Many times, people who think of “breaking” or “hip-hop dance” tend to think about similar moves, beats, and styles. You will, however, be shocked to learn that these two forms of dance actually have unique histories, styles, and techniques, and understanding that breaking versus hip-hop is different will interest anyone who dances or even cares about hip-hop culture.
While both dance styles have begun as hip-hop, each has developed into its own custom and brings something different into the dance floor. Let’s take a look at what makes breaking and hip-hop dance so different and discover what makes each style unique.
What Is Breaking?
Breaking, commonly referred to as breakdancing, was born in the South Bronx in the 1970s. Originally part of the broader culture of hip-hop, breaking became its own dynamic art form. At its core, breaking combines powerful, athletic moves with rhythmic floor work and explosive acrobatics.
There are four elements within breaking: toprock (upright dance moves), downrock (floor moves), power moves (high-energy spins and flips), and freezes (striking, motionless poses). Each element requires a great deal of physical dexterity as well as lots of creativity in order that dancers, these ones referred to as b-boys and b-girls, have their individual styles.
Today, breaking is still tied heavily to hip-hop but has its own community and competitions all over the world.
What Is Hip-Hop Dance?
Hip hop dance is a term that is often used for a variety of styles that came through hip-hop movement, each influenced by the rhythms and culture of hip-hop music. In contrast to breaking, hip-hop dance is more upright in style and can include locking, popping, house dance, and waacking.
These styles are groove, freestyle, and rhythm-based, focusing on self-expression and musicality. Hip-hop dance has evolved parallel to hip-hop music and street fashion, reflecting itself as it goes. Today you see hip-hop dance all around-the-place-doing videos, concerts, and even international stages-as mixing traditions with innovations in urban dance.
Core Differences: Breaking Vs Hip-Hop Dance
Structure and Style: Breaking deals with powerful, grounded movements that entail spins and freezes. Hip-hop, on the other hand, is a dance dealing with free style and stances that are upright.
Origins and History: Breaking was a product of a vibrant street culture in South Bronx. Hip-hop dance dealt with an evolving style in the global hip-hop scene.
Movement Styles: For one, it demands physical power and agility in performing acrobatic moves. The case for hip-hop dances, however, is fluidity, groove, and rhythm.
Battles and Competitions: Breaking battles are said to comprise complex floor moves, whereas hip hop dance competitions involve creativity and flexibility in terms of style.
Music: Breaking employed breakbeats, whereas hip-hop dance often is highly mobile and flexible in its use of different genres: from original hip-hop, via gangsta to pop and current popular styles.
Similarities Between Breaking and Hip-Hop Dance
Despite the similarities between breaking and hip hop dance, they both are rooted in a very rich history and culture of the dance form deeply based on self-expression and community. Both styles focus on freestyle and improvisation, urging the dancer to relate to their own feelings.
Dance battles, in both styles, enable competitive exchanges that not only place a great spotlight on skill but also brings in personality and respect for others in the circle of dance. Both reflect the broader influence of hip-hop on music, fashion, and street culture.
Ultimately, breaking and hip-hop dance continue to inspire an international audience in representing the heart and energy of the hips as a movement, but also the power of this form of personal expression.
The Ascension of Breaking and Hip-Hop Dance into Today’s Pop Culture
Breaking and hip-hop dance have intensely ingrained themselves in pop culture, manifesting in all sorts of commercial productions ranging from music videos to Hollywood features. Breaking, especially with its acrobatic flair, is sure to grab the attention of all audiences in the world and is all set to make a debut at the Olympics, even taking its profile to a new height.
Meanwhile, hip-hop dance styles are constantly evolving newer forms or genres and generally tend to attract new age groups of young people. The athleticism, the international competitions going on at the dance floor, as well as viral dance challenges at social media websites, is only adding force to the global dance trends for both breaking and hip-hop dance.
Besides entertaining, their presence stimulates diverse styles and unifies people with the collective tongue of movement.
Conclusion
Though both break and hip-hop dance may look the same, they are worlds apart in their history, structure, and style. Breaking involves athletic moves and movements on the floor, while hip-hop dance is a combination of many styles and movements while upright.
Together, these two express the essence of hip-hop culture that brings about the confluence of competition, self-expression, and community. Whether you are an aficionado of breakdancing’s vigorous gymnastic feats or you sway to the fluid beats of hip-hop dance, exploring both can deepen your appreciation for this thriving global culture.
Keep on dancing and keep on learning while enjoying the infinite inspiration provided by these two amazing styles.