How to Do the 6 Step (Breakdancing)

B-boying, breaking, or breakdancing is a highly athletic form of street dance that originated in 1970s New York City and his since spread around the world. The 6-step is one of the first moves breakdancers learn as many other moves and variations can be constructed around it. While the 6-step's furious twisting may seem intimidating at first, it can be mastered through analyzing its parts and practicing regularly. ^{[1]XResearch source}

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Learning the Footwork While Standing

1
Practice the six steps while standing up. For beginners, learning the steps from a standing position is an easy way to grasp the dance before attempting it on the ground. Before starting, draw out a small, imaginary circle in front of you that you will dance around until you end up back at your starting position.
- Step forward with your right foot while keeping your left foot stationary.
- Step your left foot behind and to the right of your right foot so they are crossed.
- Step out with your right foot so both of your feet are shoulder-width apart.
- Cross your left foot over your right foot.
- Step your right foot back while keeping your left stationary.
- Step your left foot back so your feet are shoulder-width apart and you're back in your starting position. ^{[2]XResearch source}
This motion will seem awkward at first and it will take some to practice to feel comfortable. Take this initial six steps at your own pace as its crucial to have it mastered in a standing position before you will feel capable of learning the 6-step on the floor.
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Run through the footwork for the routine to a song with a slower tempo at first. Oftentimes, you can listen to jazz, funk, hip-hop, or sampled break beats from a number of different or combined sources (soul, electronic, disco). When in doubt, practice to some of the original artists breakdancers used in their routines such as Al Green, The Meters, Funkadelic, Skull Snaps, Instant Funk, and Taana Gardner.^{[3]XResearch source}
As you become more comfortable with the 6-Step, you will begin to develop your muscle memory. This in turn will allow you to take your conscious attention away from the basic steps and work on ways in which to polish the move as a whole. By varying the music that you use, you will become adaptive and adept at dancing within a wide range of styles and moods. The hallmark of a dynamic dancer is looseness and confidence.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Refining the Footwork on the Ground

Your wrists will start to hurt if your hands are completely flat on the ground and you can start sliding, which will throw off your balance. Start on your palms or your fingertips so your hands are gently arched in order to have maximum control.
You will never be flat-footed during this routine as it will similarly cause you to slide and compromise the balance of the routine. However, your feet will occasionally be on the heels. Stay propped on your toes for the majority of the dance as it is crucial to allow for quick movements and a full range of motion.
Make sure your back is straight before staring. Bring the right leg forward and extend it in front of the left while keeping the left leg in place. Lean on the outside of your right foot and take your left hand off the floor.^{[4]XResearch source}
Make sure it is bent and touching the back of your right leg. Your right leg should be wrapped loosely around your left leg, and you should be in a tilted cross-legged position. Keep your left hand in the air.^{[5]XResearch source}
Bring your right leg out from around your left leg. Plant your right foot down next to your left foot about a shoulder-width apart. Put your left hand on the floor behind you.^{[6]XResearch source}
Place it in front of your bent right leg so it is wrapped around your right leg. Make sure to lean on the outside of your left foot while lifting your right hand up. ^{[7]XResearch source}
Keep leaning on the outside of your left foot with your right hand in the air. In this motion you are preparing to return to the starting position.^{[8]XResearch source}
Extend your left leg back and put your right hand down. This brings you back around to the starting position and resets the routine. ^{[9]XResearch source}
Another way to simplify the steps is considering which hand is on the ground. For the first half of the routine your right hand will be on the ground while the left is in the air. And on the last half your left hand will be on the ground while your right is in the air.
As mentioned in the standing position, it is absolutely crucial that you take these steps slow and practice them often in order to increase your pace. Taking your time is vitally important here as there is more room for error and physical injury when you're performing the 6-step on the ground. Work your body strength up to the level where this dance is more comfortable so you're not damaging any muscles in the process.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Learning Variations

