Breakdance

Breakdance or Breaking is a highly physical and expressive dance form defined by its unique blend of rhythm, athleticism, and creativity. Technically, it weaves together Toprock, Floorrock, Power Moves and Freezes. 

Breaking emerged in the Bronx in the 1970s, deeply influenced by funk, soul, and hip-hop music, as well as martial arts, gymnastics, Capoeira, and Afro-Caribbean social dances. What comes together in Breaking is not just movement technique, but a culture of improvisation, individuality, and battle/ conversation — where dancers express personal style while responding to the beat and to one another.

In this class co-taught by Bboy Meda (Adem Ouhaibia) we will dive into the technique and culture of Breaking.

With an always-present focus on alignment and balance to avoid injuries, we will discover some basic elements of Breaking: BOUNCE, FLOW, FORM, FLOORWORK, POWER, MUSICALITY and ORIGINALITY.

We will meet Breaking as a dance, a culture, and a creative practice.

 

The class starts with a warm-up and finishes with a cypher and cool-down.

During the class we will explore together:

 

>    Musicality & Rhythm: Not only dancing to traditional Breaking music but also experimenting with different styles and creating rhythms with the body — through clapping, stamping, voice, and group collaboration. The goal is to connect body and sound, developing a deeper sense of timing and groove.

>    Freezes & Stillness: Practicing presence, sharpness, and strength by training to hold positions, understand body weight, and find structure in stillness.

>    Toprock & Bounce: Exploring creative stepping, bounce, and flow while connecting with the floor from standing. Exercises encourage personal research, improvisation, and sharing steps with others.

>    Floorrock: Learning the vocabulary of classic steps (6-step, 3-step, etc.) while experimenting with levels, coordination, and weight shifts to build agility and flow.

>    Gestures & Expression: Using hands, arms, and body language to tell stories, invent signs, and add expression to the dance.

>    Movement Concepts: Playing with threads, angles, spirals, and waves to expand creativity and understand Breaking’s unique movement language.

Class values:

 

Originality and character are emphasized in every exercise, encouraging you not only to learn the foundations but also to develop your own style. Flow and body awareness are practiced throughout to ensure smooth, injury-free movement.

At the heart of this class is the culture of Breaking: sharing history, supporting one another, experimenting, challenging yourself, and finding joy in the dance.

It’s about building confidence, community, and creativity — and having fun while doing it.