All about break dance

Modern break dance is not just an ordinary dance, but a real cultural phenomenon that is highly popular among young people and older people. In addition to the dance art itself, it has its own philosophy and history.

According to numerous experts, break dance appeared in the late 60s of the XX century, in one of the poorest areas of New York - the modern Bronx. Gradually, the art of dancing began to spread to other cities in the United States, which allowed it to become a real phenomenon among young people. The modern direction rapidly and step by step developed throughout the country, after which people learned about it in other states.

Contemporary dance art is conventionally classified into two main types - lower and upper break dance, which are often combined with each other. If for the upper type a person must have high plasticity, improvisation and flexibility, then for the lower type, good physical fitness is required. Despite the prevailing opinion, the above-described division of dance is mainly used by post-Soviet countries.

The terms "upper" or "lower" first appeared in the USSR, in the mid-80s of the XX century. In addition to the varieties described above, in modern dance art you can find the definition of Seven to smoke - a pair type of break dance, in which dancers perform movements from certain positions and lines. The main task of this type is to dance this or that element better than the previous pair of participants.

Basic movements that form the basis of any dance technique.

• Top-Rock. In fact, this element is a high-intensity warming up of the body before the implementation of more complex and physically loaded movements. It is characterized by the dancer's quick steps and small jumps. It is also performed to warm up the audience and increase interest in the future number.
• Drop. A basic movement that allows the body to appear in free fall. Despite the fact that in practice you can find a fairly large number of varieties of this dance element, the most popular and simplest is the knee-drop. A similar action is performed through a circular motion and a rapid lowering of the body onto one of the bent legs.
• Windmill. The name of the element is translated from English as "mill". This is the most striking example of power dance moves. When performing it, the dancer must use a large number of muscles, including the back, hips and lower legs. It is characterized by a sharp throwing of the legs into the air, an internal deflection of the supporting arm and a gradual transfer of body weight to the shoulder joint.
• Freeze. A technique with which a dancer manages to create a freezing effect. In most cases, it is used to separate certain techniques or cycles of actions that are characteristic of a particular group or style direction. In this case, the legs are practically not used.

Conventionally, the lower break dance is classified into three basic types: F, H, B. For the first case, rapid rotation of the legs along the axial guide of the body is characteristic, while the hands act as support, alternating between themselves.

A special feature of the H-variety is the rapid rotation of the dancer while standing on the head. Type B is characterized by a large number of different rotations on the shoulder blades and the central part of the back.

A distinctive feature of the upper variety is a large number of "broken" movements and the presence of "wavy" dance elements. Basically, for this type, the so-called King tut technique is used, a characteristic feature of which is the execution of any movements exclusively at right angles.

The upper break dance is much slower than the lower one, because for many novice dancers and viewers it resembles a dance video shot in slow motion. The variety can be used alone or in combination with lower techniques.

In addition to training in specialized techniques, it is also necessary to know what kind of clothing is used for the dance. These attributes are important not only to ensure freer movement - clothing acts as the main tool that allows a dancer to present himself and express his own character in public.

A well-chosen wardrobe can also increase the recognition of an individual or an entire group of dancers. The team usually uses the same colors that are associated with a particular dance team.

The most commonly used clothing in break dance.

• Pants. This wardrobe item doesn't have to be sporty. The main thing is that the pants do not restrain the dancer, they have a good step width and a comfortable length. It is recommended to select such characteristics strictly according to the individual characteristics of the body structure. As practice shows, a too low fit of trousers often leads to various difficulties and mistakes regarding the performance of a particular dance element.
• Sweatshirts. Hoodies, sweatshirts or parkas are most often used as outerwear. The main advantage of this wardrobe element is the presence of soft material and the absence of stiffness in dance movements.Experts recommend choosing sweaters from footer, fleece or knitted fabric. An equally important advantage of the sweatshirt is the ability to dance any kind of break dance on the street without fear of catching a cold or freezing.
• T-shirts. In the art of dance, there are no specific requirements applicable to a given piece of wardrobe. A person performing certain movements can practice breakdancing in both a classic T-shirt and a T-shirt. It is not uncommon for modern dancers to use summer outerwear as the main tool for self-expression, preferring logos, drawings, memes or any other element of graphic design and culture.
• Shoes. For popular dance, there is nothing better than comfortable sneakers and sports sneakers. Before purchasing these shoes, you need to pay attention to the thickness and structure of the sole. A good running shoe should have a high traction value for the dancer on the sliding floor.

