Story: Hip hop

Bop street action

Bop street action

In the 1980s breakdancers often performed on the street or in public spaces like shopping centre plazas or town squares. A crew would sometimes dance alone; at other times two or more would challenge one another. Some crews had a place to practise – some marae and churches made space available – while others found spaces such as back yards and school classrooms during lunch breaks. During the 1980s the response to breakdancing varied. Some adults were impressed, and some crews were asked to perform and paid for it. Others were concerned that breakdancers were unsupervised by adults, and linked them with glue sniffing and petty crime.

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Photograph by Peter Black

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Courtesy of Peter Black

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How to cite this page:

April K. Henderson, 'Hip hop - Dance: breaking, popping and locking', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/43270/bop-street-action (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by April K. Henderson, published 22 Oct 2014