Breaking, often mistakenly called breakdancing, is a dance form that emerged as a cultural phenomenon in the early 1970s in the marginalized communities of the South Bronx, New York City. This competitive dance form arose from the diverse music scene of the time, which included funk, soul, salsa, and mambo. Breaking is renowned for its physical intensity and dynamic moves performed at ground level, a departure from typical social dance norms.

Rocking, the predecessor of breaking, heavily influenced its development. The fundamentals of breaking reflect how young dancers observed their elders performing rocking. This dance style was prevalent among the outlaws and gangs of New York City, drawing influences from the Latin hustle, salsa, mambo, and funk roots popular among Afro-American, Indigenous, and Nuyorican communities during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

This workshop will introduce the basics of both breaking and rocking, aiming to inspire participants to apply these techniques to other dance styles.

Topics:

• Footwork basics, starting with the Babylove step
• Groove & bounce
• Angles
• “Breakspace”
• Claiming space