Breakin'
Encyclopedia
Breakin' , released as Breakdance: The Movie in some countries, is a 1984 breakdancing-themed film
directed by Joel Silberg. The film setting was inspired by a German documentary
entitled Breakin' and Enterin set in the Los Angeles
multi-racial hip hop
club Radiotron, based out of Macarthur Park in Los Angeles. Many of the artists and dancers, including Ice-T
(who makes his movie debut as a club MC) and Boogaloo Shrimp
, went straight from Breakin' and Enterin' to star in Breakin' . Ice-T has stated he considers the film and his own performance in it to be "wack".
The music score featured the hits "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
" by Ollie & Jerry
and "Freakshow on the Dance Floor". Breakin was followed by a sequel
, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
.
) meets up with two break dancers, Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones)(known for crazy inversions) and Turbo (Michael Chambers
), who have a bitter rivalry with another crew, Electro Rock, consisting of poppers
Poppin' Pete (Timothy Solomon), Poppin' Taco (Bruno Falcon) and Lollipop (Ana 'Lollipop' Sánchez). They also struggle to overcome scorn from Kelly's dance instructor, Franco, who disapproves of her hybrid dance style and affiliation with street dancers. Kelly soon becomes the sensation of the street crowds. Through it all the audience is treated to a variety of breakthrough performances, including Turbo's "Broom Scene" and Taco's unique popping solos during the dance battles at the Radiotron nightclub. Many hit songs are featured, including "There's No Stoppin' Us" by Ollie & Jerry and "Tour de France
" by Kraftwerk
.
in 1984. The album contains the first performance on an album of rapper Ice-T
. (He had released some 12" singles previously.)
Despite not being included on the official soundtrack, the film also features the songs "Tour de France
" by Kraftwerk
, "Boogie Down" by Al Jarreau
, and "Beatbox" by Art of Noise.
' , Adolfo "Shabba Doo" Quiñones, Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers
, and other dancers from the film were all prominently featured in the music video for Chaka Khan
's remake of the 1979 Prince
song "I Feel for You
".
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Joel Silberg. The film setting was inspired by a German documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
entitled Breakin' and Enterin set in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
multi-racial hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
club Radiotron, based out of Macarthur Park in Los Angeles. Many of the artists and dancers, including Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
(who makes his movie debut as a club MC) and Boogaloo Shrimp
Michael Chambers
Michael "Boogalo Shrimp" Chambers is an American dancer and actor known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984 cult classic film Breakin and the 1984 hit sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo...
, went straight from Breakin
The music score featured the hits "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us
"Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us" is a dance-pop song by American music duo Ollie & Jerry. Released in 1984 as a single from the soundtrack to the film Breakin, the song reached No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It is the theme song to the film Breakin...
" by Ollie & Jerry
Ollie & Jerry
Ollie & Jerry was an American dance-pop duo active in the 1980s, consisting of drummer Ollie E. Brown and R&B singer Jerry Knight.Despite releasing no studio albums under their own name, they are still widely known for their hit single "Breakin'.....
and "Freakshow on the Dance Floor". Breakin was followed by a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo is the 1984 sequel to the breakdancing film Breakin. It was first released in the same year as its predecessor by TriStar Pictures, and by Cannon Films the year after...
.
Plot
Kelly, a struggling young jazz dancer (Lucinda DickeyLucinda Dickey
Lucinda Dickey is an American dancer and actress who is best known for her role as Kelly in the 1984 cult film Breakin and the 1985 sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.-Biography:...
) meets up with two break dancers, Ozone (Adolfo Quiñones)(known for crazy inversions) and Turbo (Michael Chambers
Michael Chambers
Michael "Boogalo Shrimp" Chambers is an American dancer and actor known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984 cult classic film Breakin and the 1984 hit sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo...
), who have a bitter rivalry with another crew, Electro Rock, consisting of poppers
Popping
Popping is a street dance and one of the original funk styles that came from California during the 1960s-70s. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit...
Poppin' Pete (Timothy Solomon), Poppin' Taco (Bruno Falcon) and Lollipop (Ana 'Lollipop' Sánchez). They also struggle to overcome scorn from Kelly's dance instructor, Franco, who disapproves of her hybrid dance style and affiliation with street dancers. Kelly soon becomes the sensation of the street crowds. Through it all the audience is treated to a variety of breakthrough performances, including Turbo's "Broom Scene" and Taco's unique popping solos during the dance battles at the Radiotron nightclub. Many hit songs are featured, including "There's No Stoppin' Us" by Ollie & Jerry and "Tour de France
Tour de France (song)
"Tour de France" is a song by Kraftwerk. It was first issued in June 1983, peaking at #22 in the UK singles chart. It is notable for the use of sampled voices and mechanical sounds associated with cycling that were used to supplement a simple electro-percussion pattern – an approach Kraftwerk have...
" by Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
.
