breaking

Breaking or breakdancing started in the late 1960’s, early 70’s. DJ Kool Herc took a James Brown song called the ‘Good Foot’ and looped it on the ‘break’ beat so that dancers could have a continuos rhythm to dance to. The ‘good foot’ was the first freestyle dance that incorporated moves involving drops and spins. As D.J.s invented new ways to stretch the break beats in the records, dancers had more time to invent and experiment. Soon moves like dropping down to the ground and poppin up again on beat became standard. DJ Kool Herc coined the term b-boy around the mid seventies to describe the people that danced this new style. In the middle of his sets he would get on the mic and yell “B-boys go down!” to signal the crown to clear the way for the breakers. People still aren’t sure what Herc meant, but the term b-boy is still used today and most people think it means ‘break boy.’ In Brooklyn a new step inspired by these drops was being developed and called ‘Brooklyn Rock’ also known as ‘Uprocking’. Once the first early break moves had been established, a definite style began to develop.