The music starts. Freshman Trevor Tsoi adjusts his shirt, takes a breath and lets the rhythm guide him. When the beat drops, his movements shift from precise footwork into a blur of spins, freezes and floorwork — a result of the countless hours he has spent perfecting his craft. In recent years, Tsoi has also begun sharing his passion for breakdancing through teaching younger students, hoping to inspire the same joy he found in the dance form.
Tsoi first discovered breakdancing, or “breaking,” when he was seven years old while watching TV and YouTube videos with his father. He was immediately drawn to the elaborate footwork.
“I always thought it looked really cool,” Tsoi said. “My dad was really intrigued by it, so I decided to give it a try.”
Before breakdancing, Tsoi had trained in hip-hop dance from six to eight years old. After immigrating from Hong Kong to the United States in the summer of 2019, he took a break from dance for several years.
“Seeing all my friends in Hong Kong improving and still dancing motivated me to hop back into it,” Tsoi said.
Learning to break, however, was not easy. Breaking requires coordination in ways that can feel unnatural. Still, he approached each new skill with patience and persistence.
“It definitely starts off hard in the beginning,” Tsoi said. “You need to move your arms and legs at the same time, and it takes a lot of coordination, but with practice, you just get better at it.”
Breaking is unique in its emphasis on individuality and creativity. Rather than memorizing fixed choreography, Tsoi learned a variety of foundational moves and combined them in his own way. By experimenting with transitions and flow, Tsoi creates something different every time he dances.
“Breakdancing is really just a style of hip-hop, but it’s given me a way to express myself more uniquely,” Tsoi said. “Instead of writing or drawing, I can perform physically.”
Practicing alongside fellow breakdancers at his studio, Dance Academy USA, Tsoi found motivation in their skill and dedication.
Inspired, he began sharing his passion for dance with others. As a teaching assistant, he volunteers to help instructors guide younger dancers.
“I just wanted to inspire other kids to enjoy the same thing that I do,” Tsoi said. “The more people who can enjoy it, the better.”
Working with children as young as six years old, Tsoi learned that teaching demanded a different kind of patience, communication and composure.
“Trevor’s really calm and social, so he knows how to manage different situations,” freshman Walker Kim said. “If people start saying or doing something unexpected, he knows how to settle things down and keep everyone focused. He’s also really good at listening and helping others when they need it.”
Beyond just technical skills, Tsoi also strives to help his students appreciate the culture behind breakdancing, including the etiquette, creativity and respect that define the art form.
“We tell them not to strictly follow anything we give them,” Tsoi said. “We want them to understand the moves and find their own ways to make them unique.”
Through breakdancing, Tsoi has fostered new connections with a community that shares his love for breaking, both at his studio and Lynbrook’s Breakdance Club. Watching others express themselves has been a rewarding part of his journey.
“It’s refreshing to see how everyone has their own way in how they learn and how they teach,” Tsoi said. “It’s also fun to see my friends struggle and grow, too.”
