Martha Cooper

In this momentous photo captured by Martha Cooper, you witness the blossoming of breaking culture. Highlighted center stage are two of breaking's most prolific artists, Marc “Mr. Freeze” Lemberger (left) and Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón (right). The pair are shown “toprocking,” the foundational element of breaking, performed upright to establish style and momentum for their floor routine. Standing behind Mr. Freeze and Crazy Legs are fellow Rock Steady Crew members Doze Green, Kippy Dee, and Ty Fly.

In an effort to cultivate more recognition for Hip Hop, Henry Chalfant championed breaking as a spectator sport. The Graffiti Rock event would bring together all the worlds of Hip Hop: MCing, DJing, writing, and breaking under one roof. The headliner for the evening was to be the Rock Steady Crew who would be accompanied by Fab 5 Freddy and Rammellzee as MCs. The photo that is featured before us is from the dress rehearsal that took place prior to the actual event. During the dress rehearsal the Rock Steady Crew was ambushed by a rival crew, the Ball Breakers who allegedly had a feud with a graffiti artist associated with the Rock Steady Crew. This confrontation ended with the brandishing of knives and guns and would push Henry Chalfant and the Common Grounds owner to cancel the event. Lucky this didn’t not deter Chalfant as he later would host the event at the Kitchen on Broome St. (captured in Lot 12). The only few remnants of the event in the original location are captured in the photos taken by Martha Cooper.

With all the stars aligning for breaking culture, its popularity reached new heights in 1982. Both Crazy Legs and Mr. Freeze would make their film debuts in the now seminal Hip Hop movie Wild Style. In the following year, both dancers made appearances in Flashdance which undoubtedly established breaking as a global movement. With their international success achieved, Mr. Freeze, Crazy Legs, and the Rock Steady Crew traveled abroad to Japan, Paris, and London performing for Queen Elizabeth II. Memorialized via photography we observe the dynamic duo who cemented breaking as a household name.