Power moves are dance moves which are loosely defined as moves relying on speed, momentum, and acrobatic elements for performance. They are prominent in

B-boying Breakdancing, also called breaking or b-boying/b-girling, is an athletic style of street dance originating from the African American and Puerto Rican communities in the United States. While diverse in the amount of variation available in t ...

, often the centerpieces of routines featuring the other elements (

toprock In breakdancing, toprock is foot movement performed while standing, serving as the opening display of style, and as a warm-up for transitions into the more acrobatic maneuvers of downrock. It allows the dancer to demonstrate coordination, flexibili ...

downrock In dance, floorwork refers to movements performed on the floor. Floorwork is used extensively in modern dance, particularly Graham technique and Hawkins technique, as well as in vernacular breakdancing. Some dance training practices, notably Floor- ...

, and

freezes Freezing is a phase transition where a liquid turns into a solid when its temperature is lowered below its freezing point. In accordance with the internationally established definition, freezing means the solidification phase change of a liquid o ...

) that make up breaking. Power moves are closer to gymnastics than dancing. B-boys who focus heavily on power moves and execute them as a main part of their routines are often called "power heads".

Origin

B-boy Breakdancing, also called breaking or b-boying/b-girling, is an athletic style of street dance originating from the African American and Puerto Rican communities in the United States. While diverse in the amount of variation available in ...

Powerful PEX and the

New York City Breakers The New York City Breakers are an original B-boy group in early 1980s that was established in the Bronx borough of New York City. The group originally consisted of members from Wildstyle and "Floor Master Crew" History The New York City Breake ...

were credited in 1983 for the B-boy style of combining 2 or 3 difficult moves together. This includes

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s, Headmills aka Power

windmills A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called windmill sail, sails or blades, specifically to mill (grinding), mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and ...

, and

flare A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, fusee, or bengala in some Latin-speaking countries, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, ...

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

s. In the 1990s the B-boys shortened the phrase "powerful moves" down to "power moves" in the 1990s to make it sound more flashy. New generations of B-boys are executing more acrobatics, which is taking moves to the next level.

Types

Spins

*Back spin: One of the first and most famous spinning power moves, the dancer is balled up and spinning on his or her back. In some variations, the dancer may choose to hop while spinning. *Shoulder spin *Air chair spin *Zulu spin *The

headspin A headspin is an athletic move in which a person balances on their head while rotating along the vertical axis of their body, usually without any other form of support. The move is commonly employed in the Afro-Brazilian martial art Capoeira and ...

is an athletic move in which a person spins on their head from a headstand position. These may be done continuously through hand-tapping and proper balance.

Handstand moves

*The 1990 is a breakdance move which resembles a rapidly spinning one-handed handstand. Created Spinner of the Dynamic Rockers referred to as a "Hand Spin"*

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are similar to 1990s, but with both hands. *

Airflare The airflare (or air-flare) refers to an acrobatic movement in which the performer rotates the torso around the vertical axis of their body (extending from the head down vertically) whilst simultaneously traveling in a circular path along a plane p ...

is a breakdance move that requires the dancer to revolve hand to hand while keeping their legs in the air in a V-Formation.

Floats

Floats were one of the first power moves in the 1980s. The body is usually in a fixed position while the arms move. *Crickets and variants: Hydro, Jackhammer, Lotus Jackhammer, Super Jackhammer, Darkhammer, Hopping Turtles/Scratching Turtles, etc. *UFO, Boomerangs, Inside Boomerangs, Gorillas, Gremlin Spins/Buddha spins etc

Swipes

Swipes are one of the most recognizable power moves. The b-boy or b-girl leans back, whips his or her arms to one side to touch the ground, and his or her legs follow closely behind, twisting 360 degrees to land on the ground once again. *A variant is the ''master swipe'', also known as a superman swipe or one-footed swipe Shadow Swipes is a variation of the swipe that incorporates the chair freeze to start the swipe. Created by Bboy Kid Shade of Hong Kong, it is one of his signature moves.

Windmills

The ''headmill'' is a

windmill A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called windmill sail, sails or blades, specifically to mill (grinding), mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and ...

variant performed without the use of hands for stability, rotating with the head and shoulders as the pivot point. As headmills free the hands, there are many further variations defined by the positioning of the hands. Major windmill variants: *Mummies/Coffin *Nutcrackers *Eggbeaters *HandCuffs *Bellymills/superman *Confusions *Barrels/headmills *Forearms *Airplane/Highrisers/Highrises *Munchmills/Babymills *Tombstone

Flares

Flares A flare, also sometimes called a fusée, fusee, or bengala in some Latin-speaking countries, is a type of pyrotechnic that produces a bright light or intense heat without an explosion. Flares are used for distress signaling, illumination, o ...

are a widely recognized power move borrowed from gymnastics. Major variants: *King Flares/Hopping Flare *Crossed-legged Flare *Chair Flare *Double Chair Flare *Sandwich Flare *Lotus Flare *Thread Flare *One-legged Flare *Virgin/Double Leg Circles - flares done with closed, straight legs *Tomas Flare