There are many art forms that we see daily through our lives which include painting, photography, ballet, hip hip, jazz, or poetry but one interesting art form that isn’t mentioned much or maybe you haven’t even heard of is break dancing or also famously known as b-boying in the break dancing community. It is a form of hip-hop but also includes various sport forms such as gymnastics and martial arts. This dance form was originated made originally in New York City during the late 196os and early 1970s. Break dancing is a type of dance that is mostly improvised by dancers but there are some original moves that were created during its process that dancers incorporate these days.
Break dancing consists of four movements that make up the dance the form. These four movements consist of top rock, down rock, power moves, and freezes. To go in detail, top rock is a movement that consists of foot movements while your in a standing upright position but down rock is where you are doing floor based movements and have to count on your major ligaments to support your body. Freezes are when a dancer incorporates a certain pose and remains in it for a few seconds before continuing on to the next move. The last movement incorporates power moves which are more gymnastic type moves where you’re doing flips and extravagant jumps.
This dance form was done by various countries after it gained it’s popularity on media that someone finally decided to hold the first ever break dancing competition which was called the Battle of the Year during the 1990’s in Germany. This was the biggest thing to have ever had happened in the b-boying community that people from all of the world took part in the competition. It’s like the World Cup of break dancing that is now heard every year but back then it was such a big deal. Each crew would have to perform a 6 minutes routine and go one-on-one against another group and then it would be decided from there who would move on to the next round. The winners of the 1990 dance battle were a group of Koreans. (Couldn’t find their name) The biggest thing to have surprised me when I watched the competition was the post celebrations that were done by the break dancers. There was no malice towards each other and they brought their own types of foods, shared their correlation ways with each other. You don’t see that everyday where people are excited to learn about you and sure their own traditions with you. It was so heartwarming to see them together and be able to enjoy each others presence. It was like one nation sitting together and loving each other and not having a care in the world about what’s happening around them or in their respective countries.
When getting the opportunity to do this project, I wanted to share the art form of a dance that not everyone knew about and wanted people to know the wonders of how such an incredible art form that can bring people from various countries together. To be able to dance with others and express yourself the way you may not have even done in front your friends or family is so incredible and awe inspiring. You’re showing a person from another culture, the way you feel and the way you want to live which I know is difficult for many people so I give many applauds to these confident and artistic people who have confidence in their work and want to share it with the rest of the world. I want people to take away from this dance form that we may be isolated from our friends and families about our own talents and don’t want to show case but please have the confidence to show your talent to the world and express yourself so others know how creative you are and can interpret life through your form of art or talent. Break dancing is a form that makes people come together from various nations and makes them become one nation which is my hope for one day in the future that we can all be together and not judge each other for who we are. Be yourself and show your talent to the world with confidence and true beauty and be an inspiration for others to do the same.
Fajar Ahmed
