breakdance

Breakdance, or breakdancing, is a style of street dance associated with hip-hop culture that originated among African American and Latino communities in the Bronx, New York City, during the early 1970s. It developed from earlier funk and Latin dances and drew on influences from martial arts, gymnastics, and capoeira. In its early years the dance traveled through parks, block parties, and clubs and spread to other parts of the United States and around the world. The terms breakdance and breakdancing are common in media, but many practitioners refer to the dance as breakin' or as B-boying for male dancers and B-girling for female dancers.

A typical breakdance performance combines four elements: toprock, the upright opening section; downrock, footwork performed on the floor; freezes, held poses; and power moves, acrobatic rotations and spins. Dancers often organize into crews and participate in battles or cyphers, where individuals or teams improvise to music and respond to opponents. Innovation, musicality, and personal style are highly valued.

Since the 1980s, breakdancing has grown into a global phenomenon with dedicated schools, workshops, and professional crews. It has influenced other dance forms and video culture and has become part of international competitions such as Battle of the Year and Red Bull BC One. The dance emphasizes technique, athleticism, and creativity, with safety considerations and cross-cultural exchange at its core.