Breakdance, sometimes spelled "break dance," is a style of street dance that originated in the Bronx in the late 1970s. The spelling of the word "breakdance" reflects the American English pronunciation, with the stress on the first syllable "break," and the final syllable "dance" pronounced as a distinct vowel. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word would be written as /breɪkdæns/, with the first syllable pronounced as "brayk" and the second syllable pronounced as "dans." The genre gained popularity worldwide, with its energetic and acrobatic moves becoming iconic.
Break dance, also known as breaking or b-boying/b-girling, is a dynamic and energetic style of street dance that originated in the Bronx, New York City, in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Primarily associated with hip-hop culture, break dance is characterized by its acrobatic moves, intricate footwork, power moves, freezes, and flips, all performed to the rhythm of hip-hop music or breakbeats.
Break dance is a highly improvisational dance form that combines elements of martial arts, gymnastics, and funk styles. It involves a series of intricate and rhythmic movements performed on the ground or upright, typically in a competitive or freestyle setting. These movements, also known as moves or steps, include but are not limited to windmills, headspins, handstands, backspins, flares, and power moves such as freezes and airtracks.
Break dance is often performed by individuals or in small groups, known as crews or circles, who engage in battles or dance-offs to showcase their skills, creativity, and personal style. It not only requires physical agility, strength, and flexibility but also emphasizes musicality and originality in execution. Break dancers strive to innovate and incorporate new moves into their repertoire, continuously pushing the boundaries of the art form.
Break dance has gained worldwide popularity and recognition, and its practitioners significantly contribute to the hip-hop dance culture. It serves as a means of self-expression, cultural identity, and artistic exploration, encapsulating the spirit of urban youth and resilience. Moreover, break dance has influenced various other dance styles and has become an integral part of contemporary dance.
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The word "breakdance" is derived from the term "break", which refers to the energetic, rhythmic, and improvised movements that originated in African American and Latinx communities during the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City. This style of dance was initially known as "breakdancing", a name coined by the media. However, those involved in the culture preferred referring to it as "breaking" or "b-boying" (short for Bronx-Boying), which is the more widely accepted term within the community. The term "breakdance" became popularized globally due to its extensive usage in media and entertainment, despite not being the preferred term within the original breaking culture.