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That Frustrating In-Between Stage
You've been spinning on your head for a few months now. Your freezes are decent. You can throw down a decent set at your local cipher. But something feels... off. You're not a beginner anymore, but you're definitely not an advanced dancer either. Welcome to the purgatory of intermediate breakdancing.
Here's the thing nobody tells you: getting stuck is actually a good sign. It means you've moved past the phase where everything is new and exciting, and now you're actually trying to develop a personal style. That's hard. That's where real growth happens.
Why Your Progress Feels Like It's Stalled
Let me be honest with you. If you're still practicing the same way you did when you started, your progress will stall. Most intermediate dancers fall into a trap—they keep repeating moves they already know instead of pushing into uncomfortable territory. You won't get better by doing what you're already good at.
The real issue? You're probably training in a bubble. Maybe you only watch one style of breaking. Maybe you only train with the same crew. Maybe you've never actually gotten your ass kicked in a real battle. These things matter way more than how many hours you put in.
What Actually Separates Intermediate from Advanced
I remember watching B-Boy Wing back in the day and noticing something: his footwork wasn't the fastest, his power moves weren't the biggest, but everything he did had this musical quality that made it look effortless. That's the difference. Advanced dancers aren't just executing moves—they're telling a story through their body.
Start thinking about musicality instead of just learning new moves. Hit that beat. Pause on that silence. Let the music breathe through your movement. Some of the coldest sets I've ever seen came from dancers who did fewer moves but did them with more intention.
Learn from the Source, Not Just YouTube
Look, YouTube tutorials are great for learning the basics of a new move. But if you want to really level up, you need to train with actual people. Find a local crew. Go to jams. Get feedback from dancers who've been doing this longer than you.
There's a reason the old school cats always talk about going to the source—breaking was born in the Bronx, in cyphers, in battles. That energy can't be replicated through a screen. When you train with people who push you physically and mentally, something clicks that solo practice just can't replicate.
The Floor Lords, Ghost Cell, Cico—these crews didn't become legendary by watching tutorials. They built their styles through constant collision with other dancers.
Train Smart, Not Just Hard
Here's where a lot of dancers get injured: they skip warmups, train through pain, and never work on flexibility or strength. Your body is your instrument. Treat it like garbage and it'll break down right when you need it most.
I'm not saying you need to become a gym rat. But if you can't hold a plank for 60 seconds, if your shoulders are constantly aching, if you can't touch your toes—you're going to hit a wall. Add some basic strength work and stretching to your routine. Your future self will thank you.
Get Blooded in Battles
If you've never lost badly in a battle, you haven't learned anything yet. Sounds harsh, but it's true. The safe path is the slow path. Get out there. Take losses. Learn from them.
Some of the best dancers I know developed their signature moves specifically because they got destroyed doing something else and had to adapt. B-Boy Storm didn't develop his famous uprock by training in a basement—he developed it by having to throw down against other incredible dancers in the UK scene, night after night.
Stay Hungry Without Burning Out
This is the tricky balance. You need to want it, but you can't want it so bad that you resent the process. Find what originally drew you to breaking—whether it's the music, the community, the physical challenge—and hold onto that.
Follow dancers who inspire you. Not just for their moves, but for their journey. Watch how B-Boy Menno or BBoy ISSEI evolved their styles over years. See the progression. Understand that mastery takes time, and the dancers you admire got that good through years of consistent, sometimes grueling work.
The Only Way Forward
There's no secret trick to getting past intermediate. It comes down to this: push yourself to train differently, seek out better competition, care about musicality, and protect your body. Do those things consistently, and you'll look back in a year and realize you've evolved into something more than just a move collector.
The plateau isn't the end of your journey. It's just the part where you have to start making choices about who you want to be as a dancer.
