Breakin' vs Breakdancing: Why the Name Matters

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Breakin’ vs Breakdancing: Why the Name Matters

Published: Updated 2025

To whom it may concern,

​This entry is my response to the question of what the actual name of the dance we do is. The dance we share in common: Breaking, Rockin’, Goin’ Off (just a few of the many names that were used when people saw the movements done to the music)  existed before my time and before most of us ever stepped on the floor.

​The dance is part of what was created through Hip Hop and continues to exist as a vehicle that brings people together. It has always been bigger than just movement, it connects us through culture, community, and lived experience.

Where the Name “Breaking” Came From

Pioneers of this movement created names for actions in the dance the same way other everyday actions were named. Just like walking is called “walking,” the foundation of our dance was called “Breaking.” The word connected to what people were doing in real time, breaking to the breaks in the music.
Through my own experience and through conversations with elders, it’s clear that Breaking was the original language of the culture. It wasn’t something the media invented, it was something the community named and lived.

How “Breakdancing” Was Popularized

The term “Breakdancing” didn’t come from the pioneers. It came later, through the media, as the dance reached mainstream visibility. Many people with the dance have said it: the name wasn’t originally Breakdancing or Break Dance ,that was a label given from the outside.
And while that term helped spread awareness, it also separated the dance from its roots. Breaking is not just an entertainment product. It’s a part of Hip Hop culture, created in the neighborhoods, carried on in the cyphers, and lived through the community.

Why the Name Matters Today

When we use the word “Breaking,” we keep the integrity of the dance alive. We honor the pioneers, the music, the culture, and the struggles that made it real. Using the word “Breakdancing” disconnects it from that lineage.
My point of view is simple: to establish a supported foundation that connects past and present, I call it Breaking. The dancers involved are practitioners of Breaking , “Break Boys” and “Break Girls.”
At the end of the day, words carry weight. And this word carries a whole culture.

Regards,
Rival

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