Breakdancing

Breaking, later known as breakdancing, was born through these parties.

“The intertwined nature of the DJs and MCs trying to keep the dancers moving on the dance floor with innovations in music as well as the efforts of the dancers to “one up’ each other contributed to flexible and organic creativity.” (Dimitriadis 181)

Herc called these dancers break boys (b-boys) and break girls (b-girls) because they danced to the breakbeats.

Early breaking incorporated drops and swift footwork (top rock). It also involved gestures associated with mock-battle forms (uprock), and movement on the ground including spins, freezes, and more (down rock).

“Footwork and toprock both require being able to think in three dimensions, the ability to create your own moves, and the originality to imbue every individual movement with style, flavor, and originality.” (Rajakumar 19)

Breaking has roots in salsa, Cuban mambo and rumba, Brazilian samba, Jazz dance. It also drew from martial arts like kung-fu and Capoeira, a form of Brazilian martial arts. It also drew from Asian Martial arts, Russian Folk Dance, Gymnastics, and continues to assimilate references to almost every dance and movement form breakers encounter. 

Breaking and battling was a test of athleticism, attitude, originality, and dominance. B-boys and b-girls would dance against each other hoping to earn pride and respect through “one-upping” their opponents.

The dancers, DJs, and emcees all created an environment where everyone was respected for who they were and how they expressed it.

Clap your hands everybody, if you got what it takes

There were a number of other moves that emerged from the Hip Hop scene, like the Snake, Chicken-head, Cabbage Patch, Running man, and more. The Happy Feet was an iconic move in the 1980s, always danced to the rap song “The Show” to get the party started.