The evolution of break dancing

ABC News' Ashan Singh spoke with one of the original breakers from New York City on the sport’s evolution from the streets to the Olympics.
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[@seanthornton726]

Historical correction, Breaking came from the Bronx. Popping & Locking came from LA & The Bay.

[@domafronoy2004]

Its still confused me on what styles of dance can you call hiphop? Is it only bboying? Or you can call popping and locking hiphop as well?

[@chavoloco91]

@@domafronoy2004 they are both Street dances but hip hop dance is party rocking and breaking, popping and even more so locking are older social dances come from The Bay and So-Cal. the 2 are distant cousins from opposite coasts. the reason that Popping was so closely related to breaking, was because of the boogie boys/electric boogie dancers (breaking & popping fusion) from NYC , and the media painting them all with one brush. Most breaking crews had 1 or 2 poppers on the roster and therefore the dances were labelled as "hiphop" by the media. So while it's not completely untrue to call popping HipHop, it's more true to call it a Funkstyle or BRS (Boogaloo, Robot, Struttin) or to just call it popping.

[@seanthornton726]

@@domafronoy2004 Traditional bboying consist of Breaking, Popping and Locking. But as Hip Hop evolved it has extended to many styles of urban dance

[@inquisitvem6723]

Unfortunately, the best in the world are from S.Korea, Europe and along with the rest of the world and not the U.S anymore.

[@chavoloco91]

@@inquisitvem6723 don't sleep on Canada. Hidden gem in this street dance game 👊🏼🇨🇦

[@xktwnxl4zlx213]

This is inspirational! I cant wait for breaking events at Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris!!!!!

[@tonyorob]

WAY back in 1984 my breakin' crew were hearing rumors that the art form would be incorporated into the Olympics...FINALLY! 👏

[@GMCD213]

I actually performed in the 1984 Olympics closing ceremonies alongside Lionel Richie. I was 8 yrs old and was tasked to do windmills on a disc that my professional dancers held up in the air! Original B-Boy!

[@erickendall4595]

I predicted this twenty years ago i'm surprised it took this long break dancing Universal definitely one of the hardest sports ever in the olympics

[@Heyitdave]

Thank you for giving our culture the news and respect it DESERVES

[@AndrewHoangOfficialChannel]

Can’t wait to see breaking as part of the Olympics next year

[@AngelGarcia-fg9es]

Great! me encanta ver este tipo de noticias, la cultura del hip hop esta viva

[@Twistersmember]

That’s how we break shout out to Red Bull bc one as well

[@danasjlyon8]

Finally in the Olympics games 🚀🚀

[@tomcassidy2525]

" breakers " nice history on where it started

[@maxinewest2191]

Always interesting dancing moves.

[@skillzoodanceschool5966]

Great ! So excited for Breaking to make its Olympic debut :)

[@humancaos]

been a breaker in the 80's and up can still do some, but now I do it safe, watching the olympics might just got interesting

[@gripwilson6229]

The fact is yall love our fba culture but hate the very people who created it...

[@auraholyultimababybaby9367]

That part

[@Vdji5889gjh]

That black community can no longer tolerate idiots like you existing on this planet...HATE? WRONG‼️🚫 ENVY (resentment)= ✅...At this stage in the game if you're still too stupid to recognize the historical ENVY and overcompensation from non-F.B.A in the presence of F.B.A as separate from "hAtE" 🤡 Then you're one less dumbf*ck we need in the community. THERE IS NO HISTORY OF HATE. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ENVY DUMB*SS🤦‍♂️

[@adriengadson3544]

I can't believe they got it right....Breaking! Not break dancing. Also Sunni is legit and everyone belongs....Open to all.

[@TheBreakingProgram]

Amazing !!!

[@indelaxiom]

Haha! I thought George Stephanopoulos was still talking about "breaking" when he said "breaking news alerts" 😅

[@brobullhead]

That's hot. Thanks for breaking it down O.G. Tony!

[@tonywavewesley922]

You’re working

[@mirbazhussain447]

Great job ❣️

[@LuisRodriguez-cs1im]

Sunny is very pretty

[@steezmunky]

agreed

[@MrJuanbernabe]

'Breaking' is an art ... Boogie down bronx ...exited we going to the olympics .

[@WorldReserveCurrency]

I like it when ABC shares real stories... the fake news gets tiresome a lot of times. Thank you.

[@ferehiwottewolde4218]

I really admire the pain there but i'm little too shy to try the difficult moves😁

[@CedrickJones-ci3ri]

B Girls get those medals we are having a watch party in August !!! B Boy RO-BOP in South Carolina

[@mekhi1202]

Nice😊

[@user-zr5qz7jk2y]

Today Breaks more than just a part of hip-hop. It is an art of strength ability of body improved by DJs creation. And success of athlete proportional depends on DJ ability.

