I remember breakdancing when it became popular nationally in the 1980s. Then, it died out except for the east coast after a few years. Then, it cameback in the late 1990s and is still popular 10 years later. What happened the second time around?
Because breakdancing is cool!
I’m not sure, but it’s a fascinating situation where a grassroots art form sprang up, only to be rapidly consumed by commercialism and oversaturated (e.g. Breakin’ 2, Electric Boogaloo) to the point of self-parody and then faded away. In this case, it simmered underground and has come back now as a legitimate Serious™ dance style, and not just the latest Macarena fad.
Other instances of dance, like disco and line-dancing, haven’t recovered.
Skateboarding saw a similar rebirth as well, exploded in the 70s, disappeared and simmered, and exploded again as a definite counterculture.
I would think that the availability of video has helped. Not that we were able to see much video in the 90s but now that anyone can be filmed breakdancing anywhere, and shown all over the world, has got to help.
Don’t know any discotheques, but line dancing is reasonably popular. There’s not really a culture associated with it that I know of, but as an activity, it’s alive. Also fun.
The giant boomboxes seem like a staple of breakdancing of the 80s’. I can’t see dancers using iPods really, so what do they use?