How to bboy dance for beginners
How To Bboy: The Complete Beginner Guide | by BreakDance Decoded
You are confused right?
You watched a few videos of those athletic guys busting out moves after moves on YouTube — and you’re all fired up now.
You really, really want to pick up this dance known as bboying. You want to learn how to bboy.
The problem?
You don’t even know where to start.
A quick search on YouTube gave you hundreds of tutorials and playlists.
But you’re a complete beginner.
Where should you begin? What should you start with? What do you need to prepare before you begin learning?
Are you even strong enough?
Questions, questions, questions.
You see…
I have received questions like these countless of times. And despite being asked so many times, there was no definitive resource I could point someone to to kickstart their bboy journey.
Until now.
I’ve put together a complete beginner’s guide (broken down into multiple sections) that will guide you EXACTLY on how to start.
It is what I call the “Ultimate List of Bboying Tutorials”. It contains every resource or tutorial that I think is good enough to teach you the basics of breaking.
After going through all these tutorials, you can pat your back, start practicing, start creating and becoming good.
Let’s begin, shall we?
Before we even begin on what to learn in bboying, you need to be part of the culture.
Do you know what is the easiest way to be part of a culture?
Learning the terms and vocabulary.
Being able to identify yourself as a bboy, and use the correct language at the right time welcomes you to the family of hip hop. After going through the resources below, you’ll be able to hi-5 any bboy and communicate with them in bboy lingo.
Bboy Sign Language: A Guide to Battle Gestures
Guide to the 25 Most Popular Powermoves And Their Names
Break Terminology 101
It’s Breakin, not Bboying/Bgirling
List of All Hip Hop Terms
Concept of Biting
PoeOne Explains Importance of Sweep
What’s next after you’ve learnt the language of the dance? You have to immerse yourself into the culture.
Not the moves, not the terminology, not the fashion.
But the knowledge that is deep inside your head.
Only by understanding the culture and attaining the knowledge of hip hop will make you a true bboy.
What is Bboying?
The Roots of Bboying
History of Breakdance
History
You’re already impatient, aren’t you?
3 chapters in and I haven’t even touched on a single move.
Yet.
That’s because the fundamentals of breaking isn’t the moves.
The fundamentals of bboying is the music. And that’s true for any dance.
Without music, there can be no dance. No physical expression. No artistry.
To learn the dance, you need to learn the music. Learn what is old, what is classic and what is new and modern.
And enjoy your time grooving and jiving to it.
157 Bboy Tracks You Must Listen To Before You Die
This Playlist of Bboy Songs Will Make You Move Your Feet
Strife Mixtapes
Stance Mixtapes
DJ Lean Rock
DJ B Ryan
DJ Nobunaga
DJ Four Eyez
DJ Fleg
DJ Jebel
We’ve finally reached the first lesson, the first movement of the dance.
The Toprock.
The Toprock is the upright portion of the dance. It’s where you step to the beat, play with your hands and just enjoy being groovy and cool.
The Rock
Cross Step
Indian Step
Salsa Step
6 Point Toprock
B.yu Video Series on Toprock Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Toprock Tips
Ynot’s Toprock Workshop
Before you can get into your footwork, you have to do what we call a transition.
A transition is some move or movement you do to change from levels to levels (e.g from toprock to footwork).
A get down (also known as a go down or a drop) is a method of transiting from your top rocks to your footwork.
Here are a few examples of the commonly used get downs you must know to change from the top level to the footwork level.
Coffee Grinder Get Down Tutorial
Knee Drop Tutorial
Cork Screw Tutorial
Indian Step Get Down
30 Drops in 60 Seconds
Powermove Entrances
The footwork is mainly what differentiates us from other dances and sports.
Let’s be honest.
We are quite possibly the only dance in the world to have developed such sophisticated movements at this level.
The footwork is what it describes — doing moves using your legs and arms and creating patterns of movements that are unique to yourself and breaking.
Watch to see what I mean here:
How to Choose Your First Footwork Direction
Basic Footwork Mechanics
Keebz — Steps 1–6
How to Coffee Grinder
How to 2 Step
How to 3 Step
How to 6-Step
7 Conditioning Exercises To Improve Your Footwork
How to Instantly Improve Your Footwork
What is a freeze? A freeze is what it implies — you act like you are frozen.
It serves like a punctuation in your dance. Imagine the various moves and movements like the words in a sentence and the freeze a full stop.
That’s how a freeze is.
Sharp, and locked tight to (usually) signify the end of something.
How to Baby Freeze
How to Turtle Freeze
How to Chair Freeze
How to Shoulder Freeze
8 Freeze Conditioning Exercises
How to Make Your Freeze Sharp
This is the part you’re probably most excited about.
