I don't know if anyone posted a thread about this, but oh well I'll I don't really post much, I just look at pics and music threads.

What have you seen evolve in breakdancing? By what I mean is what do you see changing, who's more involved in it or anything you see different from couple years to now. Why do you think the evolution happened and do you like it or no?

Ok, here's my view of what I've seen.
-Nowadays I see more people doing contortionist moves and being more flimsy, but I can see why this happened, it's because too much people are doing the same poses and more people are become more creative with their poses and style.

-I also see power moves getting way more advanced and stylish also. I can also see why this happened because that's what has been happening in breakdancing ever since it started, long ago there was windmills now there's like airflare criticals, one handed elbow airflares, etc. It'll probably continue to progress and grow within years.

-I've also seen alot of punker becoming breakers come in the scene. I have no clue why this happened, I guess it's because breakdancing is just that tite or they have nothing else to do. What you think?

-I've seen the old school stuff disappearing from the breakin scene also. From this I mean by moves like windmills, jackhammers, footwork, etc. The reason for this because they're not "fascinating" anymore, I know this because I see myself not doing them as much anymore, plus when I go to places, when people do windmills, and basic 6 step footwork I don't really give props anymore either. I see the basic stuff getting taken over to airflares or crazy combos, and poses and blowups.

-Footwork to blowup routines is another thing. Less people are doing footwork and going to blowup routines. By blowup routines I mean like untangling urself from a position and ending up in a pose, another example is Benji, he does it all the time. This is also happening because it is more creative plus it is more "fascinating".

-Last is I see breakin being more commercial than before. Now I can watch breaking on ESPN or on commericals, before the only way I see breaking is if I buy the video. This happened because more people are starting to break and its growing, and now they have more people to show on TV for people to watch, not just the same ol people.

In conclusion I think that some of the stuff like the evolution of power moves and creativity is koo. The contortionist stuff, blowups, and old school stuff taking over to new school stuff, I'm kind of okay with, but people still gotta keep some of the footwork and old skoo stuff. The punker breakers I'm okay with just as long they koo, one thing I don't like is when they say its punk rock not hip-hop, and when they call themselves dancers, not breakers, which I've heard from some. One thing I don't really like what's happening is breakin becomin commercial not jus because I want it all for myself, but because I don't want breaking to become "common" like many other sports. For example, I don't it to get to the point where I break in front of non-breakers and they say, "oh i see people doin stuff better than that on TV" like skaters and bikers. Out of all I'm koo with more people gettin into breakin, but just as long as it's still underground and not on TV. Now, what are you comments?

[F Stylz]

First thing. Yeah, I understand the thing about flexibeness coming out a lot more. It seems like every crew on videos have at least one dancer that's flexi-style.

It's just one avenue that some people have taken the dance; which is good because depending on how flexi you are, regular dancers have a hard time doing the exact same thing as you. So, it's harder to bite. I think Exzoob (as much as I hate his tops and his attitude toward other dancers) really helped put flexi-styles on the map. Also Plastic Man and J-Rawk (SEC) were some of the earlier dancers that made it thier thing to have stuff like that. Now I see those guys' concepts and even whole moves bitten HARD. Especially Exzoobs' stuff. And not many people did Lotus shit before PlasticMan did. Not saying that he's the one who did it first, or did it best, but I never saw as much lotus shit done before the Junkwartz won Scribble twice in a row and went to OFF.

I guess what I'm saying here is that flexi-style is good to a point, but when it becomes just "tricks" with minimal dancing, it kinda ceases to be cool. But I understand the attempts at standing out and trying to be different.


What you said about no footwork and only power really depends on your region I guess. Here in MN, we have almost no powerheads at all; a lot of our stuff is based on freezes and footwork. Good footwork. And a lot is stressed on tops. But that's here. Where you're from it might be totally different. I realized this when I saw the battles in the Battle Forum and people are like "Whoa, you have nice tops" to someone that I totally think needs to work A LOT more on thier dancing. Same thing goes for footwork.


I guess I don't notice any punks surfacing in the cyphers around here; I guess all you can say is that if they respect the culture just as much as other hip hop heads do, then let them do whatever they want. It might be cool to see what they have to offer.


