What is a dance battle? A little history of the ever-evolving Hip Hop artform

Although it began before the officially recognised birth of Hip Hop, Soul Train, a television show created by Don Cornelius, was crucial in bringing Hip Hop dance and music to a wider audience over the years. It was one of the first venues where the public could watch the funk styles of street dance, which originated in California and which included locking, roboting, boogaloo, and popping. These funk styles were one of many formative forerunners of breaking and street dance in general. Other important influences include jazz, tap, swing, salsa, and martial arts films. Two particularly important figures were James Brown, whose music and performance style hugely influenced the burgeoning Hip Hop culture, and Bruce Lee, who found a devoted audience among early Hip Hop dancers.

Hip Hop is widely considered to have been born on August 11, 1973, at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx. It was here that DJ Kool Herc, the founder of Hip Hop, first used two turntables at once. This allowed him to loop and extend the instrumental breaks in songs, creating unique beats and extended dance breaks in songs so that party-goers could dance to them for longer periods of time. This was dubbed ‘breaking’ and quickly blossomed into the cultural juggernaut of Hip Hop that we know today.

Hip Hop was born during a tumultuous time in America. Many of the prominent figures of the civil rights movement, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, had been assassinated only a few years before and urban poverty, blackouts, unemployment, drug use, and social unrest were very high. The Bronx, where Hip Hop originated, was one of the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of New York at the time.

The DJ Afrika Bambaataa coined the term ‘Hip Hop’ and established the four basic tenets of the culture as MCing, DJing, breaking, and graffiti.

Along with the Dynamic Rockers and Afrika Bambaataa’s Mighty Zulu Kings, The Rock Steady Crew are one of the oldest continually active breaking crews. Formed in the Bronx by Jimmy Dee and Jimmy Lee, they were later featured in films such as Flashdance and Beat Street and ignited international interest in Hip Hop dance and breaking.

A dance battle between the Rock Steady Crew and the Dynamic Rockets at the Lincoln Centre gains national exposure and brings Hip Hop dance to a wider audience.

The Village Voice published an article about Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation, marking the first time the name ‘Hip Hop’ appeared in print.

The movie Flashdance is released. Michael Jackson performs the moonwalk on ABC’s Motown 25 Television Special.

The New City Breakers perform at the Kennedy Centre Honours. The United Street Force was established and performed at the White House.

Hip Hop dancers and breakers were invited to star in advertising campaigns for brands such as Burger King, Pepsi, and McDonalds, among others. The film Beat Street by Stan Lathan is released.

The Cabbage Patch dance’s name was derived from the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls or the use of ‘cabbage’ as slang for paper money. It was one of the earliest novelty or fad dances to become popular as part of Hip Hop’s social dancing scene developed. Other early examples include the Worm and the Humpty Dance, and later instances include the Cha Cha Slide and the Dougie. Much like Hip Hop music, Hip Hop social or party dancing continues to develop as new songs are put out and new dances are choreographed to accompany them and vice versa.

The first Hip Hop freestyle dance classes were held at a mainstream dance studio at the Broadway Dance Centre in New York City, organised by Buddha Stretch aka Emilio Austin Jr.

The first dance Battle of the Year (BOTY) breaking competition is held in Hanover, Germany. MC Hammer creates the Hammer Dance.

Missy Elliott releases the music video for The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), directed by Hype Williams, one of the most influential Hip Hop music video directors who also directed videos for Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, Usher, the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Nas, A Tribe Called Quest, Jay Z, DMX, TLC, Kelis, Beyoncé, and more, and often incorporated Afrofuturistic takes on Hip Hop dance.

Are You That Somebody? by Aaliyah is released. Choreographed by Fatima Robinson, who previously choreographed Michael Jackson’s Remember the Time and would go on to choreograph Aaliyah’s Rock the Boat and More than a Woman, among others. She is widely regarded as the most elevated Hip Hop and R&B choreographer of her time.

The inaugural Red Bull BC One annual international breaking competition was held in Biel, Switzerland.

So You Think You Can Dance, the American reality television dance competition which heavily features Hip Hop and street dance, debuts on Fox in July 2005.

Step Into Dance, the largest inclusive dance programme in the UK, launches.

BASS Festival (British Arts and Street Sounds) launches as the UK’s only month-long celebration of Black Music and Art.

The University of East London launches its BA (Hons) Dance course.

Hiplet, or Hip Hop-ballet, hits the mainstream as the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Centre begins to perform it under the direction of Homer Hans Bryant.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts acquires its first Hip Hop dance archive, the archive of Michael Holman, which included filmed underground performances by b-boys and break-dancers.

Breaking debuts at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Breaking becomes officially governed by the World DanceSport Federation.

