Imagine breakin' before there was such moves like the continous backspin, the thomas flare, the 1990, or even the headspin. Focusing mainly on top with sporadic foot movement and gestures. If you've ever seen James Brown dance during a live performance then you may get the feel of how they were reacting to the music that was being played.

The beginnings of this type of style was originated by the Afro-American community, but it is said that when more Latins got involved with the dance it found its way to the ground. Drops turned into footwork, poses turned into freezes and combos, and then people began to spin on different parts of their body unlike anyone has ever seen.
 
We are always still learning about the foundations of this dance but we won't know where we are going until we know where we've been. If you can understand this dance from it's earliest stages up until now then you will have way more of an understanding and appreciation for the culture.

-YNOT