I see a lot of bboys who think dancing to techno is really cool and shit, which is fine if you are good at dancing to it. A lot of the people that say techno is good for breaking also have some of the worst tops and footworks I've ever seen. Yeah, they have nice power, but that really defeats the purpose. So, if you are hitting beats nicely with your tops and you can keep your footwork in order, go ahead and dance to whatever music you like. I just dislike when people say that they only break to techno shit when they know damn well it doesn't matter what music they break to cos thier not really using the music to move them in the first place.

I'm sure no one is still reading this, so I'll end it here.

[STIFF_UK]

First comment, is that I don't see how someone calling themself a dancer, and not a breaker is a bad thing. No matter how you dress it up, bboying is a dance, and people who do it are dancers.


I disagree pretty strongly when you say traditional footwork is becoming phased out almost. In recent times (especially since The Freshest Kids documentary went worldwide) I have noticed that a lot of people who were strict powerheads, have started to dance. They will even enter the circle and throwdown without using a single spin.
Even looking to places like Korea, Germany, and in some respects even the UK, they were heavilly power based, but are now moving more and more back to the foundation of the dance.


I'm also not too sure about what you said about the blowup routines that Benji is famous for (despite the fact that he bit the idea in the first place) I honestly think that in a lot of respects they are less creative than pure footwork.
I'll probably get slated for that, but that's how I see it.


I know what you mean about the oldschool powermoves though, I don't think you see enough Jackhammers, Turtles, Nutcrackers and the likes in major competition now. It's a real shame. People like Asa (s2n) and Evo (UK Legend) were masters of the old style 1shot power combos, and you don't see that stuff any more.
And turtles... Nick from Second to None was unbeatable on them, and that's something else that just doesn't get seen like it used to.


It's all airtricks and monkeyflips now.

I want to see the oldschool resurgence continue. It will actually bring a whole new lease of creativity and freshness into bboying, which is in danger of becoming a little stale people watching the top-flite respond better to an airflare combo than they do to some clean, crisp and original footwork.

[pacerok]

- I see b-boying as expression, and alot of people have their own ways of expressing the way they dance, whether it be using their flexibility to their advantage or whatever, but getting back to the foundations is where its at, cause from that base you can start to develop ur style of footwork, tops, transitions, you name it.

- i'd say oldschool footwork lyke 6 step, 3 step, and techs for them etc is starting to be fazed out, cause alot of new b-boys and gurls are tyring to create their own fresh footwork, which is good to see , BUT by doing this they lack the crisp, clean basis that footwork should have, alot of their footwork may be intresting but it ends up a little sloppy, but this is not the case for everyone, its just a general statement.

- alot of the oldschool power moves are getting less seen, i think its due to the fact, that alot of the people we watch either, know them already and seem to forget about them because its become easier for them to pull out, thats why airflare combo's are getting pretty repetitive , i think this is due to that fact that, it takes certain skill to pull of clean combo's, take strength, co-oridination, etc thats why i guess people see it as a challange, and find it more of a rush, because their pushing themselves in that manner.

- what i want to see is a complete mixture, of these moves , oldschool power moves, (jacks nutcracker etc ) mixed in with the new aerial shyt, also put together with ill tops and uprock, and footwork and tight freezes that when hit just look awsome, i mean the freezes dont have to be out of it, to impress, cause if you hit a freeze ryte , even if its simple, if put together well in a set or something it looks fuken badd

- alot of people forget that b-boying in a dance! we gotta dance!


- in my opinion i would rather see , sum nice tops, footwork and freezes over repetitive power moves ne day.

Hollah.

[X-Bobby]

Originally posted by BbOyP1nG
Ok, here's my view of what I've seen.
-Nowadays I see more people doing contortionist moves and being more flimsy, but I can see why this happened, it's because too much people are doing the same poses and more people are become more creative with their poses and style.

of corse peeps r doin the same freezes....milions of peeps r breakin now....it's not like the 80's when only a few were doin it and u could recognize somebody by his own moves!!!!!nowdays it's hard to come up with something new!!!!!!