[@romeroamsrome]

bgirl sunny is nice with it

[@yashiroch3851]

NICEEEE

[@Baller-balls146]

Cool

[@BaNDA-0]

हमारे यहां तो हिप हॉप का बहुत क्रेज़ है बच्चे से लेकर बूढ़े इस पय डांस करते हैं

[@nipeizzriyang6008]

Sought out to Redbull BC🤟

[@JustJoe827]

Sad that American media still minimizes Puerto Rican contribution in the early days of Breakdancing. Worldwide they are given their due credit along with Afro-Americans. Since - at least - the late 1960s in the NYC area, Blacks and Puerto Ricans have always gotten along though. (I say this from experience)

[@internetboogeyman2744]

You had no contribution you only copied what the black Americans were doing!!!

[@BiGArm-YankEeSLuGgeR]

Come on everybody!! Let be a break dancer so we could show our belly button and who cares if u have a outy belly button “Holla”

[@Meenctory_]

Forgot to mention capoeira influence on break dance moves 🇧🇷

[@ramoduff9399]

Long Live Breaking!

[@chino314sg]

Chana he your title to breaking stop insulating those in the following video u share pleaee

[@jhu2319]

Bboy 4 LIFE🎉

[@roylle6346]

Harry Belafontes parents were Jamaican as well

[@Originalking]

Ok and ?😂 Great investor for black folks because he respected the black American kids artform! I would do it for some Jamaican kids if I was living in Jamaica.

[@roylle6346]

@@Originalking no you wouldn't

[@Originalking]

@@roylle6346 I’m a black American, we have a culture of extending our hand. Especially to people with melanin. But we honestly been foolish thinking others think like that. With all that tribalism is warlord culture you do while being the majority is ridiculous.

[@roylle6346]

@@Originalking no you do not have a culture of extending your hands. You have a history of the opposite, especially the ones after the 60s.

[@Originalking]

@@roylle6346 you’re typing this from my country right? Bwhahaha 😭🤣😂😭🫡 🇺🇸

[@victorthomas5402]

It was actually called " Burning" Young teens outdoing each other's individual Dance steps became "DanceCrews" before it was called "Breaking" when teens gangs started participating in Dance Competition.

[@khmerxbxboi]

Kung Fu and Monks help with the sets

[@Hindu9054]

you are slightly true.

[@Hindu9054]

bboy powermoves came from Power yoga. the bboy and shaolin moves are also based on power yoga. . also Kung fu is originally based on Hindu martial arts like Kalaripaitu.

[@michaelthethinker7214]

Break dancing started in Africa. The dancers are from Ilorin, Yorubaland in Nigeria. (Not Kenya as the title says) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2eYY4J7nNBpbrM

[@Diminish12]

Historical Black culture? the NYC breakers that Tony was in is 80% Spanish, you see it in the photo. Rock Steady Crew 80% Spanish. Anyone that was around during that time knows it was heavy Puerto Ricans. Im from that Era, the lyricist were all Black, the DJs were mixed, the Graffiti Artist was dominant White, the Break Dancers were mostly Puerto Ricans or some Spanish country.

[@victoralicea9961]

Papa it closer to 97% Hispanic

[@preciousnunique]

Latino/Spanish, hispanic is not a race. Puerto ricans are mostly mixed

[@Diminish12]

@@preciousnunique oh here we go, because on the census forms it doesn't give an Option for it? Lol. What are they then? What should they classify as?

[@victoralicea9961]

@@preciousnunique that's hilarious

[@victoralicea9961]

Why not mention Dynamic Rockers

[@davethomas6681]

Asian types love hiphop

[@CedrickJones-ci3ri]

Breakers rule!!!!

[@inquisitvem6723]

It originated in the park Bronx, but unfortunately, the best breakers are in S.Korea and rest of the world. The U.S has been behind for decades.

[@paagyantilifanica5485]

I think it is more important to note the differences between the US and other countries like South Korea, Japan, etc. Personally, I think the latter lack style and musicality, whereas the US fall short in terms of power moves, blow ups, etc.

[@underestimated1171]

You mean that South Korea is behind, breakdancing peaked in the 1980's.

[@gabbar51ngh]

​@@underestimated1171It's joining Olympics so it may have peaked in US but not in other places.

[@Decoy22x]

Victor is smoking everyone

[@nypeeps892]

South Bronx is definitely where it began

[@Hindu9054]

no, it doesnt

[@winniewusweden]

#breaking

[@rickyalbarez9466]

Ya even girl can do

[@GordonGartrell27]

I hope they dance to good music

[@tontonmangaya-hy9fv]

66v6 des

[@jerryjoceguera9770]

Oh god..😒

[@comacuma2869]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmnJmn9jed2raMU the baack street caucus is on

[@___Anakin.Skywalker]

Philippines gon win breakdance Olympics

[@kahlilboi]

Like they won against Floyd Mayweather? 😂

[@RussianTroll-ie6gr]

Actually it was called Bboying

[@JustNilez]

Breakdancing came from black people , the end

[@victoralicea9961]

Describe what breaking was created by blacks. Did they do 6 step or dance on the floor because if they didn't, that's not breaking. I'm done with this bullshit . And you all are forgetting about the Ric that was going on in the late 60s and early 70s.

