B-Boying Subculture

B-boying is considered currently to be one of the mainstream dances of the Hip Hop genre. This intensely physical dance has a very interesting history and is a product of a subculture that was born on the streets of New York City during the early 1970s. Understanding the foundations and environment that created this dance is vital as well as its evolution into a modern dance form. B-boying and eventually B-girling can be divided into three main categories: old school, the freak and its current form which is far more acrobatic.(1) Moreover, B-boying has become a world-wide phenomena with dances and competitions all over the world and with this international flavor, B-boying continues to thrive as an example of modern dance expression.
History and Environment New York City in the late 1960s and early 1970s was a city …show more content…
Toprock is done from a standing position and allows a lot of freedom of movement for the dancer. Downrock or footwork is when the dancer completely is on the floor doing moves with his hands or feet. Power moves are very acrobatic movements such as windmills or headspins. These movements require a lot of strength, coordination and stamina from the dancer. Freezes are very intense moves that literally halt all the movement of the dancer into a frozen pose. Such as a one armed hand-stand. All these moves allow the dancer freedom for his or her expression. The role of women in B-boying or B-girling is interesting. Initially, women did not participate in the B-boy movement since its origins were on the streets and often gang related. Women at that time were not encouraged to join the movement. As the movement became more popular, women did begin to participate although very rarely. Ana Rokafella Garcia was a pioneer for B-girls and received her big break in the 1990s. She was very successful as a dancer and became a role model for future generations