Breakdance Step by Step: The Complete Beginners Guide to Breakdancing

Bursting at the seams with information, this excellent double-disc program provides viewers with moves, steps, hints, and demonstrations designed for beginner and intermediate breakdancers (B-Boys/Girls). Filmed in a NYC park area (complete with passersby and a concession man), the music-less 10-minute warm-up (on the first disc "Basic Moves") is taught by Break Easy, who along with other presenters in seven subsequent tight-beat-packed sections, explores B-Boy fundamentals such as the eight-segment toprock, footwork, drops, freezes, spins (featuring CA and NY backspin variations), threading and swipes, and eight bits on moves like tornadoes and head hollows, from a variety of camera angles. Though many of the segments are short, and the entire menu is mazelike, the format is on target for novices, who would significantly benefit from easy repetition of, and swift access to, isolated scenes. In addition, the first disc features a 96-minute 20-segment “Master Class” (in which Zulu Gremlin instructs a class on B-Boy history and presentation), eight interviews (with legends including Kid Freeze and King Uprock), and eight segments of bonus clips. "Power Moves" (the second disc) has a brief warm-up, 12 instructional segments on various moves (including stars, U.F.O., and 2000s), battle footage from two competition events, 23 segments from the "Braggin Rites" contest, and four interview clips. Also featuring warnings about proper warm-ups, safety gear, tips on personalizing moves, and the importance of practice, this comprehensive how-to--which also carries a sticker warning for "strong language"--is highly recommended and sure to be popular. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)