Worm (breakdancing move)

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The Worm is a move often associated with breakdancing and funk subculture in which the subject lies on the ground and forms a rippling motion through his body. This can be done if one of two ways, either forward or backwards, either shifting your weight from the upper body to the lower body (backwards) or vice-versa for forwards.

Sophie Tucker is recognized as the creator of this move, which goes back to the 1920's. However, general consensus is that "The Worm" was first performed by a legendary street dancer named Vasnath Pappu in 1981. In fact, an earlier form of The Worm was often performed at punk rock shows in the mid to late 1970s. As this move is very old and very well known, even by those outside the breaking community, it is generally only performed when joking around and not in serious dance battles.

There are different styles of the dance. In breakdancing, the performer lies on his stomach and creates a wave moving from front to back so as to look like a worm crawling. In punk culture, the performer lies on their back and wriggles their entire body chaotically.