Break dancing

For IU Breakdance Club President Keane Rowley, break dancing is essentially a means of self-expression.
Rowley believes a break-dancer must put originality into the dance style in order to be different from other “B-boys” or “B-girls.” He said break dancing is the name the media gave B-boying – which stands for “break-boying” – once it became a mainstream dance style.
IU Breakdance Club Vice President Justin Wolverton added that a break-dancer must also possess a “fight mentality” to develop his or her own style. This is important because break-dancers often have battles, similar to MC competitions.
A break-dancer must also have a certain aggression and confidence to their style, Wolverton said. This is accomplished through practice.
Although mastering break dancing requires time and practice, there are basics to the skill. In his efforts to teach some moves to WEEKEND, Rowley broke the basics of break-dance down into two elements: toprock and foot work.
Toprock consists of what a B-boy or B-girl does when standing on their feet, and foot work consists of all the moves a break-dancer does while they have any other part of their body on the ground. Rowley said all break-dance moves originate from either toprock or foot work.
On these two foundations, break-dancers build other moves, such as head spins, freezes or powers. A freeze is a essentially a pause between movements, such as a move similar to a headstand. A power is any break-dance “move” that involves a lot of strength, Rowley said. These moves aren’t for beginners, though.
Rowley said anyone can essentially toprock, but in order to do it successfully, you have to be original and add attitude. You have to add your own style and break-dance in a way that makes you feel comfortable while allowing you to express yourself whole-heartedly. Anyone can learn to break dance, but it takes practice and creativity to become a good break-dancer.

SOUNDSLIDE: Break Dancing