It is the most physically challenging — and rewarding part of the dance. Many of the moves here require you to practice harder than you thought you ever would, as well as get the particular technique right.
It is not surprising to see people take a few months to learn any one of these moves.
But do not be disheartened — because the rewards will be well worth it.
How to Swipe
3 Swipe Mistakes
How to Windmill
3 Windmill Mistakes
How to Flare
How to Backspin
How to Cricket
How to Halo
Remember I mentioned that transitions are ways for you to get from one level to the other? They are also ways to get from one move to another.
In fact, you can count them as moves on their own.
And here are some common transitions used by bboys (some bordering on difficult) to get from moves to moves.
How to Kip Up
How to Valdez
How to Grub
How to Backspin Kick Up
How to Coin Drop
You’ve finally reached the last chapter of the complete beginner guide to bboying.
By now, you should have a clear idea of what the fundamentals of bboying are — and where you should start.
And if you’ve been diligent, you would have already been practicing the moves listed above.
Once you get your fundamentals down pat, you are ready to develop it a step further — and create your own moves.
You do this by employing creativity.
Employing what we call concepts or mental models that you can apply to change up your dance and to switch up your moves.
And where can you get these concepts?
You can either 1) think of it yourself or 2) use concepts that have already been used by other bboys.
And here, you can choose from a variety of videos where some bboys have willingly shared their most ingenious concepts with you.
Concepts for Breaking
How to Flip a Dance Move and Not Bite
3 Original Ways to Create Moves and Movements
Roxrite’s Bboy Concepts
Korean Footwork Dictionary: Penny | Rhythm Gate | 2Touch | TinoRoc | Fleta | Knukl
Leveraging Concepts
How’s that for a guide?
Now, you no longer have any excuse to not know where to start.
Just follow through the Chapters, consume the knowledge and practice everything inside.
And you’ll be well on your way to learn how to bboy.
Peace,
Erin
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Originally published at breakdancedecoded.com on November 30, 2016.
How to breakdance step by step
The following 3 videos will teach you how to breakdance step by step. We recommend that you watch these lessons in order as they are arranged from easiest to hardest. These moves come directly from our breakdancing courses which you should check out if you want to learn more. A word of caution, you must be careful when you attempt these moves. Be sure to study the movements very carefully and slowly and then ease into them. For other online dance classes click here.
Free mini video course for break dance:
Beginner break dance moves
Breakdancing move #1: 3 Step
The 3 step is one of the most popular beginner break dance moves.
It consist of 3 steps that are done in a circle. In this move you will start with one leg extended in front of you and then will switch the legs as fast as you can so that the other leg is extended, from there you bring the leg side where you end up in a kind of push up position. Learn how to sync the arm switches with your leg switches.
Want More?
The Complete Breakdancing Course For beginners (No experience needed)
Learn simple but impressive moves step by step! You will learn footwork moves, ground moves as well as freezes. This video course has 3 modules with +3 hours of video instruction. Delivered through instant online access.
Learn more & Buy it here (Click here)
Breakdance move #2: Corkscrew Up:
This is another cool bboy move.
The corkscrew up is perfect for when you need to get up from the ground in a “cool” and smooth way. You can do this move on it’s own or from any other combination of moves.Here you will develop strength and balance as you push off the floor to spin upwards and around.
One more to go below!
Want More?
The Complete Breakdancing Course For beginners (No experience needed)
Learn simple but impressive moves step by step! You will learn footwork moves, ground moves as well as freezes. This video course has 3 modules with +3 hours of video instruction. Delivered through instant online access.
Learn more & Buy it here (Click here)
Break dance move #3: The baby freeze
Learn how to do a baby freeze move in this video.
Freezes in Breakdancing are meant to draw attention to the dancer and are usually put in at the end of some footwork combination like the 3-step above! The baby freeze is great to start out with since its small. It still requires lots of coordination and practice so take it slowly and make sure you don’t skip anything.
Get Barry’s full course now:
The Complete Breakdancing Course For beginners (No experience needed)
Learn simple but impressive moves step by step! You will learn footwork moves, ground moves as well as freezes. This video course has 3 modules with +3 hours of video instruction. Delivered through instant online access.
Learn more & Buy it here (Click here)
History of Breakdancing:
Breakdancing was founded by the black community and Puerto Rican kids in the 1970s.
And it really became popular after James brown’s single “Get On The Good Foot” where his busted out his high energy footwork dancing. After that, the kids in New york started to copy his moves and eventually it evolved to be called b-boy or break dancing. At that time most of the style was ground footwork combinations without any of the fancy stuff you see today like windmills or back spins that are popular today. There were also breakdancing battles between gangs or clicks.
