In the 1980s into the early 1990s, Hip-Hop gained attention through mainstream media primarily due to the rise of popularity of rap music. Two biopic films introduced Hip-Hop culture to the world. Style Wars and Wild Style featured Bronx’s breakers, rappers, deejays, and graffiti artists. The Hollywood film Flashdance also featured a brief scene of the Rock Steady Crew dancing on the streets.
The Rock Steady Crew was founded in 1977 by Joe Torres and Jimmy D. The crew is credited with creating original breaking moves and helped popularize breaking. They became well-known in 1981 when they battled the Dynamic Rockers at the Lincoln Center Outdoors Program, garnering media coverage from National Geographic and 20/20.
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The Rock Steady Crew.
These films were the onset of what would become a global phenomenon. Companies began capitalizing on the culture for monetary gains, selling instructional manuals and video tutorials on breaking. Breaking soon declined in popularity as many felt the media was trying to “sell the culture they had created back to them” (Durden, 2019). Around this time, music artists shifted the direction of Hip-Hip by using party dances or social dance movements to associate with specific songs in their music videos, like the Cabbage Patch and Running Man. As a result, Hip-Hop dance styles began appearing in commercials, television shows, documentaries, and movies that drew national recognition.
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breakers discuss the influence the media had on breaking.
Hip-hop dance styles continue to be popularized through film and television shows. Competition-based television shows like America’s Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance feature dancers competing for the title of “best” dancer or crew.
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The Jabbawockeez perform on America’s Best Dance Crew.
Cultural Connections
In 1992, Rennie Harris founded the professional Hip-Hop dance company Rennie Harris Puremovement bringing street dance to the concert stage. To preserve the history and cultural influences of the dance form, he founded the Rennie Harris Awe-Inspiring Works (RHAW), an organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities, master classes, and mentorship to youth in 2007.
Steffan “Mr. Wiggles” Clemente is a member of the Rock Steady Crew and The Electric Boogaloos. He has appeared in several music videos, dancing for Missy Elliot, Usher, and Madonna. Today, Mr. Wiggles holds outreach programs to teach youth about Hip-Hop culture.
Fatima Robinson was described in the New York Times as “one of the most sought-after hip-hop and popular music choreographers in the world” and was once named by Entertainment weekly as one of the 100 most creative people in the world of entertainment. She has choreographed for Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time,” NAACP Image Awards, VH1 Hip-Hop Honors, 2006 movie Dreamgirls, Pepsi, Gap, Verizon, 2005 The Wiz Live! And the 2022 Super Bowl, just to name a few.
Emilio “Buddha Stretch” Austin created a Hip-Hop dance style called freestyle. He combines old-school with new-school moves that were popularized in Hip-Hop music videos. Buddha Stretch has choreographed and performed in several music videos in the 1990s, including Michael Jackson and Will Smith.
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