1
Master the 5-step variation. This routine is a slightly tweaked version of the 6-step. It requires a bit more skill and athleticism as the fifth step is changed so you switch the placement of your body weight quickly. The 5-step is not for beginners so make sure you have a master of the 6-step before attempting this variation.
- The first few moves of the 5-step are identical to the 6-step. So you're starting in the push-up position, and extending the right leg in front of the left while keeping the left leg in place. Lean on the outside of your right foot and take your left hand off the floor.
- Pull the left leg forward. This motion is the same as in the 6-step. Bend your left leg to where it is touching the back of your right leg. Your right leg should be wrapped loosely around your left leg, and you should be in a tilted cross-legged position while keeping your left hand in the air.
- Bring your right leg out from around your left leg. You should be in the crab position where your legs are shoulder-width apart and your left hand is on the floor behind you.
- Cross your left leg around your right leg. As in the 6-step, make sure to lean on the outside of your left foot while lifting your right hand up.
- Here's where it differs. Instead of bringing your right leg behind you as you would in the 6-step, shift hands so you're leaning on your right hand again. Once your body weight is shifted on the right hand, kick your right leg out with your left hand in the air.
- Bring your right leg in so you're at a crab position which will serve as your new starting point to repeat the 5-step.^{[10]XResearch source}
2
Bring your A-game for the 7-step. This version changes certain moves in the beginning while adding an extra step as well that requires more nuanced footwork. When practicing the 7-step, make sure to highlight the differences between the 6-step to make this variation stand out.
- As with the 6-step, start in a push-up position on your toes, fingertips, or your palms. Avoid flat feet and hands.
- Don't bring around your left leg to touch the back of the bent right leg. Instead, bring your left leg over your right so your hip is jutting outward while the right remains in place. You can put your hand on the hip if it helps to maintain balance.
- Bring your right leg under and in front of your body so it is stretched out while your calf is parallel to the floor. Your left leg while stay in place.
- Bend your right knee so you are in the crab position. Here both feet should be firm planted should-width apart while your left hand rests behind you.
- Hook your left leg around your right so your right leg is bent and touching the back of your left.
- Step your right foot behind you while keeping the left stationary.
- Bring your left foot under your body so your feet are shoulder-width apart in the same push-up position you started with. ^{[11]XResearch source}
Practice the routine in both directions for added flexibility. You can also reverse alternate directions during the same routine, which will be helpful when adding freezes, where your body stays motionless, and other variations. ^{[12]XResearch source}
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Expert Q&A

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Question
How do you do the break dance step by step?
Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Yolanda Thomas is a Hip Hop Dance Instructor based in Los Angeles, California and Sydney, Australia. Yolanda has taught hip hop at the Sydney Dance Company and is a two-time winner of the LA Music Award for singing and songwriting. She has won Choreographer of the Year by GROOVE, an Australian hip hop dance competition and was hired by Google to choreograph their Sydney Mardi Gras float.
Yolanda Thomas
Dance Instructor
Expert Answer
Consider taking a breakdancing class. You'll learn even faster if you have someone there to coach you and give you pointers.
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Tips

Don't skip practicing the moves while standing up. Though you may have the temptation to jump right into the floor routine, you need to practice while standing before putting unnecessary stress on your arms, wrists, and fingers.
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Stay light on your feet and hands. Try to keep the weight on your fingertips, the balls of your feet, and your upper body while keeping your feet and hands relaxed. Relaxation becomes more important with increased speed as a tense body will not be able to move swiftly.
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Warnings

Wear elbow and knee pads if you are experiencing pain or discomfort.
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Breakdancing can lead to injury if you're not careful.^{[13]XExpert SourceYolanda Thomas
Dance InstructorExpert Interview. 15 November 2019.}
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Don't attempt to breakdance if you lack the upper body strength. Try adding some biceps curls and push-ups to your workout in order make the 6-step less taxing on your muscles. ^{[14]XResearch source}
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Avoid breakdancing when you're tired since you're more likely to be injured.^{[15]XExpert SourceYolanda Thomas
Dance InstructorExpert Interview. 15 November 2019.}
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