B-BOYING ARTICLES:

The History of B-Boying

B-boying is a form of hip hop dancing which is popularly known as breaking. It consists of top or up rock, footwork, spinning moves (power moves), and freeze. B-boying came from Bronx, NY. The term "B-boy" or "B-boying" was created by Kool Herc who was a DJ spinning at block parties in Bronx back in the days. B-Boys means break boys and they were called so because they dance to the break part of music. Later, by repeating this break part done by DJ, "breakbeats" was born. Although people tend to pick up only power moves, real b-boys should master the all elements of b-boying. There are controversy between people who emphasize on style and power moves. One puts his emphasis on power moves and their combination and the other shows their style and individuality by footwork and freeze. Rock Steady Crew has been the one who emphasizes styles to show dancer's individual flavor. Even though power moves have a great impact and very energetic, it is hard to put individual flavor into the moves. Also power moves really don't go with beat since it is spinning. It is closer to gymnastic moves rather than dancing. Because of these reasons, Rock Steady Crew suggests that footworks-emphasiezed style should be the direction of breaking of 90s. Breaking is the most popular style of hip hop dancing and it has been spreading all over the world while new school dancing such as hip hop and house limited to big cities in the US and Japan. See examples of freezes history It was late 60s , early 70s when people started a sort of b-boying. Their dancing was called "Good Foot" from James Brown's record of the same name. The Good Foot was the first freestyle dance that incorporated moves involving drops and spins, and resembled the beginning s of breaking. The best way to describe the Good Foot is, according to Michael Holman, to imagine a majorette marching in a parade taking steps raised high at the knww but keeping the leg raised at the knee in the air for a beat before dropping it down and simultaneously raising the other leg. Like a stop action drum majorette on beat. As the D.J.s invented new ways to elongate 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 and gave these first generation of b-boys the nickname of "boie-oie-oings." Footwork came in when the boie-oie-oings started using their arms and hands to support their bodies in order to free the feet and legs to do gymnastic steps, shuffles and sweeps. 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. The famous first generation of b-boys were "Nigger Twins", "Clark Kent", and "Zulu Kings". Around 1977 breaking was losing its popularirty with black kids and it was about to die. However, breaking came back with a new generation of b-boys. It was Puerto Rican b-boys who put new life to breaking and took it into next level. They started to put many higner levels of acrobatics and gymnastics into breaking and invented many new moves. B-boys such as Crazy Legs from Rock Steady Crew who were influenced by Jimmy Lee and Joe Joe, members of original Rock Steady Crew developed and invented the new moves such as backspins and windmills. I want to mention that there are also other b-boys such as Lil Lep from New York City Breakers who should get props by developed b-boying. Also, media stars like Bruce Lee and other Kung Fu film stars and martial artisits had a major influence on b-boying culture. The popularity of Kung Fu films during the mid and late 70s aroudn the world and especially in New York City, has had a great impact on b-boying style. A large number of martial arts moves were incorporated into b-boying. For example, windmills came from a kung fu which is used to get up from the floor. By repeating getting-up move, windmills was born. B-boying became even more popular in 80s. It was first introduced to out side of New York CIty and the rest of world by a movie "Flashdance" in 1983. (Before the "Flashdance", there were already movies like "wildstyle" and "stylewars". But the "Flashdance" was the first major movie which featured b-boying.) Even though it was not b-boying movie, the short scene which featured b-boying and popping on a street had a great impact enough to inspire people to start b-boying all over the world. After the "Flashdance", many breaking movies were made such as "Breakin'", "breaking'2", and "Beat street." "Beat Street" also had a great impact because it had a scene of battle between Rock Steady Crew and New York City Breakers. B-boying became very popular as "BREAKDANCE" by many media coverages. Because of this too much media coverage, when media stop showing b-boying on TV, people had a sense that b-boying was only a fad. Many people thought b-boying was dead. Some b-boys stopped b-boying influenced by media, also. Media mistreated b-boying. After 1985 or 86, the winter period of b-boying came. Then Resurgence of b-boying happened around 1990. I don't know how exactly it happened. I am sure that it was done by the support of real b-boys who never quit b-boying even during the winter period of b-boying. As far as I know, it was Calfornia where b-boying gained its popularity again early. Nowadays, B-boy events such as B-BOY SUMMIT and ROCK STEADY ANNIVERSARY are organized every year and many b-boys from all over the world get together and keep the culture alive and even try to take it into next level. Referential Description on B-Boying & Some History . ...Styles of dance that originate from the streets, such as b-boying, commercialy known as breakdance are a recent trend in the history of dance. B-Boying developed through a unique history, its aspects are quite different than most dance forms and it is a totally new way to look at dance. B-Boying originated in New York City back during the early seventies. Instead of using violence, gang members used it to compete against other gangs. B-Boying surfaced during the early eighties when it began to develop into a defined dance form with fundamental moves. Groups like the Rock Steady Crew and the New York City Breakers helped to spread the art form and create fundamental moves from martial arts and other areas. B-Boying exited the media spotlight after the media unfortunately exploited it during the early eighties. In the early nineties b-boying exploded on to the scene in Europe and in reaction the American b-boying scene was reborn. The European b-boy style expanded the amount of acrobatic moves in b-boying, while the American b-boy ing style developed the creativity and dance aspects of b-boying. B-Boying consists of two very different aspects that complement each other. The acrobatic aspect of b-boying requires shear skill that can only be developed through years of practice. The acrobatic moves of b-boying take the body to the limit by defy ing gravity, while leaving the audience, as well as the dancers in amazement. The acrobatic moves are known as powermoves and they range from spinning on different body parts to movements that are unthinkable. The creative moves define a b-boy's style b y providing the humor and originality a b-boy has to offer the audience. The creative moves are known as top rock or ground rock depending on where they are mainly executed. These rocks are put to music in routines consisting of simple movements created by the b-boy. Unlike other dance forms, b-boying is different in its purpose, its definition of moves and the way it is learned. One on one competition between b-boys and b-boy crews is the whole purpose of b-boying. B-Boys and b-boy crews practice hours a day so that they can be better than the others when they compete or battle in a formal contest or informal meeting. B-Boy moves are taken from other dance forms, sports, martial arts, cartoons, comics, almost anything. The essential aspect that governs whether a movement can be considered a b-boy move is whether it will be able to embarrass or extinguish an opponent during a battle or competition. In b-boying there are not instructors or lessons to teach this art. To learn the basics and progress a b-boy must practice all the time and battle or compete quite frequently. A b-boy learns the basics by practicing and the rest of the b-boy's style is developed by himself. B-Boying is a lifestyle, rather than just a hobby. The unique history of b-boying that has developed around the world, its two opposite aspects and its new way of doing dance have made it a special style of dance. Through the twenty to thirty years that b-boying has been around it has developed extens ively and is becoming a recognized dance form of today. ,,,

