Interesting Facts About Street Dance You Didn't Know

Not many people know how Street Dance originated. Most assume it started in the 80s, but in reality, its roots go back to the 60s with African-American workers in Latin America who held dance battles after work in the evenings.

By the 70s, street dancing had become quite popular because it gave dancers the freedom to express themselves through movement and combine different styles. In black neighborhoods, people settled disputes not with fists but through the art of dance. Its foundation is hip-hop. In the 90s, street dancing experienced a second wave of popularity, giving rise to even more styles and genres.

Many dance halls and studios now teach this style not only to adults but also to children.

One style of street dance, breakdancing, was first showcased on stage by showman James Brown, as his shows always featured breakdancers. When a girl came onto the dance floor, she was announced as a B-girl, and a boy as a B-boy. This was done so the audience could identify the dancer's gender, since the dance attire and moves were nearly identical for both.

Also, there is much debate about where and how breakdancing originated. Many media outlets claim it started in Los Angeles, but in reality, it emerged in New York in the 70s and 80s.

Many famous breakdancers, such as Lilou, Mounir, Vegita, and Ztela, come from Algeria. There is a breakdance school there where they trained and later formed their own crews, some of which still exist today.

Popping, a style of street dance, is not only used in dance but also in magic tricks. Illusionists incorporated it to diversify their acts, as this style offers unusual contrast and a unique set of movements when the dancer moves and transitions.

Street dance gained massive popularity thanks to film series like 'StreetDance', 'Step Up', and 'Stomp the Yard'. These movies depict street dance as competitive battles between crews, often bringing together dancers from completely different styles to create unique choreography.

Not many know that tap dance and salsa also originated on the streets and are part of street dance. Tap dance is performed in special shoes that make a tapping sound against the floor, creating various rhythms.

Every year, large-scale street dance festivals are held across Russia and beyond, featuring the most popular and renowned dancers. This dance style has evolved into a full-fledged subculture that not only teaches dance but also graffiti, another street art form.