touches the | | | | fashion trends and has been featured in a number of |
| ground. | | | | movies, music videos, TV shows, and commercials. |
| The basic moves lay the groundwork for power | | | | |