Learning breaking for beginners: How to master the basics

Before you head to the floor, every dance starts on your feet. The standing steps in breaking are called Toprocks. They are your calling card on the dance floor, used to present your style and your sense of rhythm. The absolute classic among toprocks is the so-called Indian Step. With this step, you alternately cross one foot in front of the other while your arms open and close to the beat of the music. It is not about performing particularly complicated patterns, but about feeling the music in your body and showing presence.

When you are looking for the transition from standing to the floor, go-downs come into play. A go-down is the fluid movement that brings you down. For beginners, a simple drop to the knees or a controlled descent into a deep squat is suitable. It is important that this transition does not look like a fall, but like a conscious, controlled part of your performance. If you want to try out your first steps, good preparation will help you. You can find out how to prepare yourself mentally and practically for your very first session in the guide on your first dance class.

As soon as you have reached the floor, the actual footwork begins. This is the heart of breaking on the floor, where you support yourself on your hands and feet and dance circular or linear patterns. The most important foundation for this is the 6-Step. As the name suggests, this movement sequence consists of six individual steps, where your legs move around your hands while you are in a deep squat. The 6-Step requires some patience at the beginning, as your wrists and thighs first have to get used to the unfamiliar strain.

To protect your joints, you should distribute your weight evenly on the palms of your hands and spread your fingers slightly. As soon as the movement sequence is anchored in your memory, you can slowly increase the tempo. Footwork thrives on continuity: the steps should flow seamlessly into one another without you losing your balance in between or having to stop abruptly. Set yourself small goals to start with and prefer to repeat the sequence slowly and cleanly rather than quickly and inaccurately.

The crowning finale of any dance sequence in breaking is the freeze. A freeze is an abrupt pose held for a few seconds, where you maintain your balance in an often unusual position. For beginners, the baby freeze is the perfect starting point. In this move, you support your body on your elbows, which you press firmly into your hips and ribs, while your head and hands touch the floor. Your legs are lifted into the air at an angle.

A successful freeze sets a clear accent in the music, usually on the hard main beat (the "downbeat"). It requires quite a bit of core tension and balance to hold the position perfectly still for at least two seconds. If you want to train your strength and balance specifically, exercises from other dance styles can also help you. You can find inspiration for a stable core, for example, in the article about Kizomba balance and solo exercises. Over time, you will notice how your upper body strength grows and freezes become easier and easier for you.