Cast
- Lucinda DickeyLucinda DickeyLucinda Dickey is an American dancer and actress who is best known for her role as Kelly in the 1984 cult film Breakin and the 1985 sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo.-Biography:...
as Kelly / Special K - Adolfo Quiñones as Orlando / Ozone (as Adolfo 'Shabba-Doo' Quiñones)
- Michael ChambersMichael ChambersMichael "Boogalo Shrimp" Chambers is an American dancer and actor known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984 cult classic film Breakin and the 1984 hit sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo...
as Tony / Turbo (as Michael 'Boogaloo Shrimp' Chambers) - Ice-TICE-T* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
as Rap Talker (as Ice T) - Ben Lokey as Franco
- Christopher McDonald as James
- Phineas Newborn III as Adam
- Bruno Falcon as Electro Rock 1 (as 'Bruno Pop N' Taco' Falcon)
- Timothy Solomon as Electro Rock 2 (as Timothy 'Poppin' Pete' Solomon)
- Ana Sánchez as Electro Rock 3 (as Ana 'Lollipop' Sanchez)
- Cooley Jackson as Featured Street Dancer
- Richie Haglund as Background Break Dancer (as Lil "R")
- Lisa Freeman as Waitress
- Peter BromilowPeter BromilowPeter Bromilow was a British-born actor.-Select Filmography:* Camelot * The Railway Children * Nasty Habits * Semi-Tough...
as Judge - Eleanor Zee as Judge
- Scott CooperScott CooperScott Kendrick Cooper is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals from 1990 to 1995 and 1997.-Boston Red Sox:...
as Judge - Chris RockChris RockChristopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...
as a Dancer in dance off scene (uncomfirmed) (uncredited) - Lela RochonLela RochonLela Rochon is an American actress who is best known for her role as Robin Stokes in the movie Waiting to Exhale....
as Bystander in First Scene (uncredited) - Jean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Van DammeJean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
as Background Dancing Spectator (uncredited) - Michel QissiMichel QissiMichel Qissi is a Moroccan-Belgian actor, perhaps best known for his role as Tong Po in the 1989 martial arts film Kickboxer.-Biography:Qissi was born in Oujda, Morocco and moved to Brussels, Belgium as a child. He began training in boxing at seven years old, and became an amateur champion in his...
as Background Dancing Spectator (uncredited) - Kara VallowKara VallowKara Vallow is an American animation producer best known for her work as Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane's long time producing partner on Family Guy and American Dad, as well as The Cleveland Show.-Career:Vallow has produced 3 South and the animated series adaption of Dilbert.In 2004, she...
as Break Dancer (uncredited)
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film was released by Mercury RecordsMercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
in 1984. The album contains the first performance on an album of rapper Ice-T
ICE-T
* Ice-T, an American rapper and actor* ICE T , a tilting model of the German InterCityExpress series of high-speed trains...
. (He had released some 12" singles previously.)
Track listing
- "Breakin'... There's No Stopping UsBreakin'... There's No Stopping Us"Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us" is a dance-pop song by American music duo Ollie & Jerry. Released in 1984 as a single from the soundtrack to the film Breakin, the song reached No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. It is the theme song to the film Breakin...
" by Ollie & JerryOllie & JerryOllie & Jerry was an American dance-pop duo active in the 1980s, consisting of drummer Ollie E. Brown and R&B singer Jerry Knight.Despite releasing no studio albums under their own name, they are still widely known for their hit single "Breakin'.....
– 4:34 - "Freakshow on the Dance Floor" by Bar-KaysBar-KaysThe Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group who began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. The group had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group...
– 4:42 - "Body Work" by Hot Streak – 4:22
- "99 ½99 ½99 ½ is a song by Carol Lynn Townes from the movie soundtrack Breakin. The B-side of the single record is Reckless by Chris "The Glove" Taylor and David Storrs - with rap by Ice-T....
" by Carol Lynn TownesCarol Lynn TownesCarol Lynn Townes is an American soul singer from Warrenton, North Carolina.Hailing from a family of gospel singers, she made her debut singing gospel at age three. She moved to New York in the early 1970s, joining a male soul group called Fifth Avenue. The group consisted of prominent jingle singers...
– 4:02 - "Showdown" by Ollie & Jerry – 3:57
- "Heart of the Beat" by 3V – 4:18
- "Street People" by Fire Fox – Music by (Ollie & Jerry) 3:23
- "Cut It" by Re-Flex – 3:11
- "Ain't NobodyAin't Nobody"Ain't Nobody" is a 1983 hit single by Rufus & Chaka Khan. It was released as a studio bonus track on the band's live album Stompin' at the Savoy. It reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart and twenty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart...
" by Chaka KhanChaka KhanChaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
– 4:45 - "Reckless" by Ice-TIce TTracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
– 3:57
Despite not being included on the official soundtrack, the film also features the songs "Tour de France
Tour de France (song)
"Tour de France" is a song by Kraftwerk. It was first issued in June 1983, peaking at #22 in the UK singles chart. It is notable for the use of sampled voices and mechanical sounds associated with cycling that were used to supplement a simple electro-percussion pattern – an approach Kraftwerk have...
" by Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
, "Boogie Down" by Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
Alwin "Al" Lopez Jarreau is a seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer.- Background :Jarreau was born in Milwaukee, the fifth of six children. His web site refers to Reservoir, Inc., the name of the street where he lived. His father was a Seventh-Day Adventist Church minister and singer, and...
, and "Beatbox" by Art of Noise.
In popular culture
Several months before the release of BreakinMichael Chambers
Michael "Boogalo Shrimp" Chambers is an American dancer and actor known for his role as "Turbo" in the 1984 cult classic film Breakin and the 1984 hit sequel Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo...
, and other dancers from the film were all prominently featured in the music video for Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's remake of the 1979 Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
song "I Feel for You
I Feel for You
"I Feel for You" is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album. It became a hit single in 1984 for female R&B singer Chaka Khan, appearing on her album, which was also called I Feel for You...
".