Float (breakdancing move)
Encyclopedia
The float is a b-boying
B-boying
B-boying, often called "breakdancing", is a popular style of street dance that was created and developed as part of hip-hop culture among African Americans and Latino youths in New York City. The dance consists of four primary elements: toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes...

 move in which the body is held parallel to the floor while balancing on one or both hands. Though it appears to demand great strength, the float actually requires balance
Equilibrioception
Equilibrioception or sense of balance is one of the physiological senses. It helps prevent humans and animals from falling over when walking or standing still. Balance is the result of a number of body systems working together: the eyes , ears and the body's sense of where it is in space ideally...

 above all because the breaker's weight is supported on the elbows which are firmly planted ("stab
Stab (breakdance move)
The stab is a breakdance technique necessary to perform many downrock and power moves. It is not a distinct move, but is incorporated into many breakdance moves including the turtle, cricket, jackhammer, crab-walk, hand glide, some versions of the windmill, and many other floats and freezes...

bed") into the lower abdomen near the ASIS
Anterior superior iliac spine
The anterior superior iliac spine is an important landmark of surface anatomy. It refers to the anterior extremity of the iliac crest of the pelvis, which provides attachment for the inguinal ligament, and the sartorius muscle...

.

Stationary floats are often employed as freeze poses. On the other hand, breakers can "walk" with floats by shifting weight from one hand to the other and thus moving in a straight line or circle. These moving floats can be made to spin very fast and become the first power moves
Power moves
Power moves are the most powerful part of the dance form with speed momentum and acrobatic elements of bboying. They are often the centerpieces of b-boy routines featuring the other elements—toprock, Bottomrock aka downrock, suicides, and freezes—that make up breakdancing...

that were done in the 80's.

Variants

  • Crab - The Crab is a specific term for a two-handed stabbed float that may walk in a line but does not entail any of the variations below.
  • Turtle AirFlares/Criticals - This move is considered a combination of an AirFlare, and a Cricket; however this move is performed during a turtle/handglide freeze. The legs rotate as if doing a windmill and the breaker pumps off the ground and spins. The breaker then lands in the stabbing position again.
  • Turtle Freeze - A Stationary Turtle.

Spinning floats

  • Turtle - This is a standard spinning float. The breaker shifts weight from one hand to the next, moving one hand forward and the other backward to produce rotation or a circular "walk".
    • Pumping Turtle or Darkhammers - A Turtle in which the breaker actually hops/jumps with the hands instead of just shifting from hand to hand.
  • Cricket - Much like the Hand Glide, but the breaker hops on the central hand rather than merely spinning. The free hand pulls until the centered wrist becomes taut and can twist no further. The free hand pushes off from ground (and the legs may kick upward as well), allowing the centered hand to hop and turn itself to allow for the process to repeat. Bboy Pop of Gamblers crew is famous for his beautiful crickets as well as jackhammers (see below).
    • Jackhammer/Hydro - A Cricket performed with one hand. Jackhammers are often faster, and the free hand is usually placed on the back or in some other position that clearly shows control with the centered hand. Many world records have been conducted on the number of Jackhammers a bboy could do, with a top record of 97 in a row by Bboy Pop.
  • Airchair Spin - A floating chair freeze; however, the breaker is spinning upon the grounded hand. This move can usually be located during a breaker's Flare or Airflare/Airtrack set. Those powermoves are commonly used to exert proper momentum to do such floats.
    • Chair Flares - A flare variation, pumping with the stabbing arm from airchair position while maintaining the motion of flares. These are not usually used in rapid succession, but incorporated into a bboy/bgirl's performance.

Straight-arm floats

Floats may be performed with straight arms, meaning the elbows do not support the body. Rather, these floats involve stree locked straight and therefore do NOT provide a point of support. To assist this extremely difficult athletic move, often the legs bend upwards, the body leans forward slightly, and/or the hands are turned in the direction of spin.However, most b-boys dislike those who use only (power airmoves) invented by Lil Alex New York City Breakers
    • Reverse UFO - A UFO float executed with hands behind the back, near the bottom.
    • Buddha - Similar to Air Turtles except that the knees are kept locked together and behind the arms, shins parallel to the floor, back as parallel to the floor as possible. Bboy Waka of Headhunterz was one of the first to perform Buddhas in his sets.
    • Deadman - Similar to UFO's where the legs are held straight together. It is a commonly seen movement done in gymnastics floor routines. Bboy Junior is a famous bboy who is known to use Deadman floats in his sets.
  • Boomerang - While sitting with legs in front and in a V shape, the hands are placed in between the thighs. The legs are lifted and kept straight while the hands walk in a circle. This looks quite different from most other floats.
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