break dancing
break dancing
Pronunciation
/ˈbreɪkˌdænsɪŋ/
break: /breɪk/
/b/ - voiced bilabial stop
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/eɪ/ - diphthong, /e/ as in "bet" followed by /ɪ/ as in "kit"
/k/ - voiceless velar stop
danc-ing: /ˈdænsɪŋ/
/d/ - voiced alveolar stop
/æ/ - near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Break dancing (uncountable)
Break dancer (singular, countable)
Break dancers (plural, countable)
Verb:
Break dance (base form)
Break dances (third-person singular present)
Break dancing (present participle, gerund)
Break danced (past tense, past participle)
Adjective:
Break dancing (e.g., "a break dancing competition")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A style of acrobatic street dance originating in the 1970s among African American and Latino youth in the Bronx, New York City. It is a highly athletic and often improvised form of dance characterized by intricate footwork, spins, power moves, and freezes.
Synonyms: B-boying, b-girling, breaking.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it is a specific style of dance. Broader terms might be "formal dance" or "ballet" to denote a contrasting style.)
Verb
Definition 1: To perform the style of dance known as break dancing.
Example: "The crew gathered in the park to break dance for the crowd."
Synonyms: B-boy, b-girl, break.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms. A general antonym for "dance" might be "stand still" or "remain motionless," but these do not apply specifically to the act of break dancing.)
Adjective
Definition 1: Pertaining to or involving the style of dance known as break dancing.
Example: "The break dancing scene in the city is very active."
Synonyms: B-boying, b-girling.
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it is a descriptive adjective for a specific activity.)
Examples of Use
"A break-dancing competition in South Korea has drawn crowds to watch contestants vie for the top prize."
"In the Netflix documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution, the origins of break dancing are explored, tracing its development from the streets of the Bronx in the 1970s."
"The headline of an article in The New York Times read: 'The Unofficial Mayor of the Bronx's Breakdancing Scene'"
"While discussing the Olympics, a sports commentator on a news program said, 'The inclusion of break dancing as an Olympic sport is a clear sign of the Games evolving with the times.'"
"An Instagram post from a popular dancer featured a video with the caption: 'Just a little impromptu breakdancing session at the park today. Who wants to battle?'"
10 Famous Quotes Using Break dancing
“There is no real bravery in getting paid to save someone's life. However, there is a large amount of bravery in a nurse break dancing at the hospital's Christmas party.” - Shannon L. Alder
"This kid was writing saying that they were breaking down some of the racial lines in their towns and communities, because their break dance crews were mixed race, and they didn't give a f**k." - Michael Holman
"I was teaching an after-school break-dancing class which may have helped, supporting the diet's premise that exercise helps individuals to lose weight faster." - Unknown
"We were known as b-boys; b-boys are what you call break boys." - Frosty Freeze (of the Rock Steady Crew)
“I think I'd be a great break-dancing star.” - Unknown
"If you can't be an athlete, be a break-dancing ninja." - Unknown
"I get knocked down, and I break dance again." - Unknown
"My style is breakdance." - Unknown
"Break dancing may have died, but the b-boy, one of four original elements of hip hop... lives on." - Britannica
"The inclusion of break dancing as an Olympic sport is a clear sign of the Games evolving with the times." - The New York Times
Etymology
The word "break dancing" comes from the unique style of dance that emerged in the Bronx, New York, during the early 1970s. The term itself is a combination of two words: "break" and "dancing."
The "break" part of the word refers to the musical "break" in a song. This is a section of a musical track where the main vocals and melody drop out, and only the raw beat remains. DJs at block parties would isolate and repeat these breaks, which were perfect for dancers to show off their moves. The dancers who performed during these musical breaks were called "b-boys" (for break-boys) or "b-girls" (for break-girls), and the dance they did became known as "breaking."
The "dancing" part is self-explanatory—it's a form of dance. So, "break dancing" literally means "dancing to the break of the music."
The term "break dancing" was popularized by the media, particularly after the 1980s documentary Style Wars and the film Flashdance, which brought the street dance to a wider audience. While the dancers themselves often preferred the term "breaking," "break dancing" is the name that stuck in the public's mind and is now widely used to describe the dance form.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Break dancing
To break dance on the head of a pin: This is a playful, exaggerated phrase to describe someone doing something very precise or complicated in a small space.
The break dancing of the mind: A metaphorical phrase to describe quick, agile, and creative thinking, often with unexpected twists and turns.
To put on your break dancing shoes: An idiom meaning to get ready for a lively, energetic, and impressive performance, whether it's a literal dance or a different kind of task.
A break dancing competition with the devil: A hyperbolic phrase to describe a situation that is extremely challenging, high-stakes, and requires a lot of skill to win.
As graceful as a break dancing rhinoceros: A humorous idiom used to describe someone who is attempting a graceful or delicate task but is performing it in a very clumsy, heavy-handed manner.
Caught break dancing in the aisle: A lighthearted phrase to describe someone who is so excited by music or an event that they start dancing enthusiastically in an unconventional place.
The art of the break dance: A phrase that refers to the skill, creativity, and discipline involved in the dance itself.
A verbal break dancing session: A phrase to describe a lively, quick-witted, and back-and-forth conversation or debate.
Like a break dancer on ice: An idiom used to describe someone who is trying to maintain balance and control in a very slippery or unstable situation.
That's my break dancing move: A personal phrase used to describe a unique or signature action that someone is known for, whether it's a literal dance move or a way of handling a certain situation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of break dancing from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