-I also see power moves getting way more advanced and stylish also. I can also see why this happened because that's what has been happening in breakdancing ever since it started, long ago there was windmills now there's like airflare criticals, one handed elbow airflares, etc. It'll probably continue to progress and grow within years.

yeap...mad koreans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-I've also seen alot of punker becoming breakers come in the scene. I have no clue why this happened, I guess it's because breakdancing is just that tite or they have nothing else to do. What you think?

they'r aaight if they don't fuck up dis dance!!!!!!!

-I've seen the old school stuff disappearing from the breakin scene also. From this I mean by moves like windmills, jackhammers, footwork, etc. The reason for this because they're not "fascinating" anymore, I know this because I see myself not doing them as much anymore, plus when I go to places, when people do windmills, and basic 6 step footwork I don't really give props anymore either. I see the basic stuff getting taken over to airflares or crazy combos, and poses and blowups.

i don't like dis....jacks r cool....air turtles r cool....old stuff is still cool if u can make it look cool!!!!!

-Footwork to blowup routines is another thing. Less people are doing footwork and going to blowup routines. By blowup routines I mean like untangling urself from a position and ending up in a pose, another example is Benji, he does it all the time. This is also happening because it is more creative plus it is more "fascinating".

footwork's basic....it shouldn't dissapear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Last is I see breakin being more commercial than before. Now I can watch breaking on ESPN or on commericals, before the only way I see breaking is if I buy the video. This happened because more people are starting to break and its growing, and now they have more people to show on TV for people to watch, not just the same ol people.

damn....underground!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In conclusion I think that some of the stuff like the evolution of power moves and creativity is koo. The contortionist stuff, blowups, and old school stuff taking over to new school stuff, I'm kind of okay with, but people still gotta keep some of the footwork and old skoo stuff. The punker breakers I'm okay with just as long they koo, one thing I don't like is when they say its punk rock not hip-hop, and when they call themselves dancers, not breakers, which I've heard from some. One thing I don't really like what's happening is breakin becomin commercial not jus because I want it all for myself, but because I don't want breaking to become "common" like many other sports. For example, I don't it to get to the point where I break in front of non-breakers and they say, "oh i see people doin stuff better than that on TV" like skaters and bikers. Out of all I'm koo with more people gettin into breakin, but just as long as it's still underground and not on TV. Now, what are you comments?

i like the way u think man....but as you've seen if u read my shit....i don't totally agree with u.....but...fuck it...that's the way it goes...peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[STIFF_UK]

I want to know where this idea that footwork, especially oldschool footwork, has to be basic comes from.
it makes no sense at all. You watch footace of heads like fever one - kenny - spy - jojo - trac2 - peeps like that - there's no WAY that shit is basic man.

Basic is shit like 6step. That ain't oldschool, that's foundation no matter WHAT your era is.

[X-Bobby]

Originally posted by STIFF_UK I want to know where this idea that footwork, especially oldschool footwork, has to be basic comes from. it makes no sense at all. You watch footace of heads like fever one - kenny - spy - jojo - trac2 - peeps like that - there's no WAY that shit is basic man. Basic is shit like 6step. That ain't oldschool, that's foundation no matter WHAT your era is.

no only old skool footwork man....i ment 6 step siht...n...stuff like that!!!!!!!!!!!and 6 step is old skool!!!!!!!

[Chucky]

The real bboys are still doing the real bboying. It's good those punks don't call themselfs bboys, becuase they aren't bboying, they are doing a similar dance called circus.

Benji's blowups are less creative, because he is just doing moves, it isn't one movement and his isn't hitting beats.

[Anubis2002]

this is like the 100th thread of this in less then a month...please READ the boards before posting

[bboyarfen]

Originally posted by ChuckyIt's good those punks don't call themselfs bboys, becuase they aren't bboying, they are doing a similar dance called circus.

so ur sayin cause i listen to punk and i dress like a fuckin retard means im not a bboy. i respect the culture and other bboys.
hmmmmmmmmmmmm...u have lost me=/

I just wanna say thanks to all of u that replied. You guys have also made me think different ideas also. STIFF_UK how u said that powerheads are doing footwork, you're right, I've noticed that more too with like Ruen, Boy, and some Koreans. pacerok it is true that bboying is an expression, because I see myself doing the moves that I like doing more than the ones that I don't.

