Dancing isn’t just an art form; it’s an expressive display of physical power and athleticism. Even so, many people were surprised to find that dance was added to the docket of the 2024 Olympic games in Paris. Even more were surprised to learn about the style of dance: break dancing.
But those critical of break dancing’s addition to the Olympics are usually unaware of its cultural significance. To shed a little light on this topic, we’re looking at the hip-hop history of break dancing.
Break dancing, also known as breaking or b-boying, is inextricably linked with the emergence of hip-hop. In the late 1960s, a DJ by the stage name of Kool Herc noticed that dancers at his block parties thrived during a song’s musical breakdown. To capitalize on this, he started looping multiple records at once and isolating the beats, creating larger breaks in the music. These cradles of rhythm were where break dancing was born.
Break dancing incorporates stylistic elements from countless other forms of dance and physical activity, including tap, gymnastics, kung fu, and popular dances of the time like James Brown’s “good foot.” But much of its heart came from the culture of the people dancing it.
Musical breaks have echoes of African, Caribbean, and Latino music styles, and break dancing itself incorporates elements of the dance styles of these cultures, as well as the Afro-Brazilian martial art known as capoeira. The dance was a way for those living in these often impoverished areas to express their frustrations and make a name for themselves.
Break dancing virtually invented the idea of a “dance battle.” In its early days, rival gangs in the Bronx would have their best dancers face off as a peaceful way to settle disputes. Even outside the gang front, the early b-boys and b-girls of the Bronx would challenge others on their block to battles. Soon, dance teams started to form, like the “The B-Boys,” “The Zulu Kings,” and “The Rock Steady Crew,” bringing battles to a whole new level.
The 1980s was huge for the break dancing world. In 1983, the Rock Steady Crew would hit the silver screen in the movie Flash Dance, and the King of Pop would moonwalk across the stage in Pasadena, California. From there, break dancing would explode onto the mainstream, influencing dance and music. It even intersected with the history of streetwear fashion by helping put tracksuits on the map. Today, national and international break dancing competitions take place across the globe.
Whether you think it should be in the Olympics or not, it’s hard to ignore the cultural significance of the history of break dancing. From giving an outlet to urban youth to lighting up international stages, break dancing has come a long way from the Bronx.
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