HipHops Physical Expression B-Boying

 A b-boy/b-girl( break boy/break girl) is a dancer who practices breaking or b-boying the acrobatic hip-hop dance style, commonly known as "breakdancing."


Breaking or b-boying,is a style of dance that evolved as part of hip hop culture among Black and Latino youth in the South Bronx during the 1970s.The term comes from the fact that hey were called beat boys because they had to dance to a specific beat.

It is speculated that this dance comes partially from the lindy hop, and also from the Charleston. Several moves are inspired from Kung-fu, and once or two have support actions that are almost balletic.

There are four elements that form the foundation of B-boying
 The first is Toprock: a term referring to the upright dancing and shuffles.


The second element is: Downrock which refers to footwork dancing performed on the floor.


The third element is the Freeze: the poses that breakers throw into their dance sets to add punctuation to certain beats and end their routines.


 The fourth element is the Power Moves: These are the most impressive acrobatic moves normally made up of circular motions where the dancer will spin on the floor or in the air.


There are many different individual styles used in breaking. Individual styles often stem from a dancer's region of origin and influences.Although there are some generalities in the styles that exist, many dancers combine elements of different styles with their own ideas and knowledge in order to create a unique style of their own.


 The term breakdancing, though commonly used, is frowned upon by those immersed in hip hop culture because the term created by the media to describe what was called breaking or b-boying in the street. The majority of the art form’s pioneers and actual b-boys refer to the dance as b-boying.

In the early 70’s competing teams would dance to win, usually a real fight would break out. The muscles developed under this kind of dancing are the same used for fighting. An unusual fact is that the best breakdancer, in the early 1980's, was often the best fighter or gang member on the street.

B-boys also have their own unique way of dressing. B-Boys typically wear low pants, T-shirts and a hat tipped sideways. The dance must be done in sneakers, for the dancers safety. B-boying is known as an especially dangerous sport for several reasons. This dance is never done on a soft surface. It emphasizes the rough, raw urban feel of fighting. Several dancers have broken their necks, and one died notably in 1982, due to a b-boy move gone wrong.

MC hammers pumped-up dance style are just improvised forms of b-boying. Elements of this dance are still present today, in rap videos.

B-boying has evolved into the dancing that is seen today in music videos and rap. The "boy band" phenomenon and leading pop stars like Britney Spears use elements of b-boying in their work. B-boying has brought new ideas onto the world of social dance.