The Art of B-Boying

B-Boying is a dance that is a combonation of many other dance forms. B-Boying is very flexible, in what moves you can make up and use, yet still consider it a b-boy move. You can implement movements from ballet to jazz, almost anything, but they must be altered to fit into the b-boy parameters. I myself take moves from video games, cartoons, action movies and various sources like that. It is all about being creative and original. If you know the fundamentals of b-boying you can use almost anything in your routines and it will still look damn good. I usually try to aim to be as creative and orginal as I can be. I throw in a few basics, a few easy movements, then a couple moves involving freezes and slides that require balance and these balance moves top the routine out. ... ...

History of Hip-Hop

... .. Hip-Hop is not music. Hip-Hop is a culture that is made up of four elements: Rap Music, DJing or beat making, Graffiti, and Breakdancing or bboying. After the commercialization of hip hop during the early 1980's, rap music became the only 'marketable' art form of the culture. Graffiti heads, bboys and DJ's were left back in New York where they perfected the art form and proceeded to world expansion. Hip Hop now has solid roots in Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin American. Some Hip-Hop observers have commented that Germany is now the new graffiti capitol. Hip Hop culture emerged out of New York city during the 1970's and 80's with musical and cultural roots in many forms of music including disco, punk, rock and roll, as well as the many musics of the West Indies. Today all 4 elements of hip-hop are alive and thriving despite a lack of Maintstream interest. Realize that New York City did its best to stop Hip Hop. Block parties, jams and concerts in city parks were broken up by police regularly. Breakdancing 'battles' were also often broken up by police. While graffiti is illegal, the police have and still hassle artists painting legal murals. What is it about Hip Hop that causes major cities to do their best to stop it? Hip Hop, along with Jazz is one of the only Urban American cultures. Hip Hop's innovators come from everywhere. Black, white, Latino. Men and Women. The current state of Hip Hop is much different from the original vibe. Commercial rap (any MC with record and video deals) has destroyed much of what 'real' Hip Hop is. Who needs skills when you can have a fly ass multi million dollar video (Ie Tupac.) Breakdancing is alive an well. Many of the original crews (Rock Steady Crew, NYC Breakers) are still around and new crews have emerged. Breakdancing has become popular among Latino and Phillipino youth on the West Coast and around the world. Graffiti has re-emerged as a popular art form. Currently in its third generation, the graffiti scene is being run by white youth from the suburbs. Many new graffiti artists do not even see the link between what they do and what Hip-Hop is.

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