Florida breaks

Florida breaks, which may also be referred to as The Orlando Sound, Orlando breaks, or The Breaks, is a genre of breakbeat dance music that originated in the central region of Florida, United States.

Late 1980s – early 1990s#

The style emerged during the late ’80s at the Beacham Theatre in Orlando Genre pioneer Eddie Pappa, influenced by nights spent at the Beacham, honed his skill at The Edge when it opened in 1992. In 1993, it gained prominence state-wide and, propelled by large events at the Edge, elsewhere in the U.S. and Europe.

Mid-1990s popularity#

The Breaks influenced producers who mixed breakbeat with progressive and trance, producing a mixture that became known as “The Orlando Sound” or Florida breaks. There is only general consensus on the defining elements of the genre, which spawned regional and preference variations. The genre received limited local radio play in Central Florida on radio stations WXXL (106.7 FM) and on college radio WPRK (91.5 FM), as well as WUCF (89.9 FM), WFIT (89.5 FM on Space Coast), and WMNF (88.5 FM in Tampa).

2000s#

The international and local popularity of Florida breaks began to wane in 2000, though it remains popular in Central Florida.

2020s Revival#

Florida breaks retained a foothold in Central Florida through the 2020s, sustained by both veteran DJs and a new generation of local producers. Several of the scene’s original figures continued to share bills at reunion-style events around Orlando. In August 2023, DJ Icey appeared alongside DJ Magic Mike, DJ Sandy, and others at the House of Blues. The following year, Icey, Magic Mike, Kimball Collins, Baby Anne, and Jimmy Joslin headlined a Labor Day weekend dance party that Orlando Weekly described as a possible unofficial reunion of the Orlando breaks scene. Such events continued into 2025, when a Thanksgiving-eve party at the Beacham Theatre brought together a lineup billed as Orlando’s veteran dance-music DJs. A newer generation has also worked in the style. In 2025, Orlando DJ and producer Arina Krondeva, formerly of Rinas, released a breaks-centric EP titled Scattered.

Early Florida breaks venues#

AAHZ at the Beacham Theatre (Orlando), Marz (Cocoa Beach), The Edge (Fort. Lauderdale), and Masquerade (Tampa).

External links#

Florida Breaks from Ishkur’s Guide to Electronic Music

Genre family: Breakbeat genres
Region: Florida