It runs in my mind that its appearance was linked to the end of some profitability study sponsored by the American College of Orthopedic Surgeons. I think the Physical Therapist folks were involved there too. It was the same study that promoted the practice of walking fast while swinging weights in each hand. (The rotator cuff specialists need work too.) I could be wrong though . . .
This post was edited by Salt and Red Pepper at October 15, 2017 4:38 PM MDT
It was started by Bruce Springsteen in the 80's. He released a song called "Dancing in the Dark", and you can tell, by the way he's getting hyped, that he's almost getting ready to drop and break dance. Just almost.
Additional info: He looks just like Adam Sandler in this vid.
The dance style originated primarily among Puerto Rican and African American youths (many of them former members of the Black Spades, the Young Spades, or the Baby Spades) during the mid-1970s in the Bronx.
On my first ship, whilst in Guam, we had a sailor that used to come the the enlisted club and put on a break-dance onstage. This was 1971. His name was Ralph Bankston and he was black. Quite a popular chap who rarely bought a drink. I can still see him.
I believe it was the early to mid 1800's when things like Torrets and Cerebral palsy where poorly understood and a both groups where forced to live with each other in Asylums as spasmadics. The two groups inventing breakdanceing at the hospital dance .