Breakdance is an amusement ride designed by Huss Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG in 1985.
Upon release, the ride design proved to be an instant hit, with HUSS now producing five varying designs, all of which can be acquired in transportable, semi-permanent, or permanent forms.
Design and operation Breakdance consists of a dodecagonal platform with a diameter of 20 meters, upon which are mounted four hubs, each bearing four two-person cars. The entire ride is on an incline of 7.5°. When the ride is activated, the platform rotates, the hubs rotate in the opposite direction to the platform. The combination of the platform slope, hub movement, and weight displacement within the cars cause them to rock back and forth, the oblique join mount and the motion of the ride allowing the cars to rotate through 360°. Huss recommends that riders be a minimum of tall with an adult and over tall to ride alone on all models except for the Rodeo/Breakdance 4 variant; on this model riders must be at least tall.
Breakdances incorporate backdrops, and the provision for sound systems, elaborate light displays, and special effects equipment is made. Controls for these additional systems can easily be routed through the operator's console.
Traveling versions of this ride can be disassembled and stowed on two trailers, one for the ride itself, the other carrying the platforms, backdrop, special effects equipment and ticketbox.
Variants The success of the design has prompted HUSS to manufacture three additional variants to the Breakdance design. These are: Breakdance 2 - Six four-car hubs are installed on the Octadecagon platform. Breakdance 3 - The dodecagonal platform is reduced to in diameter, and the slope of the platform is changed, making the platform slightly cone-shaped. No backdrop is sold with this ride, which in combination with the size and slope reductions, significantly reduces the overall weight of the ride. The 8 ton difference makes this variant popular for transportable operations. Breakdance 4 - Also known as a Rodeo, this variant removes the platform entirely. Instead, three four-members of a "crew" are connected to the central dance by extended arms. There is no slope to the dance. It is much better suited for families than the other variants. Breakdance 5 - The decagonal main disc will be reduced to a diameter of less than . The ride will feature cross-shaped gyros with four gondolas that are capable of carrying two passengers.
Although officially a different ride and not a variant of Breakdance, after the success of Breakdance HUSS developed the Booster ride, which takes the idea a step further. It did not, however, gain the kind of success that Breakdance did.
Similar rides Rides almost identical to the Breakdance have been produced by other companies. Below are listed the companies, with the ride name in brackets. Safeco (Blade Runner) Sobema (Break Dance) Fabbri Group (Crazy Dance) Top Fun (Magic Dance) Nauta Bussink (Star Dancer) Parkash (Break Dance) Funlight (Break Dance) Appearances Over 110 Breakdance rides have been manufactured by HUSS, the vast majority of which are still in operation.
Transportable Country Number Notes Australia 4 3 manufactured by Sobema, 1 by Fabbri Belgium 4 Deca Dance by HUSS, Crazy Dance by Sobema, Break Dance by HUSS, Grease (movie) built by Jabu Amusements Germany 46 at least 46 Netherlands 5 plus 1 transportable Stardancer owned by Frank Vale, and one Break Dance owned by R. van der Wiel, built by ARM Rides Portugal 1 the only transportable Huss Rodeo Breakdance (named Maxi Dance), originally built as a travelling prototype to visit tradefairs United Kingdom 3 Ryan McCole (Safeco), Jonathan Hart (Stumpf & Partner [Hungary]) United States 4 All made by Fabbri
Theme parks Country Location Ride name Manufacturer Model Opened Closed Australia Luna Park Sydney Spider HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1995 2020 Austria Wurstelprater Laser Dance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 5 2024 Belgium Bellewaerde El Toro HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 2006 Belgium Bobbejaanland Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1987 2007 Belgium Walibi Belgium Spinning Vibe (formerly Cilindri Rotanti) HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 2001 Canada Playland Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 2005 Canada La Ronde Disco Ronde HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1986 Chile Fantasilandia Crazy Dance Fabbri Group Crazy Dance 1999 China Romon U-Park Crazy Cap HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 (Indoor) 2014 Denmark Tivoli Gardens Snurretoppen HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1988 2017 Finland Linnanmäki Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1988 2001 Germany Heide Park Woga Woga/Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1991 Germany Serengeti Park Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1995 Germany CentrO Park Rodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 2001 2010 Germany Freizeit-Land Geiselwind Piraten Schleuder (formerly Breakdance) HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1994 Germany Freizeitpark Plohn Westernrodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1996 Germany Holiday Park Spinning Barrels HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 2000 2014 Germany Phantasialand Crazy Loop Fabbri Group Crazy Dance (indoor) 1995 2004 Hungary Vidám Park Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1993 2013 Israel Luna Park Breakdancer Japan Toshimaen Break Dance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1987 2020 Korea Everland Championship Rodeo (formerly Breakdance) HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 2 1991 Kuwait Hawally Park Crazy Dance Fabbri Group Breakdance 1 2004 Netherlands Drouwenerzand Break Dance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 2011 Netherlands Drievliet Draaikolk Nauta Bussink Star Dancer 2011 Netherlands Walibi Holland El Toro HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 2000 2006 South Africa Gold Reef City Tornado (formerly The Old Mill) Spain Parque Warner Madrid Los Carros de la Mina (formerly Silver Mine Spinner) HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 2002 Spain PortAventura Park Crazy Barrels HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1995 Sweden Gröna Lund Pop expressen HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1996 Sweden Öland Amusement Park Break Dance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 2014 Sweden Skara Sommarland Rodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 2011 2021 Sweden Liseberg Kraftverket HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 5 2025 United Kingdom Lightwater Valley Powder Kegs HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 2011 United Kingdom Chessington World of Adventures The Juggler/Rodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1989 2004 United Kingdom Alton Towers Dynamo/Astro Dancer/Dino Dancer HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1993 2004 United Kingdom South Pier Break Dance Sobema Break Dance 1997 United Kingdom Pleasure Island Family Theme Park Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Break Dance 1994 2001 United Kingdom Funland Hayling Island Breakdance I.E. Park Breakdance 2003 2013 United Kingdom Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach It's Bad Sobema Break Dance 1990 1995 United Kingdom Barry Island Pleasure Park Rhythm Dancer William Thurston Breakdance 1995 2006 United Kingdom Ocean Beach, Rhyl Tango Sensation Sobema Break Dance 1994 1996 United Kingdom Loudoun Castle Stormbreaker HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 2008 2010 United Kingdom M&D's Street Dancer Fabbri Group Crazy Dance 1991 2002 United States Six Flags America Rodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 1999 2023 United States Six Flags Great Adventure Rodeo Stampede HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1999 2005 United States Six Flags New England Rodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 1998 2007 United States Six Flags Over Texas Rodeo HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 2006 United States Astroland Break Dance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1988 2008 United States Elitch Gardens Paradise/Hollywood and Vine HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1987 United States Kentucky Kingdom Breakdance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 3 1990 United States Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk WipeOut (formerly whirlwind) HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 (Indoor) 2006 United States California's Great America Peanuts Pirates/SpongeBob's Boat Mobiles HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 4 2003 United States Morey's Piers Break Dance HUSS Park Attractions Breakdance 1 1985 2005
External links
Technical specifications available at HUSS Park Attractions's website Amusement Ride Extravaganza - Breakdance a video of a huss breakdance onride
References