In addition to the above-described items of clothing, special attention should be paid to additional accessories. In modern break dance culture, it is customary to wear a bright bandage on the leg or arm, as well as caps or bandanas. This feature is explained by the fact that dance art was originally carried out by street gangs from the United States.

An equally important element of the dance art are specialized devices called wristbands. The main purpose of this accessory is to reduce the negative impact on the joints and muscle tissues of the arms or legs, which are often subjected to heavy and intense stress.

Music in break dance is a fundamental element of dance art, without which any other action is devoid of the slightest sense. For popular and contemporary dance, rhythmic compositions with a lot of bass and so-called jerks are usually used.

In addition to the above-described features, the musical accompaniment should be distinguished by a clearly built drum line, in accordance with which certain movements are performed. In the classic version, break dance is carried out under the style direction Funk. The names of the most popular and suitable tracks from this musical movement:

• The Boss;
• Get On Up;
• Power of Soul;
• I Got The Feeling;
• Mother Popcorn.

In addition to these compositions, one should note such a Funk music performer as George Clinton with his popular melody P-Funk and All-Stars. This track is part of the dance art and has been actively used since the 60s of the last century.

Not less common musicians in the Funk style are:

• Ohio Players;
• Uptown;
• Jackson Five;
• The Dap Kings;
• Chuck Brown.

Recently, a new musical movement called G-Funk is also gaining popularity. To perform energetic dance elements, not only Funk compositions are used, but also tracks performed in the Rap style direction. In break dance, the duo Eric B & Rakim is popular, in whose discography special attention should be paid to such compositions as Paid in Full and The Leader of Follow.

From genres such as Hip Hop and Rap, a separate genre of music called breakbeat has grown., which features a large number of powerful drums taken from classical compositions in the style of Soul, Funk and Jazz. Experts believe that this style direction will soon replace absolutely all existing musical genres. In some cases, dancers perform to various compositions of electronic music. However, this practice is not very popular due to the slight rhythm and characteristics that are applicable to Hip Hop or Rap styles.

Before you start practicing dance exercises and spend a lot of free time practicing, you should understand that the basis of break dancing is good physical fitness. The dancer must control his own body well and withstand intense loads.

To learn dance art from scratch, it is enough to engage in the following physical exercises for 2-3 months:

• pull-ups;
• push-ups on fists and palms;
• pumping muscle fibers of the abdomen and abdomen;
• classic weight on the bar.

Particular attention should be paid to muscles such as the biceps, triceps, lats, dorsal, chest and forearms. Contrary to popular belief, you can train effectively both at home and in a specialized gym. Honing dance lessons in practice should be approached only when strength and flexibility are sufficiently developed.

It is necessary to master the tricks carefully, slowly and not worrying that something might not work out in the first stages. In addition to doing complex physical exercises, you should prepare a place in advance for future workouts.

Despite the fact that practice with a teacher is more effective and faster in learning, you can also learn dance art at home using videos for beginners. A large number of professional and popular dancers around the world are self-taught. The main thing is not to give up and practice constantly. In practice, you can find a fairly large number of specialized gyms and dance schools for adults and children.

Training in modern and energetic dance art with a trainer is much faster and more efficient. After mastering the basic dance elements, you can move on to more in-depth practice. Further, the dancer can independently combine styles, directions and do more complex break dance tricks, creating his own and unique style.