How To Breakdance: Flare

A Flare is a breakdancing power move borrowed from gymnastics. When performing the move, a dancer spreads their legs and whips them around their body in continuous circles, using only their hands to keep them above ground. This move is often seen in men's floor routines and on the pommel horse. The below directions are for performing counterclockwise flares.

1. Start with your legs spread between two and two-and-a-half times your shoulder width, with your left foot about six inches behind your right foot.
2. Turn your body ninety degrees to the right, "cocking" your body to prepare for a spin.
3. Spin your body to the left and downward, putting your left hand six inches in front of your left foot.
4. Pushing your weight into your left arm, swing your left leg from left to right behind you, parallel to the ground, as if you were sweeping your leg behind you to kick your right ankle. This kick is the driving force of the flare, and it is important it is made with as much force as possible.
how to flare
5. Before your sweeping left kick reaches your right leg, kick that leg straight up as hard as you can, as if you were trying to knee yourself in the face. Make sure that your legs are still spread and very straight. Your right kick you be strong enough so that your pelvis is horizontal with your head.
# Swing your left leg under your right leg, pushing all your weight into your left arm.
# As soon as you make your right kick, throw you right hand behind you, so that it is shoulder-width from and even with your other arm and you can support your weight on both hands.
# With both legs spread in the air, lean your weight onto your right arm, and swing your right leg under your left leg as your left hand swings over your body, back to the location you first placed them in during step 3. You should now be in a push-up position with both legs spread and suspended above the air.
# Lean back onto your left hand, swinging your left leg parallel to the ground towards your right leg, using the established momentum to carry you around the circle.
# Continue swinging counterclockwise, alternating your balance from arm to arm as you swing your legs around you.