Another dance called “uprock” influenced the b-boy dancers. In this dance style, the dancers mimic fighting moves into rhythmic dance moves that opponents would use to ‘battle’ against one another.
The music is not restricted to Hip Hop anymore. These days dancers choose Techno, Jazz, electronic, pop and an other types of music that suites their style.
Other styles:
Back to free Hip Hop dance videos page
How to Ballroom dance
How to dance at clubs and parties
Online dance classes
Break dance training.
VIEW ALL LESSONS >>> Breaking or break dance (break dance) - one of the most spectacular areas of street dance, which includes torsion, energetic "runs" and sudden stops of the dancer (freez) during his exit. The dance style began to form in the early 70s in New York in the Bronx area. Only a few years have passed and from the underground dance breakdance has received worldwide fame and recognition. Today, breaking is one of the strongest dance subcultures, with a developed technique, system of events and a real street spirit. On this page you will see break dance lessons for beginners. nine0003
If you want to learn how to breakdance and feel that you can't do without a mentor, come to the Dragon Dance School for a trial breakdance lesson. Since 2000, we have been helping people learn how to move beautifully and feel the music. Already several thousand people have been trained and learned to dance.
Even if you have never worked out before, even if you are not in good physical shape now, all this is easily fixable. You will understand that learning to dance is easy. Come for a free trial lesson. nine0003
Break dance training for beginners: the right warm-up
Any dance lesson in any style, be it breaking or hip-hop dance, should begin with a warm-up. This allows you to warm up the body, muscles and ligaments. This is especially important for learning the lower break, since it uses the maximum resources of the body, which means that in order to swing to the fullest, you need to warm up a lot, maybe even sweat a little.
Break dance video lessons: top rock (top rock)
Top rock is what the dancer does before entering the lower elements.
However, top rock should not be neglected, for a good dancer is easily recognized by the first moves of top rock. It's like a business card. Look online lessons on top rock and learn the elements suggested there. This will allow you to learn how to breakdance even at home.
1. Break dance school: Top rock 1
2. Break dance lessons: Top Rock 2
3. Top Rock 3. Movement Break DANSA for beginners
4. TOP ROCK 4. Street Dance lessons 9000 9000 9000ours children and not only in Moscow. Sign up and come to a trial lesson
Basic technique: footwork (style)
Footwork or style is one of the main sub-styles in breakdance.
It includes, as the name suggests, "footwork". And indeed it is. A variety of "running", "cutting" and so on. Each bboy tries to stand out in footwork and do it in his own way. Therefore, it is important to learn the basics at the beginning, and then proceed to improvise and develop your own manner in footwork. nine0003
1. How to learn how to dance Break DANS: Sharchka
2. Break DANS LUCK: Six Steps
3. Online lessons BREAK DANSA: Three Steps 9000 9000
4. dance for beginners: CC's
Basic technique: Freez/Power trix
If you watched breakdance videos from battles, then you probably remember that during the dance, the b-boy can suddenly stop or freeze in the most incredible position.
These stops are called "friezes". Also in breakdance, many elements are performed from a handstand, elbows, etc. This power substyle is called "trix". Watch break dance lessons and master the base of these directions. nine0003
1. Break dance. Where to start: Balance
2. Freez 1. How to learn Break Dance Frisa
3. Video Dance Lessor Break 2
90144. Freez 3. Break dance lessons
Basic technique: Power move
Finally, we move on to the most spectacular part of break dance for many - power moves. These are power movements, all kinds of torsion on the head, back, various "air twists" and "air tracks".
Indeed, power moves are the hallmark of breaking. In order to learn how to bray dance and perform complex elements, you will first need patience. Every break dance move requires thoughtful practice. Therefore, if something did not work out on the first try, do not be discouraged. Just do it again. Record your video. Compare with how it was explained in the video tutorial. A little work and everything will work out! You will learn to dance breakdance the way you have long wanted to! nine0003
1. Basic rotation for beginners Backspin (Bek Spin)
2. Element Break Dansa Svips Swipe: Parsing and Training
3. Lessons of dance Break Dance: Turtle or "Turtle"
4.
The most famous break dance element: Windmill / gelik / mill
Routines
1. Break dance lessons: Combo 1.0002 2. Break dance training and online lessons: Combo 2
It is often easier to learn how to dance with an experienced trainer. Even if you are afraid that it will not work out and have never danced before, it is not scary. In our Dragon Dance School, we train those who come to study "from scratch". Sign up for a trial lesson and give yourself a dream come true!
