break dancing

or breakdancing

noun

1. a style of acrobatic dancing originating in the mid-1970s, often performed to rap music usually by teenage males in the streets, and characterized by intricate footwork, pantomime, spinning headstands, tumbling, and elaborate improvised virtuosic movements.

Other Words From

• break dancer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of break dancing¹

The sense of break is unclear; breakdown ( def )

Example Sentences

Breaking — also known as break dancing — which made its inaugural appearance in Paris, will unfortunately not be making a return in L.A.

From Salon

Then it adopted moves from break dancing, samba, capoeira, frevo — whatever was around.

From Seattle Times

The local hip-hop nonprofit toasts to 20 years of celebrating and preserving Seattle hip-hop culture with five nights of music, break dancing and more.

From Seattle Times

Paris will be its own extraordinary attraction, transformed into a giant outdoor arena with competitions like break dancing at Place de la Concorde and beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower.

From Seattle Times

Among those were the men’s and women’s water polo teams; B-girl “Sunny” Choi, who will compete in the first Olympic break dancing tournament; and boxer Joshua Edwards.

From Washington Times