As a lifelong enthusiast of street culture and a connoisseur of dance forms that pulsate with energy and vibrancy, I am absolutely thrilled about the inclusion of breaking in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Having grown up in the 80s and 90s, I remember the golden age of hip-hop music and how it was intertwined with the emergence of this electrifying dance style on the streets of New York City.
In each edition of the Olympics, there’s a chance to update the roster of sports contested during the fortnight-long competition. This change aims to keep the Games contemporary, appeal to newer and younger viewers, and provide a platform for athletes in lesser-known or developing sports to shine on a global stage. At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, one new sport will make its debut: breakdancing, which may not be as well-known but is certainly set to captivate audiences worldwide.
Originating from 1970s New York, breakdancing is one of several urban sports that have made their way to Paris, alongside skateboarding and BMX freestyle. But you might be curious about what this Olympic debut sport entails. Let me give you a quick rundown on the basics, covering rules, scoring, and essential terms like B-boy and toprock…
So, what is breaking?
Breaking, a form of street dance, emerged from the vibrant hip-hop scene in the Bronx, New York, during the 1970s. This style of dance flourished at local block parties as hip-hop music gained traction. The term “break” refers to the section of a song where vocals and other instruments recede, leaving only the percussion. It was during this break that pioneering b-boys and b-girls, male and female competitors in breaking, would display their acrobatic moves and swift footwork, dancing in harmony with the rhythm of hip-hop music.
2018 marked the debut of breaking (dance) as a competitive sport, when it was showcased during the Summer Youth Olympic Games held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its popularity and success at this event paved the way for its inclusion in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
What are the rules and how is it judged?
In Paris, the breakdancing competition is divided into separate competitions for men (b-boys) and women (b-girls). A total of 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls will compete against each other in one-on-one matches. Each match consists of three rounds, lasting 60 seconds each, where the dancers are required to showcase their unique styles and improvise to the rhythm of the DJ’s music. The goal is to impress five judges with their moves in order to secure votes.
Competitors display their unique routines in a rotating manner, featuring moves such as the 6-step, toprock, windmill, freeze, flips, and spins where dancers spin on their heads. The quality of these performances is evaluated based on five aspects: technique, variety (or vocabulary) of movements, accuracy of execution, musicality, and originality. Judges determine the winner by averaging their scores using a digital slider system, with each aspect accounting for 20% of the competitor’s total score.
At Paris 2024, the breaking competition will unfold at the iconic Place de la Concorde. The women’s competition is scheduled for Friday, followed by the men’s event on Saturday. In this dance-off tournament, b-boys and b-girls are grouped into fours for a preliminary round-robin stage. Each dancer competes against every other member in their group to determine which two will advance to the quarter-finals. The eight quarter-finalists are then ranked according to their past performances and paired off for single elimination battles, where defeat means departure from the competition.
As a lifelong sports enthusiast and former competitive dancer, I am beyond excited to witness the inaugural Olympic breaking competition in Paris! Having participated in dance competitions myself, I can only imagine the level of skill, dedication, and passion that it takes to reach the semi-finals and finals of such a prestigious event. The fact that Victor Montalvo, a United States athlete, and Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič (B-Girl Nicka) have already secured their places in this historic competition speaks volumes about their talent and perseverance. I can’t wait to see them shine on the international stage and inspire future generations of breakers around the world.
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2024-08-07 19:33