[@kahlilboi]

​​@@victoralicea9961😂 black people created breaking, you guys will always Johnny come latelys 😂 you copied us with everything from capoeira,zoot suits,doo wop ,jazz,rock and roll, that's why you have latin hip hop ,free style, chicano rap, latin jazz, reggaeton and moombahton its all latinized versions of black music 😂you people are tag alongs and spectators 😅

[@huetuber1204]

It's breakdancing. I don't care what you call it. I call it breakdancing.

[@mastaminch]

And we can call you closed minded

[@theincredibleillmo9385]

Unfortunately it turned into break dancing once again. There are no bboys and cyphers, only a sport…😢

[@victoralicea9961]

There are plenty of bboys and chyphers

[@GMCD213]

The term "Historically Black" lacks understanding and oversimplifies the narrative, often stemming from the misconception that Hip-Hop equates to Rap, which is not entirely accurate. Hip-Hop encompasses more than just Rap; it consists of various elements such as B-Boying, Emceeing, DJing, and Graffiti, which have always embraced multicultural participation. For instance, a glance at the ABC footage in this context reveals that Mr. Wave was the sole Black member among the NYC Breakers, while the rest were of Latino descent. In the realm of original Graffiti artists, figures like Seen, Lady Pink, Haze, Mare, and CAP, among others, are of diverse white and Latino backgrounds. Rap has indeed held a prominent position within Hip-Hop, but it's crucial to dispel the misconception that Hip-Hop is exclusively a Black phenomenon. Throughout history, multiple races have engaged in every facet of Hip-Hop. In the contemporary landscape, different races have taken the lead in various Hip-Hop elements: Breaking is represented by Asians and Whites, DJing by Asians, and Graffiti by Whites. While DJ Kool Herc, a Black individual, initiated the movement in the Bronx, it's vital to acknowledge that people of all races were present and active alongside him, as evidenced by documented sources like "Wild Style," "Style Wars," "Subway Art," "Spraycan Art," and others. Allow me to introduce myself: I am a 49-year-old original B-Boy and Graffiti artist hailing from Los Angeles, deeply ingrained in the culture since its arrival on the West Coast back in 1982 during my second-grade year. Peace!

[@victoralicea9961]

Well said

[@mr.johnson460]

Word!

[@uptownbladebrown]

Stop spreading false information. Every element of hip hop was created by black americans and is from black american culture. The first bboys/bgirls were black americans. The first djs in hip hop were black americans. The first emcee's were black americans. The first modern graffiti artist were black americans. Their names are cornbread and top cat. Kool herc didnt create hip hop thats a lie started by bambaataa in the 90s. Hip hop really started between 1969 and 1971. It was an underground movement until 1973/1974 being done at clubs and house parties. By the mid to late 1970s thats when latinos got involved. Black caribbeans like kool herc adopted and assimilated to black american culture. Hip hop is worldwide now but it started in the black american community in the bronx/new york city.

[@uptownbladebrown]

Also the movie wildstyle isnt a documentary it is a fictional movie. Charlie ahearn is on record saying that.

[@uptownbladebrown]

The reason there arent many black bboys in the 80s is because by 1977/78 breakin became played out in the black community. Thats when the majority of latinos picked up the dance.

[@kazino_v]

ngl bgirl Sunny kinda looks like bboy Blond 😁

[@kendalgee5808]

U racist transphobic fuk

[@SpideyLasVegas]

Where do you get these lame voice over actors ?

[@drumtwo4seven]

trite

[@yaboydose1297]

I don't care if people call it breakdancing like grow a pair why dontcha

[@Godzilladad]

Tough guy 😂

[@Originalking]

Black

[@phoenixhenson3689]

Um Im from the 80's and its called break dancing!!!

[@victoralicea9961]

How can you say it was historically black. When it was 97% Hispanic. And he is not an OG

[@Godzilladad]

😂😂😂

[@nueat6]

victoralicea9961 👈 Idiot found. this dude said 97. lmaooo

[@victoralicea9961]

@Uaiseify1 where were you there. Who are you never heard of you. What di you create who was your crew. I was there for the real breaking.

[@elizandrobailon6459]

​@@victoralicea9961thats right homeboy I was there too..1981 i started bboying and my crew was all chicano and mexican just like all the graffiti writers and poppers in our Barrio...its was all Latino.....Majestic floor warriors crew.....Latinos represent the hip hop scene from the get go....

[@hackskrap]

​@@victoralicea9961 I was. It's historically Black. There were plenty Hispanic crews but historically, the art form, the culture, is Black. Why do yall get offended at this fact?