One of the forms of dancing commonly done in hip-hop nightclubs is B-boying or breakdancing. Also called breaking or b-girling (to be more gender-sensitive), breakdancing traces its roots to the evolution of the hip-hop movement in Manhattan and South Bronx, New York in the 1970’s. New York City’s Rock Steady Crew was one of the dance groups that brought breakdancing into mainstream by catching the media’s attention with their performances. Dancers who practice breakdancing are called breakers, breakdancers, b-girls, or b-boys.
A lot of groups attribute the significant decrease in gang wars to the popularity of breakdancing. According to them, breakdancing helped channel the negative energy of “troubled youth” by getting them off the streets and into dancing. There are four basic techniques that are considered as the foundation for breakdancing: toprock, power moves, downrock, and freezes. Toprock steps are those performed in a standing position and are usually the opening moves used to warm up for complex, acrobatic dance steps.
Downrock refers to the footwork steps and combinations that require speed and control. Downrock is often performed with the hands and feet on the floor, and the footwork combinations are usually used to transition into power moves. Power moves are dance steps and gestures that require physical strength and momentum. Upper body strength is especially required as most power moves are performed by lifting the lower body from the floor using the arms and hands. Examples of power moves include the swipe, windmill, flare, and butterfly kicks.
A freeze is usually done to mark the end of a performance set. Freezes involve lifting the body off the ground using the hands and arms, and then striking a pose in mid-air while halting all other movements. An alternative to a freeze is a suicide, which is also used as the last step in the dance set. Breakers usually do suicide by pretending to lose control over their routine and then fall onto their stomachs, sides, or backs. For breakers, suicide is more impressive if it looks more painful. This is why the execution of suicides focuses more on the “falling” or “losing control,” whereas freezes are judged by the intricacy of the final position.