The history of breaking (breakdance) — Dance studio GOOD FOOT in Nizhny Novgorod
B-boying originated in the Bronx, in a part of New York. The very term B-boy or B-boying was coined by dj Kool Herc, who often played records at various street parties.
The word B-boys means Break boys - guys dancing to broken rhythms of music (hence, by the way, the name Breakbeat came from). Some novice dancers used to get hung up on individual elements and tried to work within the framework of a single direction. Many believed that this was not entirely correct, since a real B-boy should be able to do everything. The first to stand out from the crowd and demonstrate their individuality was the Rock Steady Crew, which united all directions and managed to give each dance element its own special distinctive feature. nine0003
A new generation of b-boys brings breaking to life. And first of all, this is the merit of Puerto Ricans, who were able to re-seed the hip-hop dance culture and push breaking to a higher level.
They began to use more acrobatic tricks in the dance and worked hard to invent new dance elements. For example, the well-known B-boy named Crazy Legs from the Rock Steady Crew team once invented and introduced elements such as backspins and windmills to the masses.
Movies with the participation of martial arts stars, such as Bruce Lee, have greatly influenced the process of updating B-boy culture. Some dancers tried to use elements of kung fu in their movements, since films in which narrow-eyed guys waved their arms and legs rather quickly were very popular in New York in the mid-seventies. By the way, such a dance element as windmills was born thanks to the style of kung fu and allowed a person to abruptly tear off the torso from the floor in a jump. nine0003
Breaking, in other words b-boying, is very different from other forms of dance. One could even say that it is a progressive development of previous dance forms.
In New York in the 50s and 60s. there was a large influx of immigrants. Everyone brought some part of their own into the dance, like, for example, the Africans, who brought rhythm into the dance. The influence of African dance on breaking is obvious, not only because of the "circle dance". Also, the expression b-boing (b-boing) can be borrowed from the African word Boioing, which means "Hop (dancing), jump (jump)".
nine0003
Breaking, originally known as Rocking, is a progressive development of the Good Foot dance style. Young dancers went out to the dance floor and "broke" ordinary movements to the beat of the broken beats of the record. In its early days, b-boying consisted of Toprocks, Floorrocks and Freezes - spins had not yet been introduced. As "dance battles" took hold at the time and breaking became a part of hip-hop culture ("fight with creativity, not with weapons"), it increasingly forced dancers to use their imagination to perform all sorts of battle stunts. . The main goal in the battles was to beat the enemy with more ingenuity of all kinds of friezes and movements and the execution of fast and clear runs. This circumstance also explains the fact that those people who united in teams and generally danced together developed their own style in order to resist other teams."
The first b-boy team was called The Nigga Twins and they pioneered the b-boy movement with The Zulu Kings, The Seven Deadly Sinners, Shanghai Brothers, The Bronx Boys, Rockwell Association, etc. After some years of development of this dance in the mid-70s. there were people with considerable experience in dance. They were considered kings: Robbie Rob (Zulu Kings), Vinnie, Off (Salsoul), Bos (Starchild La Rock), Willie Wil, Lil' Carlos (Rockwell Association), Spy, Shorty, (Crazy Commanders), James Bond, Larry Lar , Charlie Rock (KC Crew), Spidey, Walter (Master Plan) and more! nine0003
In the 80s such teams as Rock Steady Crew, NYC Breakers, Dynamic Rockers, United States Breakers, Crazy Breakers, Floor Lords, Floor Masters, Incredible Breakers, etc. appeared in New York. At the time, a big rivalry was between the RSC and NYC Breakers, and between the RSC and the Dynamic Rockers. Battles between these teams in the early 80s attracted the media.
The 81st RSC show was shown by ABC at Lincoln Center.
The 82nd battle between the RSC and the Dynamic Rockers was taped for the documentary "Style Wars". nine0003
In 1983, the movie "Flashdance" and the video clip of Malcolm McLarens "Buffalo Gals" appeared on the screens.
RSC played a major role in both productions, and were shown around the world due to the huge success of both the film and the video. For many, the break was then something new, something that had never happened before, something that no one had ever seen before, something that was really spectacular and exciting.
In the same year the film "Wild Style" was released, and in support of this film there was a tour, which was the first international tour of hip hop culture - MC, DJ, writers and b-boys went to Paris and London - and this was the first the time breaking was seen "live" in Europe. nine0003
'84 saw the release of Beat Street, which also featured Rock Steady, NYC Breakers and Magnificent Force, and over a hundred b-boys and b-girls put on a spectacular show at the closing ceremony of the LA Olympic Summer Games.
Every year breaking became more and more popular and fashionable, breakers began to appear in commercial projects (TV shows, advertisements, clips, etc.