Black choreographers and content creators on TikTok start the Black TikTok Strike in response to their work being shared without being properly credited, citing many examples of Black and Hip Hop dance and culture being appropriated.

The BBC Hip Hop 50 Campaign celebrated fifty years of Hip-Hop with a wide variety of radio and television programmes and specials, such as the Rap Roundtable and the 50 Years of Hip Hop Mixtape.

Breaking becomes an Olympic Sport.

The Universal Hip Hop Museum opens in the Bronx.

Sadler’s Wells announce a Hip Hop academy (Academy Breakin’ Convention (ABC), to be based at Sadler’s Wells EAST Stratford, beginning 2025.

Founded by Jimmy Dee and Jimmy Lee, Rock Steady Crew took breaking into the international imagination when they appeared in the films Flashdance (1983) and Beat Street (1984). When the group first formed, breaking was often called ‘rocking’ and Jimmy Dee and Jimmy Lee had been made fun of for holding back in dance battle (or ‘steady battling’) and hence the name Rock Steady Crew was born.

The group was large and handed down through many generations. They would gather at a spot on 98th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan, a spot they dubbed Rock Steady Park. Rock Steady Crew emphasised the importance of making a name for yourself within competitions by developing your own moves and style. Members of the group have talked about also being influenced by Kung-fu movies, by going to the cinema on Saturdays and watching multiple kung-fu movies and then putting some of the actions they saw into the rhythm of breaking. Crazy Legs has also cited the influence of salsa and mambo on the style. Rock Steady Crew became highly regarded and were invited to Studio 54 and subsequently received mainstream media attention.

At first members of the group were reluctant to be in major films for fear of other people stealing their signature moves. It is worth noting that when Rock Steady Crew appeared in Flashdance, and Mr Freeze performed the backslide whilst holding an umbrella (which he had sought permission to do from Lockatron John, from the Lockatrons of Brooklyn, who first performed it that way) it reignited an interest in that move which would soon become the Moonwalk.

Founded by Michael Holman in 1981, he recruited from various small B-boy groups. Holman was hoping to manage the Rock Steady Crew and had been asked to find a group for them to compete against in a dance battle, but was so impressed by the Floor Masters that it inspired him to create a new crew who would present moves based on power and speed.

Holman was focused on publicity events, booking them quickly to appear on the Merv Griffin Show and appearances on Soul Train, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Good Morning America, NBC’s Salute to the Olympics soon followed. They famously appeared in the movie Beat Street (1981), which introduced Hip Hop and breaking to many countries across the world.

Despite this international distribution, many consider their most high-profile moment their televised performance at the inaugural gala for Ronald Reagan. This event is a noteworthy first as a Hip Hop group or artist had never performed for a sitting president before and was a landmark in the history of Hip Hop culture in America.

The New York City Breakers also released an album called ‘Break-Master’ and an instructional video of the same name, which contained explanations of steps and how to hold a competition. The album was certified gold.

Established in 1983, the Renegade Rockers were a San-Francisco based B-boy crew, only this crew have continued to pass down their moves to subsequent generations and are still active, competing and winning crew.

They have performed with hip-hop icons Run DMC, Curtis Blow, KRS-One, Gangstarr, Hieroglyphics, and Black-Eyed Peas. They have appeared in films like Planet B-boy, You Got Served and Step Up 3.

Their signature footwork style has become synonymous with the group.

Originating from Eindhoven in the South Netherlands, The Ruggeds have won over 200 breaking competitions but are also well known for bringing breaking into theatres. Their work combines classic and original b-boy moves with contemporary set design, acrobatics, physical theatre, narrative and humour.

The Ruggeds have spoken about how their crew is a family tied together with trust and shared experiences. In 2019 they created a production intended to invite the audience inside their home and chosen family life, this show was titled ‘Between Us’ and was performed at Sadlers Wells.

An MC, dancer, spoken word artist, and director, Jonzi D is a hugely influential figure in British Hip-Hop culture. In 2004 he founded Breakin’ Convention, a major platform for Hip-Hop disciplines. He is the Artistic Director of Academy Breakin Convention (ABC). ABC provides young people aged between 16-19 with the opportunity to have high-quality training in all areas of hip-hop culture through a theatrical lens, as well as develop as emerging professionals. Students train in performance elements (Hip Hop Social Dance, Popping, Breaking and Emceeing) as well as production elements (DJing, Graffiti and Music Production).

He has created many critically acclaimed works including 2013’s The Letter: To Be Or To MBE? about his decision to turn down an MBE from the Queen.  He is the founder and host of the Apricot Jam and Vertika Cypher Hip Hop music and open mic sessions. He presented the 2005 4Dance for Channel 4 and was performance mentor for Urban Classic at Hackney Empire in February 2006. In 2007, he was listed as one of the top ten positive Black musical role models by MOBO (Music of Black Origin).

