Breakdancing is a dance style that took shape through the efforts of young African Americans and Latin Americans on the streets of New York City in the 1970s. Along withrap music and graffiti, it became one of the major forms of artistic expression in hip-hop culture.
It all began with DJ Kool Herc. He noticed young people often only danced during specific “breaks” in songs, where drum beats were more obvious. As a result, he started playing the breaks on repeat to create continuousdance beats. During these breaks, he encouraged dancers, whom he called b-boys and b-girls, to “battle” with each other. The dancer with the most creative and complex moves would be the winner.
The dance moves in breakdancing are inspiredby elements from sports and other dances. They involve complex footwork and a mix of gravity-defying hops, skips, jumps, flips, spins, slides, and freezes. The dancers balance on their backs, hands, and heads, twistingtheir bodies in seemingly impossible ways.
Breakdancing is more than just a form of competition. By emphasizing respect, the battles provided an alternative to violence for settling disputes. This was particularly important during a time when violent gangactivity was frequentin New York City.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
take shape
成形，形成
Our plans to build a house started to take shape last spring.
我們的建屋計畫在去年春天開始成形。
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continuous
[kənˋtɪnjʊəs]
a. 連續的（一直不中斷的）
=
endless
We’ve had continuous rain here for nearly a month.
我們這兒已連續下了將近一個月的雨。
高中 Level 4
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inspire
[ɪnˋspaɪr]
vt. 鼓舞，激勵，啟發
Adam’s father inspired him to become a writer.
亞當的父親激勵他要當作家。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 4
●
balance
[ˋbæləns]
vt. & vi. （使）平衡
n. 平衡；（銀行帳戶的）餘額
vt. 權衡，斟酌
This yoga pose is so hard; I could hardly keep my balance.
這個瑜伽姿勢太難了；我幾乎無法保持平衡。
To lead a happy life, you should strike a balance between work and play.
你若想有個愉快的生活，就應在工作及遊樂之間保持平衡。
Tim is nearly broke. His bank balance is only NT$50.
提姆幾乎已身無分文了。他戶頭餘額只剩新臺幣 50 元。
Can you balance an egg on the floor?
你會立蛋在地板上嗎？
It’s not easy to balance when you learn to ride a bike for the first time.
第一次學騎腳踏車要保持平衡不是件易事。
You should balance the advantages against the disadvantages before moving to the countryside.
你搬到鄉下前應先權衡利弊。
高中 Level 2
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twist
[twɪst]
vt. 扭轉；曲解，扭曲
n. 扭轉；扭扭舞（與 the 並用）
=
sprain
=
distort
I twisted my head around to see what was going on.
我轉頭看發生了什麼事。
Be honest. Don’t twist the truth.
要老實。別扭曲事實。
I don’t like John because he tends to twist people’s words.
我不喜歡約翰，因為他常曲解大家的話。
Terry gave the cap of the jar another twist to open it.
泰瑞又扭轉了罐子的瓶蓋一次，試圖打開它。
When Jerry heard the music, he rushed onto the dance floor to do the twist.
傑瑞一聽到音樂就衝進舞池跳扭扭舞。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
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gang
[gæŋ]
n. 幫派
vi. 成群結隊
=
clan
Rumor has it that Peter joined a street gang when he was young.
謠傳彼得年輕時曾加入某街頭幫派。
Word has it that Peter joined a street gang when he was young.
謠傳彼得年輕時曾加入某街頭幫派。
The shop owners ganged together to resist the increase in rent.
這些商家店主集結起來抵制租金調漲。
The older prisoners would often gang up against the younger ones.
這些較資深的囚犯通常聯合對付較菜的囚犯。
The older prisoners would often gang up on the younger ones.
這些較資深的囚犯通常聯合對付較菜的囚犯。
高中 Level 3
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frequent
[ˋfrikwənt]
vt. 經常造訪
a. 經常的
=
continual
=
constant
Nick is a frequent visitor to our house.
尼克是我們家的常客。
This restaurant is frequented by celebrities.
這家餐廳經常有社交名流光顧。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
●
footwork
[ˋfʊt͵wɝk]
n. （運動、舞蹈等的）腳法／步法
●
seemingly
[ˋsimɪŋlɪ]
adv. 似乎
Practical Phrases
●
along with sb/sth
連同某人 / 物，以及某人 / 物
= together with...
My camera was stolen, along with my cellphone.
我的相機連同手機一起被偷了。
●
balance on...
用⋯⋯保持平衡
The small child cannot balance on one leg for very long.
這名小孩無法長時間用單腳保持平衡。
