How To Breakdance

Created in the Bronx, NY around 1973, Bboying or breakdancing is a extremely fun, yet difficult dance that bboys and bgirls participate in. It takes it's own steps from the foundations of the first bboys, and then the dancer adds whatever they want to their dance. It's a tool for self expression, creating visual art, and a lot of fun. Watch the video for guidance as you follow the steps, as the moves are better demonstrated visually than through words.

Steps

1. 1
   Know the basic terminology. One of the first things any bboy should learn is the difference between "breakdancing" and "bboying". Bboying is the first term made to describe the dance; it's usually the term used when in the community. The term the general media uses to describe the dance is breakdancing, which was conjured up by a reporter back when the dance was gaining recognition.

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   • The dance is called bboying whether you're a boy or a girl. But when describing a certain individual, there's bboy (male breaker) and bgirl (female breaker).
   • All breakers have a nickname, such as Bboy Darkness, Bboy Cloud, Bboy Plur, etc. At first, this shouldn't be too important, but it is in the long run when you want to gain a better hold of who you are as a dancer and your style.
2. 2
   Learn the basic moves. These are critical to becoming a good breaker and should not be glossed over carelessly. Working hard at the basics will allow you to become a better beraker than if you went straight for the harder and more impressive moves.
3. 3
   Learn how to toprock, or the stand-up part of the dance. This is where you can really let loose and enjoy yourself. It's this part of the dance that you can play with the music a lot.
   • "If you don't toprock before you go down and do footwork, you're not really bboying." - Popmaster Fabel (Rock Steady Crew)
   • The main foundational moves of the toprock are the basic rock, indian step, and running man variations.
4. 4
   Learn the drops and go-downs. This gets you from your toprock down into your footwork. The four basic drops are: The kneedrop, sweep, corkscrew, and suicides (half turned flips).
5. 5
   Learn the footwork or downrocks. This is what most people know bboying as. When you are down on the floor (usually on hands and feet) doing a lot of complex looking steps. This is probably the most creative part of the dance.
   • As a starter, you should learn 6-step, 3-step (learn them BOTH ways)and helicopter. Then when you have perfected them, start to move onto more technical stuff.
6. 6
   Learn the freezes. This is the traditional way to finish your throwdown (a throwdown is what we call it when you visit the floor to take your turn) The basic freezes to learn are: Baby freeze, turtle, shoulder, side chair.
   • These are the most fundamental freezes and it is very important that you learn them early on as a lot of other moves build on them.