Cypher
A circle of people at a hip-hop gathering, in which dancers take turns in the middle.
Also: cipher, circle
A cypher forms when dancers and onlookers gather in a ring, leaving an open space at the centre. One person at a time steps in, dances for a short burst and steps out, and another follows. Nobody is appointed or judged, and the order is unplanned. The crowd reacts to each turn. Cyphers are where street dancers practise, trade ideas and earn a name, and many dancers regard them as the heart of the culture, more than organised contests.