So I guess pacerok is pretty much right about breaking, it is an expression and people will break the way they want to no matter what, there are no rules of what you can or cannot do when u breakin, just guidlines. So they'll do whatever they want and to them they'll call it breakin.

Sorry Anubis2002, it's hard to find an exact thread cause there's tons. You can delete this once it becomes dead. Peace!

[pacerok]

- yeh the way i see breakin is, that its great expression thru dance. This is our dance, as people we are different, so our dance will be different, but there are things that dont get excepted because nobody is feelin it or its to different, just the way the world works.

- on anutha note, i think it is hard to come up with new moves that are specific to you, but you can introduce your own way and style of doing things that is specifc to you, look at crumbs, remind, etc if you see them getting down you can just tell its them, its their certain flavour that comes through the way they dance.

[PoeticSyndromn]

do you really need to pay attention to the "evolution" of breaking that damn much?

i really dont care what you do as long as its original and looks like you've been refining it. I still do footwork and its my own, no one elses. I still do poses, and im flexible. I do new stuff to though, but does it really matter? And sorry all the old-school breakers are, duh, growing old. And do you have a problem with me being a punk? I mean i wear what i want and I break and skate and listen to punk and rap or whatever, but It doesn't matter. Its like saying i've been seeing more white boys start breaking, and thats true, but no one's gonna care if i say it.

[Anubis2002]

This is from Dyzee's online site....it struck me as important to this topic, especially since its how i feel about the so called evolution...

Battle of the Year 2004

Dear Xanga,
Coming back from BOTY, ive got so many mixed feelings about everything now. Im sad that I had to leave, happy that I have got to experience, upset that its not what i thought it was, depressed because Im not too sure where to go from here.

Battle of the Year is farmost the biggest event ive ever been to. An entire stadium of people cheering on their favourite breakers, the feeling is overwhelming when ur up on that stage. It was pretty tough for th crew, considering that we were supposed to have 8 members but because of some serious issues, (mouses house burnt down along with his passport two weeks before boty, and the following week, the passport office went on strike! Then Lego couldnt get his perminant residence card because he is a landed immigrant and once again the passport office went on strike. And Stripes got into trouble with the law 3 days before battle of the year.) We are cursed! Im surprised we even made it.

At the end of the Trip, i realized that i have no place in this new generation of a scene. The Koreans won, without doing any footwork, or style, or some serous dancing to the music. They have the most incredible power I have ever seen, but that leaves the dancers and the true stylist with no where to go, or compete. Im scared that because of this, people will one day get bored of breaking, putting it back underground where just maybe it belongs... but what ive been struggling for, is to one day see it just how i saw it in germany, that big and spectacular show, but it fuckin needs to be done right. Tell me how all those people in the crowd will know what this dance is really about. I feel sorry for the kids who come and see that the only way to win is to have anything that is super dynameic, with the foundations that rhyme with "air". ex airchair, airflare, flare, spinning chair etc.. Quickstep told me that Originality was not part of the criteria... that doesnt make sense to me. Its too impossible to try to make a difference bye asking them to listen. Sometimes nobody listens, and nobody wants to hear it. So the only way for me or anyone to make a difference, is to come together and do it ourselves. That goes the same for everything in life. I know that no other show danced more than we did, using real hiphop steps, almost everyshow included a gymastics/circus/cheerleading format. I know its a great show no doubt, but fuck man, we are bboys, here to intpret the music with our dancing, our attitudes, our creations, not be a freakin circus cheerleding act.

Then again, i could be just hating. Hating because i cant do what they do, and because i thought bboying was something that it wasnt. I thought it was about music, decyphering the complexity of the music with the movements of our body complimented by our individuality. i guess here comes the seperation of the bboys and the tricksters.

Anyway, thats just what ive come across the weekend. chaoooo

[PoeticSyndromn]

man, Dyzee's the greatest. I was there when he proposed to Jess, it was tear bringing that they're that united even in breaking. Anyways I agree with Dyzee.