Breakdance (ride)

Breakdance is an amusement ride designed by Huss Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG in 1985.

Breakdance, Frankfurt Main - Germany

Upon release, the ride design proved to be an instant hit, with HUSS now producing four 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 48 in (120 cm) tall with an adult and over 54 in (140 cm) tall to ride alone on all models except for the Rodeo/Breakdance 4 variant; on this model riders must be at least 42 in (110 cm) 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 12 m (40 ft) 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 25-metre (82 ft) Octadecagon platform.
  • Breakdance 3 - The dodecagonal platform is reduced to 18-metre (59 ft) 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.

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)

Appearances

Over 110 Breakdance rides have been manufactured by HUSS, the vast majority of which are still in operation.

Transportable

CountryNumberNotes
Australia43 manufactured by Sobema, 1 by Fabbri
Belgium4Deca Dance by HUSS, Crazy Dance by Sobema, Break Dance by HUSS, Grease (movie) built by Jabu Amusements
Germany46at least 46
Netherlands5plus 1 transportable Stardancer owned by Frank Vale, and one Break Dance owned by R. van der Wiel, built by ARM Rides
Portugal1the only transportable Huss Rodeo Breakdance (named Maxi Dance), originally built as a travelling prototype to visit tradefairs
United Kingdom3Ryan McCole (Safeco), Jonathan Hart (Stumpf & Partner [Hungary])
United States4All made by Fabbri

Theme parks

CountryLocationRide nameManufacturerModelOpenedClosed
AustraliaLuna Park SydneySpiderHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119952020
BelgiumBellewaerdeEl ToroHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 32006
BelgiumBobbejaanlandBreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119872007
BelgiumWalibi BelgiumSpinning Vibe (formerly Cilindri Rotanti)HUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 32001
CanadaPlaylandBreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 12005
CanadaLa RondeDisco RondeHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 11986
ChileFantasilandiaCrazy DanceFabbri GroupCrazy Dance1999
ChinaRomon U-ParkCrazy CapHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 4 (Indoor)2014
DenmarkTivoli GardensSnurretoppenHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119882017
FinlandLinnanmäkiBreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119882001
GermanyHeide ParkWoga Woga/BreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31991
GermanySerengeti ParkBreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31995
GermanyCentrO ParkRodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 420012010
GermanyFreizeit-Land GeiselwindPiraten Schleuder (formerly Breakdance)HUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31994
GermanyFreizeitpark PlohnWesternrodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31996
GermanyHoliday ParkSpinning BarrelsHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 420002014
GermanyPhantasialandCrazy DanceFabbri GroupCrazy Dance (indoor)19951996
HungaryVidám ParkBreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119932013
IsraelLuna ParkBreakdancer
JapanToshimaenBreak DanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 1
KoreaEverlandChampionship Rodeo (formerly Breakdance)HUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 21991
NetherlandsDrouwenerzandBreak DanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 12011
NetherlandsDrievlietDraaikolkNauta BussinkStar Dancer2011
NetherlandsWalibi HollandEl ToroHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 320002006
South AfricaGold Reef CityTornado (formerly The Old Mill)
SpainParque Warner MadridLos Carros de la Mina (formerly Silver Mine Spinner)HUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 32002
SpainPortAventura ParkCrazy BarrelsHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31995
SwedenGröna LundPop expressenHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31996
SwedenÖland Amusement ParkBreak DanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 12014
SwedenSkara SommarlandRodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 42011
United KingdomLightwater ValleyPowder KegsHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 42011
United KingdomChessington World of AdventuresThe Juggler/RodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119892004
United KingdomAlton TowersDynamo/Astro Dancer/Dino DancerHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 319932004 [1]
United KingdomSouth PierBreak DanceSobemaBreak Dance1997
United KingdomPleasure Island Family Theme ParkBreakdanceSobemaBreak Dance19942001
United KingdomFunland Hayling IslandBreakdanceI.E. ParkBreakdance20032013
United KingdomGreat Yarmouth Pleasure BeachIt's BadSobemaBreak Dance19901995
United KingdomBarry Island Pleasure ParkRhythm DancerWilliam ThurstonBreakdance19952006
United KingdomOcean Beach, RhylTango SensationSobemaBreak Dance19941996
United KingdomLoudoun CastleStorm BreakerHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 420082010
United KingdomM&D'sStreet DancerFabbri GroupCrazy Dance19912002
United StatesSix Flags AmericaRodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 41999
United StatesSix Flags Great AdventureRodeo StampedeHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 319992005
United StatesSix Flags New EnglandRodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 419982007
United StatesSix Flags Over TexasRodeoHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 32006
United StatesAstrolandBreak DanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119882008
United StatesElitch GardensParadise/Hollywood and VineHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 11987
United StatesKentucky KingdomBreakdanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 31990
United StatesSanta Cruz Beach BoardwalkWipe OutHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 4 (Indoor)2006
United StatesCalifornia's Great AmericaPeanuts Pirates/SpongeBob's Boat MobilesHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 42003
United StatesMorey's PiersBreak DanceHUSS Park AttractionsBreakdance 119852005

References

  1. Bennett, Dave. "Alton Towers Almanac: Retired Rides: Dynamo". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
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