Joey Hahn runs JK Dance Studio, where he teaches a dance style that became popular almost 60 years ago.
MIDLAND, Texas — It’s a style of dance that became popular on the streets about 60 years ago.
“The history of breakdancing began in the Bronx, New York in the late ’60s and early ’70s,” says Joey Hahn, owner of JK Dance Studios. “They used breakdancing as a way to settle arguments. When they got into a fight, they started fighting each other to try to resolve it without violence.”
Breakdancing, commonly known as breaking, would eventually lay the foundations for the broader culture of hip hop dance.
As a result, he eventually made his mark on the international stage.
Hahn, a Permian Basin dance instructor, is one of those breakers, and he’s expanding his JK Dance Studio to the Midlands, where he teaches kids all kinds of choreography.
However, hip hop dance is something he is very familiar with.
“Hip hop is something I’m trying to bring to the community. It’s something new that people don’t know about,” Hahn said. “And my style is different. I studied in different places, like Los Angeles and New York. I’ve learned from different choreographers over the years, so I want to share my knowledge with the community and hopefully it continues to grow.”
According to Hahn, breakdancing has four main elements:
“Breakdancing has four elements, top rock, which is all the moves you do while standing. Then there’s groundwork, or ground rock, which is doing breakdancing moves on the ground. Then there’s freeze, where you hold your position and stop the move,” Hearn says. “Then there’s power moves, which are all the fancy flips and twists and stuff.”
Even if you have all four elements, it still takes a lot of athleticism and years of practice to be able to perform in the major leagues.
“These guys, young and old, train on the streets and learn from all the different elements that make them stronger and better dancers, and their strength, balance and coordination,” Hearn said. “They’re on a different level than your average dancer.”
Maybe that’s why breaking is recognised on an international level, where breakers can represent their countries and have medals around their necks.
“It’s a proud moment for someone who has grown up with the industry through discomfort in a tough natural environment,” Hearn said. “To see someone come from nothing and win a gold medal for their country is a huge achievement for the sport itself.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re an Olympic-level dancer or just learning how to move and keep to rhythm, breakdancing is a healthy and fun way to show off a side of yourself you never knew you had.
“In comedy, you can express your emotions through movement and attitude, which is a good way to release anxiety,” Hahn says. “I use all the elements. When I’m angry, I move around to release the energy, and it really releases the tension that’s built up.”
So no matter what emotions are swirling inside a breaker’s mind, all it takes to break through them is to take the first step.
“Don’t be scared! Don’t be scared! Go out there and do it! Be prepared to be uncomfortable, but have fun!,” Hearn said. “We’re all having fun with all the goofy moves we’re all doing together, so you might as well have fun while you’re doing it.”
