05:16
Faizan
When one hears the word, "breakdancing," visions of the glory days of hip hop are conjured up: Puma sneakers, thick gold chains, rap battles, boomboxes and teens trying out the latest breakdancing moves on some cardboard at the nearest street corner. As breakdancing has faded from the forefront and prominence it once enjoyed in the hip-hop music scene, it's nevertheless important to discuss its history to prevent it from becoming extinct in contemporary minds. Breakdancing was integral to the evolution and rise of what we now know as hip-hop culture.
The Creation
Breakdancing, like other dances, found its origins in past dance forms. While African dance steps influenced breakdancing, dance from the early to late 20th century--for example, James Brown doing moves on the floor for "Get on the Good Foot" as well as the famous Charleston dance of the 1920s--exerted its influence on breakdancing with rhythm and swift movements. Breakdancing was shaped into an art form by the contributions and combining of diverse dance genres. But this is not the end of the breakdance story; rather, it is the beginning of its life.
The "Break"
The "break" in breakdancing came about when the dancer would follow the rhythm of the music and moves along with the breaks in the music. Breakdancing was popularized in the South Bronx in New York City in 1970s as it was used to settle differences between street gangs, who would otherwise resort to violence. This became known over time as "battling." Afrika Bambaataa, leader of the gang-turned-hip-hoppers Universal Zulu Nation, was the person to utilize this method of arbitration between enemies.
Dance Crews
From this practice of brokering peace using dance, breakdancing crews arose. Some of these crews include the famous Rocksteady crew and Bambaataa's own dancing crew, the Zulu Kings. Breakdancing crews in the Bronx would battle one another, either in the streets or in community talent shows. Being from the streets of the Bronx, breakdancing was becoming closely linked with the burgeoning hip-hop music culture of late 1970s New York City.
Breakdancing in the 1980s
One of the most well known breakdancing groups, the Rocksteady crew (created by Jojo and Jimmy D) and subsequently joined by Crazy Legs, changed breakdancing by introducing fancy and complex movements into the dance routine. One foreign inspiration incorporated into breakdancing of the 1980s by the Rocksteady crew was Brazilian caporeria. The 1980s breakdance was new and improved from previous versions due to these innovations. Also, many crews developed and added their own improvised moves to the repertoire. This period saw films about the breakdancing culture as well. These films include Krush Groove, Breakin' and Beat Street. These movies furthered breakdancing into popular culture. Rappers of the era, such as LL Cool J and Run DMC, starred in these films. This had the effect of fusing breakdancing and hip-hop culture into one. For example, both wore the same clothing of the time: Cazal glasses, jump suits and Kangol apparel.
The End
The 1980s was the height of the breakdancing craze. Its popularity died when the hip-hop scene changed in the early 1990s with the introduction of gangsta rap, with artists such as NWA, Ice Cube, Ice T and Snoop Dogg. The landscape of hip-hop moved away from partying and dancing to subject matters such as gang banging and drive-by shootings. Lost in the transition was breakdancing, a victim of the times, as the West Coast became the new Mecca of all things hip-hop. Today, breakdancing still exists as evidenced by the still-alive Rocksteady crew. But it now continues on the periphery of the underground music scene. Will it ever rise to the prominence it once had? Who knows, but what is known is that breakdancing is an important part of the history of music.
The Creation
Breakdancing, like other dances, found its origins in past dance forms. While African dance steps influenced breakdancing, dance from the early to late 20th century--for example, James Brown doing moves on the floor for "Get on the Good Foot" as well as the famous Charleston dance of the 1920s--exerted its influence on breakdancing with rhythm and swift movements. Breakdancing was shaped into an art form by the contributions and combining of diverse dance genres. But this is not the end of the breakdance story; rather, it is the beginning of its life.
The "Break"
The "break" in breakdancing came about when the dancer would follow the rhythm of the music and moves along with the breaks in the music. Breakdancing was popularized in the South Bronx in New York City in 1970s as it was used to settle differences between street gangs, who would otherwise resort to violence. This became known over time as "battling." Afrika Bambaataa, leader of the gang-turned-hip-hoppers Universal Zulu Nation, was the person to utilize this method of arbitration between enemies.
Dance Crews
From this practice of brokering peace using dance, breakdancing crews arose. Some of these crews include the famous Rocksteady crew and Bambaataa's own dancing crew, the Zulu Kings. Breakdancing crews in the Bronx would battle one another, either in the streets or in community talent shows. Being from the streets of the Bronx, breakdancing was becoming closely linked with the burgeoning hip-hop music culture of late 1970s New York City.
Breakdancing in the 1980s
One of the most well known breakdancing groups, the Rocksteady crew (created by Jojo and Jimmy D) and subsequently joined by Crazy Legs, changed breakdancing by introducing fancy and complex movements into the dance routine. One foreign inspiration incorporated into breakdancing of the 1980s by the Rocksteady crew was Brazilian caporeria. The 1980s breakdance was new and improved from previous versions due to these innovations. Also, many crews developed and added their own improvised moves to the repertoire. This period saw films about the breakdancing culture as well. These films include Krush Groove, Breakin' and Beat Street. These movies furthered breakdancing into popular culture. Rappers of the era, such as LL Cool J and Run DMC, starred in these films. This had the effect of fusing breakdancing and hip-hop culture into one. For example, both wore the same clothing of the time: Cazal glasses, jump suits and Kangol apparel.
The End
The 1980s was the height of the breakdancing craze. Its popularity died when the hip-hop scene changed in the early 1990s with the introduction of gangsta rap, with artists such as NWA, Ice Cube, Ice T and Snoop Dogg. The landscape of hip-hop moved away from partying and dancing to subject matters such as gang banging and drive-by shootings. Lost in the transition was breakdancing, a victim of the times, as the West Coast became the new Mecca of all things hip-hop. Today, breakdancing still exists as evidenced by the still-alive Rocksteady crew. But it now continues on the periphery of the underground music scene. Will it ever rise to the prominence it once had? Who knows, but what is known is that breakdancing is an important part of the history of music.
