Breakdancing is an athletic style of street dance that developed in New York City in the 1970s, featuring acrobatic moves, spins, and freezes performed close to the ground. Breakdancers, also called b-boys and b-girls, spin on their backs, balance on their heads or hands, and execute quick footwork patterns that require tremendous strength and coordination.

The dance emerged from block parties in the Bronx, where DJs would loop the percussion breaks in funk and soul records. Dancers competed in battles, taking turns showing off their best moves in a circle of spectators. Breakdancing became one of the four elements of hip-hop culture, alongside rapping, DJing, and graffiti art.

Classic breakdancing moves include the windmill (spinning on your back with legs extended), the headspin (spinning on your head), and the freeze (stopping suddenly in a difficult balanced position). Dancers also perform toprock (standing footwork) and downrock (moves performed with hands on the ground).

What started in American streets has become a global phenomenon. Breakdancing competitions happen worldwide, and the dance was an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Games, where it was called breaking. The athletic demands are serious: many breakdancers train for years to build the strength, flexibility, and rhythm needed to perform the moves safely and stylishly.