Learn to break dance

Aw i’d show off so much if I could do this :D I can’t even do a handstand. So far i’m doing handstands against a wall (bearing in mind I could never do this before), balancing away from it for a few seconds. I can do a very simple freeze. I tried to do the 6 step the other day, I looked so very stupid haha! Probably not the best thing to try and learn for someone as awkward as me.

So a really good friend of mine from school is a complete BEAST at any and all forms of dance, including breakbeat (With a name like Hannibul, which is INDEED his given birthname, what else would you expect?). he always tells me that he wants to teach me to dance, but I never have the stones to try it. Today I did. It pretty much killed my already dislocated knee (second time this summer I’ve screwed it up) and we got nowhere, aside from laughing our asses off. As of now, the “lessons” will continue and I’m on a “workout plan” to build up what he said is “The strength you’ll need to be a badass”. O.o I’m worried… lol

There is actually a Breakdance club at my University, they will not help new comers, you have to be able already… So I am not sure where to start. I like the idea of practicing hand stands… I’m actually pretty clumsey and not well balanced, but I have a good amount of courage, strength, and stuborness to help me succeed.

I would like to learn to break dance. I don’t have the basics done yet, but I have the strength I just need to practice my balance and learn the moves.

Well I thought I’d learn first to do some basic footwork – moonwalk, glide, etc. (the smooth stuff) Man that takes some serious ankle strength/coordination! I understand the methodology, it’s just the delivery that I gotta work on, that’s what personalizes it.

Also, I’ve been doing handstands regularly to work on my upper body strength and awareness. I can definitely see an improvement in my balance and comfortableness on my hands.

why not?

So you think you can dance dance dance…

Some friends and I are learning at our own pace this and next semester. It’ll be fun :D

I just wrote a rather detailed history of how I came to love hip-hop despite being ostracized as a kid because of it, but none of that matters. I’ve always been clumsy, and dancing is one of those skills that is all about body control, especially when it’s so clearly visible. If you dance ballet, experts can tell if your arms are out of place, but to most people watching it doesn’t matter. Same with most ballroom or jazz and tap dances. There is always an element to controlling every aspect of your body, but the fluidity, timing and movements in break dancing always seemed to be some of the most difficult, and more importantly, obvious as to whether or not you’re doing it right. I mean, I think other forms of dance are beautiful, but aside from pissing off your instructor, not raising your chest during certain moves is really a sticking point for the informed. Do something like that while doing a flare or a windmill, and you end up breaking a wrist or dislocating a shoulder. Your failures have immediate repercussions, and thus it is easier to learn. At least to me. Besides, I love the music. Some friends and I tried to learn back in high school, with limited sucess. Through college, it was more of a “get drunk and try something stupid” sort of thing. At one point I was good enough to do some freezes, and a few swipes, and once I windmilled, and then promptly dislocated my collar bone. Smooth. I want to get back into it.

I just ordered an instructional DVD online. I watched lots of samples from lots of different products, and this one looks like good fun, and seems pretty dummy friendly. I was worried that I need to be able to lift 13 times my body weight before I am in shape enough to do anything cool, but the way they break it down it looks like I don’t need to be superwoman. Hurray! If the DVD rocks, I’ll tell you what it is:)