Today we go way, way back–all the way to 1985 and a commercial that appeared on MTV in its early days.   A young Alsfonso Ribeiro, best known today for his role as Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, can be seen in this television infomercial promoting his how-to dance book, Breakin’ and Poppin’.  Ribeiro appears as a Michael Jackson look-a-like and shows off his hottest break dance moves in this book geared toward kids and teens:

“Tell mom and dad it’s the safe way to break and pop–not the things you shouldn’t try,” Alfonso whispers seriously.  This tiny breaker showed kids how to break dance through a step-by-step instruction booklet, foldable cardboard dance floor, and not one, but two RECORDS with the hottest breakin’ tunes.  Alfonso’s Breakin’ and Poppin’ also included a “rap sheet” for would-be rappers.  I’m guessing some of those fledgling rap stars have since developed “rap sheets” of their own . . .

Ironically, this how-to dance manual was created by the boy who would later become the man who gave us “The Carlton”:

Seen on TV dance instruction products are still popular today, although they now come with DVDs instead of instruction booklets, and their music is generally CD or downloadable MP3 format rather than vinyl.  Most “as seen on TV” dance videos today are fitness based, but still rely on the hottest current music.  Exercise videos such as Hip Hop Abs and Turbo Jam promote moves that not only burn fat, but burn up the dance floor.

If they only came with a breakin’ board.

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