Rural Realities Brooklyn to Middlebury

Author: Crystal Belle

Have you ever twisted your legs and arms melodically to a pulsating hip-hop beat? If so, you are participating in the phenomenon known as break dancing. The art form dates back to the 1970s, when dancers in the South Bronx mixed martial arts, disco dancing and aerobatics to form a unique boogie style that would later revolutionize dance as it was then known.
In order to fully understand the artistic profundity of breakdancing, it is essential to acknowledge its direct correlation to hip-hop and street life. Its popularity is particularly relevant to urban culture in New York City.
In the time between the end of one disco record and the beginning of a new one, dancers known as "breakers" would perform movements in sync with the break. The word "break" itself connotes danger and probably came into use in this context as a result of the complex, intricate dance moves.
Consequently, I now ask a question of you: Can anyone breakdance? According to Morgan A. Jones '04, founder of the break-dancing club here at Middlebury College, "Breakdancing is basically the expression of hip-hop in bodily form." That said, can one assume that since breakdancing originated in an urban environment, it would be hard for someone with a rural background to properly perform this elaborate dance form? Jones' group has proved that, yes, rural people can "pop-and-lock" too, despite their usual tendency to stick to their country born-and-bred activities of riding horses, bike-riding and skiing.
Jones teaches boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 18 in Vergennes how to break dance, and insisted, "A lot of people who live in rural areas are pretty physically active, be it skiing, taking gymnastics or basketball, which makes them capable of performing the moves."
Break dancing, however, is not about simply performing the moves. It is also about tapping into the dance's origin and significance to urban people worldwide, particularly in the United States. It is a reflection of a cultural movement connected to inner-city ghettoes, street life and rap music, alike. It is a dance in which the moves reflect the dancer's life. Notably, it is a dance that alters and magnifies the ghetto experience. Thus, although ruralites break dance, "popping-and-locking" the night away, it is safe to say that people cannot truly relate to the experience or feel it in their blood unless they have actually encountered "breaking" in an urban setting.
Break dancing has revolutionized social as well as professional dance -- a development that is evident in any Britney Spears video. All contemporary pop-stars incorporate "breaking" into their routines. This evolution of break dancing from ghetto streets to MTV videos a phenomenal, ground-breaking progression.
Who would have thought rural Vermonters would be learning how to breakdance? Well, believe it or not, Vermonters are immersing themselves in a culture that happens to be the complete antithesis of rural life. This is a prime example of gradual societal change. To take the discussion one step further, I leave you with this question: Despite his racial and rural background, could an artist like Eminem ever be a true ambassador of hip-hop?