Breakdancing, also known as b-boying/b-girling or simply breaking, is one of the three major styles of street dance, and the dancers are collectively known as “b-boys” or “b-girls.” It originated in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York City, with early iconic crews like the Mighty Zulu Kings and Rock Steady Crew. Initially, the dancers were mostly Latino and African American. The music accompanying breakdancing is typically hip-hop, funk, soul, and breakbeat, which in turn has influenced the development of hip-hop music to this day.
As the most popular style of hip-hop dance, breaking’s influence has expanded from its early underground roots in the United States to a global phenomenon, becoming a significant part of modern dance culture.
Breaking is a highly individualistic, athletic, and skill-based form of street dance. It has a high degree of freedom and today’s breaking style incorporates various body elements, including tap dance, lindy hop, samba, uprock, acrobatics, gymnastics, Chinese martial arts, and capoeira. Battles are an important cultural aspect of breaking, with common formats including one-on-one, crew battles, and “Seven to Smoke.” During a battle, breaking is highly competitive and aggressive, but the principle is to avoid physical contact with the opponent. Due to the physical demands and technical complexity, there is ongoing debate about whether breaking is more of a sport or an art form. Currently, breaking is recognized as a sport and will make its Olympic debut as an event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, promoted by the World DanceSport Federation.