I’ll be discussing how breakdancing shaped street dance and hip hop identity. Being one of the original founding pillars, it establishes a presence for competitive cyphers. When things get physical in hip hop, the movement from this activity becomes a tool that serves for community survival and pride.
Breakdancing: One of the original founding pillars of hip hop culture
I’ve gotten my first experiences with breakdancing likely when I started going to parties that allowed dancing to happen. Through my youth I can recall parties on boats that had dancing on it in downtown New York, family events, and stretch limousine parties I would throw on my birthday where we would dance— this was my first exposures to the craft without much of any formal lessons being applied to something that has a reputable history. It would surface again when my generation would get blessed with feature length films that glamorized the activity in works such as You Got Served, Stomp The Yard, and movies like those. Being able to breakdance is only one of a few other pillars of hip hop when compared to DJing, Graffiti and MCing. Some of the most entertaining content pieces I’ll enjoy consuming when browsing around on Youtube are dance videos to some of the hottest songs circulating around the city.
The History of Competitive Cyphers
I’m not able to define where exactly the history of cyphers specifically came from, but I can speak to competition. I got tuned in with appreciating the assembly of a cypher from prestigious award shows like the BET Hip Hop Awards since the late 2000s. When you’re placed in one, it becomes competitive in a friendly way. Nobody wants to be seen as the weakest verse— we’re talking about rap by the way. It translates the same way in breakdancing. It’s a transferring of popping and locking in a way where everybody involved keeps passing off motion in a way that’s meant to compliment the flow of whatever beat or complete song is being played.
Taking Pride in Community Survival
Same as the rest of the hip hop pillars, breakdancing only contributes to what the entire community stands for— empowerment usually from resistance against opposing forces in poverty stricken areas when focused on down to the root. I see it as being the glamorizing of empowering messages. There’s plenty of things to suggest this actually being the case. Think of body language- that becomes the louder voice when you compare what it’s originally meant to support— At least that’s the goal. It’s passion that’s really being tested when you’re focused on the talent of being able to actually dance.