Kenrick Sandy is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue, the UK’s most renowned hip-hop dance theatre company. He is also an Associate Artist at the Barbican, has worked in television, film, and theatre, and is one of the most celebrated choreographers and performers in the UK.

Notable works of his include REDD, Outliers, Blak Whyte Gray, and the Olivier Award-winning Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution. For his work with Danny Boyle for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, he won the Evening Standard’s Beyond Theatre award and in 2017, Sandy was awarded an MBE for services to dance and the community.

Jade Hackett is a choreographer, dancer, actress, and artistic director from east London. She was the assistant choreographer for the Ryan Calais Cameron’s acclaimed play, For Black Boys…, and has also worked on plays and performances such as Hex, Get Up Stand UP, and White Noise, among others. She was the Artistic Director of the Hip Hop theatre production The Duke Joint, and she performed as a dancer at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Most recently she has worked on the BBC miniseries, Mr Loverman, and choreographed a new production of Little Shop of Horrors at Sheffield Theatres.

Ice Spice, the rapper known for her catchy hits, gained attention not just for her music but also for her dance moves. Her signature moves which involve a distinctive playful motion of the hips and shoulders became associated with her viral hits Munch (Feelin’ U) and Deli. Her style took off with her fans on social media platforms, especially TikTok. The dance adds a fun, engaging visual element to her music, helping her tracks gain even more traction online.

Breaking originated alongside the rise of Hip Hop culture in the early 70’s in the South Bronx, New York. It is known to be the original and most popular Hip Hop dance style. Breaking was created by local African and Latin-American youngsters. It is commonly believed to come into existence through a disc jockey who lived in the South Bronx, who organised parties in the neighbourhood.

His name was DJ Kool Herc. He would play the ‘breaks’ of soul and funk songs of artists such as James Brown. The ‘breaks’ are the parts of a record without vocals, with pure rhythm, percussion and bass. Breaking is known for its acrobatic moves, complex footwork, and improvisational style. The style is known for moves such as toprock, downrock, power moves, freezes, footwork, tricks, and transitions.

House Dance is a style of dance that originated in the late 70’s and early 80’s from underground clubs in Chicago and New York. The style was influenced by several types of movement, including Tap, African dance, Latin dance, and martial arts. Along with the DJs in the clubs there was a desire to break out of the formula and dreaminess of disco. House Dance was not based on counts and structure but emphasized freedom, improvisation, and feeling the music.

Krump, short for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise, is an energetic street dance style that originated in the early 2000s in South Central Los Angeles, California. It was created by two dancers, Ceasare ‘Tight Eyez’ Willis and Jo’Artis ‘Big Mijo’ Ratti, as a positive and non-violent outlet for young people living in their community to express themselves and to cope with the hardships they faced in their daily lives. Krump is characterized by its raw energy, fast-paced movements, aggressive stomping, and exaggerated facial expressions. It is often performed in dance battles or sessions called ‘Krump circles,’ where dancers challenge each other in a supportive and competitive environment.

Locking is a part of Hip Hop culture today, although, from a historical perspective it was originally danced to funk music. Created in the late 1960s, Locking was the result of a failed dance routine. The dancer at the time, Don Campbell, stopped halfway through a routine, having forgotten his next step. Locking then developed to include specific halts and freezes before the dancer would resume a move at full speed.

Popping originated in the late 1960s and 1970s funk era on the USA’s west coast. Popping is based on isolation and the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles causing a jerk-like motion in a dancer’s body, often referred to as a ‘pose’, ‘hit’ or ‘pop’. The precise and robotic shape of this dance style evolved when music production shifted from instruments to drum machines and synthesisers.

Waacking is a style of dance that emerged from underground Los Angeles gay clubs in the 1970s. Known for dynamic arm movements and storytelling. The dance was influenced by disco, nightlife, classic Hollywood musicals, silent film, and cartoons. In fact, the name was inspired by the campy Batman TV show of the 1960s with its legendary “WHACK!”, “CRASH!” and “POW!” moments but the spelling was changed over time to disassociate from violence. The style faded from popularity in the devastation of the AIDS crisis but was reintroduced to popular imagination by Brian ‘Footwork’ Green in the early 2000s.

Voguing is a highly stylised dance style that originated in Harlem, NYC in the 1980s. Characterised by hand gestures and poise evoking fashion models and classic movie stars combined with acrobatic twists and drops. Made famous by the Madonna song of the same name, the 1990 documentary Paris is Burning and recently seen by a large audience in the TV shows Pose and Legendary.