1970s
Breaking develops in the Bronx
Breaking grows from block parties, DJs, dancers, and youth culture. It becomes one of the key elements connected to hip-hop.
History
Culture before competition.
Breaking did not start as a sport. It came from music, community, expression, battle energy, and hip-hop culture. The moves matter, but the culture gives them meaning.
Terminology
Why this site says “breaking.”
Many people outside the culture say “breakdancing,” but within the scene the preferred terms are usually “breaking,” “b-boy,” “b-girl,” and “breaker.”
The term “breakdancing” became popular through media coverage, but this site mainly uses “breaking” because it is closer to the way the culture describes itself.
Timeline
1980s
Breaking reaches wider media
Films, television, tours, and music videos bring breaking to a much wider audience. This period also helps spread the term “breakdancing” outside the culture.
1990s–2000s
The battle scene grows
Crews, competitions, and international events help breaking develop into a global culture with its own champions, styles, and regional scenes.
2010s–2020s
Modern competitive breaking
Major international battles, judging systems, and online videos make it easier for people around the world to learn, compete, and follow breakers globally.
2024
Olympic debut
Breaking appears at the Paris Olympic Games, bringing the dance to one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.
Why history matters.
Without the history, breaking can look like only acrobatics. But the dance is also about identity, rhythm, call-and-response, originality, and presence.
That is why this website treats the moves as part of a bigger culture, not as isolated tricks.