The Swipe is one of the most recognizable
power moves
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, often the centerpieces of routines featuring the other elements (toprock, downrock, ...
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 ...
. 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.
An example is the swipe performed by the character Samir in the movie
Office Space
''Office Space'' is a 1999 American black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes the worklife of a typical 1990s software company, focusing on a handful of individuals weary of their jobs. It stars Ron Livingston, Jennifer ...
.
Variants
Normal swipes begin from the crab position, or they may be Air Swipes in which the b-boy jumps back directly from a standing position into a swipe, sometimes ending up in standing position once again. (The Air Swipe is described in the opening sentence and the step-by-step section). Regardless of the beginning, there are several swipe variations that basically differ in terms of which parts of the arms hit the ground.
*X – swipes – Swipes with legs crossed
*
Baby Swipe – essentially a footwork move, often launched from the
6-step
The ''6-step'' is the basic sequence of breakdancing
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. ...
, that employs a twist of the hips similar to the swipe.
*Elbow Swipe –
Elbow
The elbow is the region between the arm and the forearm that surrounds the elbow joint. The elbow includes prominent landmarks such as the olecranon, the cubital fossa (also called the chelidon, or the elbow pit), and the lateral and the media ...
s replace the hands.
*Forearm Swipe –
Forearm
The forearm is the region of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist. The term forearm is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm, a word which is most often used to describe the entire appendage of the upper limb, but which in anat ...
s replace the hands.
*Head Swipe –
Head
A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple animals may ...
replaces the hands.
*Master Swipe – Both hands leave the ground at the same time, and both legs lift simultaneously as well.
*Superman Swipe – An exaggerated Swipe that is very open and more powerful-looking. The hands should be placed farther apart.
*Flight Swipe – Only one hand, usually the hand on the outside of the rotation (i.e.- if swiping to the left, use the right hand). B-Boy Morris is famous for using this move.
*One-Footed Swipe – One leg in the air, often pointed straight out, usually the leg on the inside of the rotation.
*DOHC (Dual Over-head Cam) Air Swipe – Similar to the baby swipe. It utilizes the momentum and the torque gain from the air flare. Both legs are held tightly together to increase rotational speed.
References
External links
Three One-legged Air Swipes clips (QuickTime)
{{Breakdance
Breakdance moves