The story
From break + dancing. Influenced by breakdown (the percussion break of songs chosen by a DJ for use in hip-hop music) -- breakdancers were originally those who danced to a breakdown.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
breakdancing
Today it means: An urban style of acrobatic street dance that originated in the hip hop culture of New York City in the late 20th century. Full definition →