Breaking also known as “Break Dancing", is an improvisational street dance that originated in the South Bronx during the early 1970s. It is a creative mix influenced by dance, martial arts, and gymnastics.
Its name originated from the dancing that emerged when DJs started using the drum solos, also known as drum breaks from funk songs as the main element of the music. Originally, the DJ would play the drum break on one record and extend the break by replaying or looping the same break on another record. The dancing to these drum breaks created a new art form known as Breaking. It is said that a duo known as the "N**r Twins" were the very first B-Boys to be seen breaking during one of DJ Kool Herc's shows.
As the dance grew in popularity and commercialization, the term “Break Dancing” was coined much to the breaking community’s chagrin. This term was originally an attempt by the mass media to explain the art form to the mainstream audience. In doing so, the breaking community shunned the term “Break Dancing” as it associated it with a movement to commercialize the dance without upholding the integrity of the art form.

A person who does breaking is called a Break Boy or Break Girl, better known as a B-Boy, or B-Girl respectively. Consequently, the name “Breaking” is often interchanged with the term “B-Boying” to classify this type of dance. As a collective, B-Boys and B-Girls are called Breakers.
Breakers are organized by crews, consisting of groups or teams of b-boys and b-girls who train, dance, practice, and learn together often in preparation for battles. In the b-boy community, battles can occur at any time and can be initiated by a large scale battle competition event or a small one on one challenge.

Battling in breaking encompasses a wide range of movements such as;
Uprock consisting of Jerks and Burns; Toprock; Drops; Footwork consisting of the six step and three step; and its popular and readily identifiable array of Power Moves such as the Headspin, Windmills, Halos, Flares and Swipes to name a few.

During battle, the crews involved form a circle in which members can break individually or in a group. The opposing crew usually rebuts with their own unique and original freestyle in an attempt to trump the other crew’s moves.

Some of the common practices during a battle include a crew switching members in the battle circle by using the same step to enter and exit the circle. As one member exits doing one step, another enters doing the same step. This method in battle is known as a commando. Another common practice is calling out a breaker if he or she copies another breaker’s style or routine. If this is done, the breaker is called out for “biting” or copying another breaker.

A common practice in Uprock battling involves the formation of an Apache Line. Apache lines consist of the two battling crews forming a straight line facing each other. Like a breaking battle, an individual or group enters the space between the two lines to battle. Unlike breaking, an Uprock battle occurs for an entire song, where breakers, also known as rockers in this context, freestyle until the break in the music where they begin to Uprock.

Generally, there are loose criteria for judging breaking allowing the dance to evolve at an excelled rate. Purists encourage breakers to develop unique styles, encouraging the newer generations to bring the dance to new heights.