Although the term "breakdance" is used to refer to the dance in popular culture, "b-boying" and "breaking" were the original terms and are preferred by the majority of the pioneers. The media promoted the art form as "breakdancing", the term by which it came to be known. The obvious connection of the term "breaking" is the word "breakbeat". DJ Kool Herc has commented that the term "breaking" was 1970s slang for "getting excited", "acting energetically" or "causing a disturbance". Beginning with DJ Kool Herc, Bronx-based DJs would take the rhythmic breakdown sections (also known as the "breaks") of dance records and prolong them by looping them. This provided a rhythmic base that allowed dancers to display their skills for the duration of the break. This led to the first turn-based dance competitions between two individuals or dance crews judged with respect to creativity, skill, and musicality. These battles occurred in cyphers—circles of people gathered around the breakers.
