Dance techniques

Dance techniques
For more details on this topic, see List of breakdance moves.

There are four basic elements that form the foundation of breaking. These are toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes/suicides.
A b-boy practicing downrock at a studio in Moscow.

Toprock refers to any string of steps performed from a standing position. It is usually the first and foremost opening display of style, and it serves as a warm-up for transitions into more acrobatic maneuvers. Toprock is very eclectic and can draw upon many other dance styles. Though commonly associated with popping and locking (two elements of the funk styles that evolved independently in California during the 1970s) breaking is distinct from both, as its moves require a greater sense of athleticism—as opposed to the contortion of limbs seen in the funk styles. Breakers who wish to widen their expressive range, however, may dabble in all types of hip-hop dance.

Downrock (or "floorwork") includes all footwork performed on the floor such as the foundational 6-step. It typically involves complicated contortions of the lower body and may be as highly variable and personalized as toprock. Downrock transitions into more athletic moves known as power moves.

Power Moves are actions that require momentum and physical power to execute. The breaker is generally supported by his upper body, while the rest of his body creates circular momentum. Notable examples are the windmill, swipe, head spin, and flare. Some moves are borrowed from gymnastics (such as the flare) and martial arts (such as the butterfly kick).

Freezes/Suicides usually signal a pause or the end of a b-boy set. Freezes are stylish poses, and the more difficult require the breaker to suspend himself or herself off the ground using upper body strength in poses such as the pike. Alternatively, suicides can also signal the end to a routine. Breakers will make it appear that they have lost control and fall onto their backs, stomachs, etc. The more painful the suicide appears, the more impressive it is, but breakers execute them in a way to minimize pain. In contrast to freezes, suicides draw attention to the motion of falling or losing control, while freezes draw attention to a controlled final position.
[edit] Power vs Style

Multiple stereotypes have emerged in the breaking community over the give-and-take relationship between technical footwork and physical prowess. Those who focus on dance steps and fundamental sharpness (but lack upper-body brawn, form, discipline, etc) are labeled as "style-heads." Specialists of more gymnastics oriented technique and form—at the cost of charisma and coordinated footwork—are known as "power-heads." Such terms are used colloquially often to classify one's skill, however, the subject has been known to disrupt competitive events where judges tend to favor a certain technique over the other.

This debate however, is somewhat of a misnomer. The classification of dancing as "style" in b-boying is inaccurate because every b-boy or b-girl has their own unique style developed both consciously and subconsciously. Each b-boy or b-girl's style is the certain attitude or method in which they execute their movements. A breaker's unique style does not strictly refer to just toprock or downrock. It is a concept which encompasses how a move is executed rather than what move is done.