Photo credit Sayde Hernandez |
Photo credit Sayde Hernandez. |
Many of the dancers get involved in programs to get the experiences of their lives and make sure that they want to do it. In the dance world it is complicated to understand all types of dances. It is complicated when you do not understood the value, importance, and the roots of the dance. First thing you should ask yourself before to judge the dance style is, "How does this type of dance represent the culture of the country?" After you answer the question you are going to be able to understand why the people who dance that style are feeling that way when you see them dancing. Dance is important for people because there they can express their emotions, ideals, and opinions without hurting anyone. Behind each movement we can see a story in which people may relate to their own life and the emotions that they have. For many years we have seen some dances as a little informal for teenagers. But the thing that we do not know is that sometimes they dance those types of dances because it is the only way they can find their own expression.
Photo Credit Elias Garcia |
Photo Credit Elias Garcia |
Downrock originally is performed with hands and feet on the floor. Power moves refer to moves that require momentum and physical power to execute. In power moves, the breaker relies more on core and upper body strength to dance, using his or her hands and torso to do moves. Power moves include windmills, swipes, headpins, halos, flares, airfares and variations of those moves. These moves are extremely demanding and the breaker uses them as a display of upper body strength and stamina.
Photo Credit Ian Flaws |
In 1970's breaking was only one traditional style that make them the originals. By the passing of years Breaking came to be one of the most popular dances in the whole Bronx and in all of New York. One of the first crew of Breaking was Rock Steady Crew. Rock Steady Crew emphasizes styles to show dancers individual flavor. Even though power moves have a great impact and are very energetic, it is hard to put individual flavor into moves. Rock Steady Crew encouraged footwork to emphasize style and should be the direction of breaking into the 80s and 90's.
Photo Credit Elias Garcia |
Photo Credit Ian Flaws |
Photo Credit Ian Flaws |
Photo Credit Ian Flaws |
Another important part of Hip Hop is graffiti art. Graffiti became really famous when every new school year more kids were doing graffiti. Graffiti was a way to gain status claiming one's own property and to have identity. When you become a graffiti artist you start on your own street, then you went to the buses, you take over your neighborhood, then to your home train line, then to your division and lastly to the whole city. The first movement to break out was the graffiti underground in train tunnels. Until this point the graffiti movement had anticipated the arcs of the other movements. Graffiti was done by all ethnicities. At the same time was based on skills, not skin color or religion, or anything else that you aren't able to translate to the pieces you made. Graffiti is especially multicultural, representing the ethnic diversity of New York City, the city that spawned it. Urban graffiti comes from New York City in the late 1970s and was born in the subway trains. Tagging inside of the trains with permanent makers and spray cans became popular as well and especially doing murals on the outside of the trains. Graffiti represented the visual, MCs and DJ produced the music and Breakin was the dance.
Photo Credit Ian Flaws |
Dance is a great way for some people to express their ideas and opinions. At the same time they can show who they are and how they want to act. Music is connected to dance because when the people listen to the beat they actually can start dancing and expressing all the emotions that they want to express. In many places of the world dance helps people to get over the situation that they are dealing with in those moments. At the same time many dancers chose the style that represented them in many ways. The style helps them to feel more confident through self expression, and other characteristics of their chosen style. In the art of dance people express their own experiences through movement, that is why many of the dancers feel confident when they are doing their own thing. Dance is an important element in the life of many humans in society, because through dance they can show society who they really are. Now that you understand better the culture of the Hip Hop and Breaking you should able to understand why those dancers decided to dance it and how they feel when they are Breakin.