Breakdancing, commonly known as “break dancing,” doesn’t require much, just some thumping beats and room to slide, fold, jump, and spin.
This may be why this dance form, which emerged in the Bronx, New York, in the 1970s, became a global sensation.
What was once a niche art form has become one of hip-hop’s most popular exports, along with competition and pop culture glory (think intensify or Flashdance) as its name suggests. Its power and cultural significance has spread to all corners of the world, with fans from France to China.
This year, all eyes will be on its historic debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, giving it an unprecedented international stage.
Participating in the Olympics is considered the pinnacle of athletic success. The stakes are high given that the Olympics are trying to attract a dwindling audience by introducing new sports.
But a debut in Paris this year does not guarantee a breakthrough future at the Olympics. The sport has not yet been selected for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, which in some ways marks a setback in the nascent journey.
Still, it’s a big moment for Break, and for “B-boys” and “B-girls.” Participating in the Olympics this year will help countries adopt more formal structures to identify, train and develop breakthrough talent. Its exclusion from the next Olympics does not preclude its addition to future Olympics.
“It provides a level of cultural validation and validation [for breaking]. It recognizes its global reach. wealth.
road to the olympics
The modern form of the Olympic Games has a history of 128 years, with events such as track and field being a typical part of it.
Break is completely different from other sports in this historic tournament. It broke ground on the streets of New York more than 50 years ago and became one of the four major elements of hip-hop culture along with rap, graffiti and DJs.
African American, Latino and Caribbean youth living in economically impoverished, crime-ridden environments have been deeply involved in the movement from the beginning.
For them, destruction is a form of artistic expression and a response to the amplified “destruction” of the percussion in the song. Soon it became an integral part of their culture and was enthusiastically adopted by immigrants from countries across the ocean.
Leon Morris—Helton Archives/Getty Images
New sports can attract new audiences at the Olympics by stimulating niche interests. For example, at the Tokyo Games, where skateboarding made its debut in Tokyo, 80 athletes aged 12 to 46 participated. In four years, squash and flag football will become part of the Olympic program.
Born Barikor, chairman of Breaking GB, the UK governing body set up in 2021, said: “Having an Olympic logo in any sport changes the way the game is played.”
Skateboarding, like skateboarding, was viewed as an amateur activity rather than a serious sport until international events gave it added credibility. But since then, interest in skateboarding has grown around the world.
Could Fracture experience a similar boost? Maybe.
It has already appeared at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. A spokesman for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said wealth This break is a perfect fit given its focus on youth engagement and urban sports.
What’s more, validation at the Olympics can help open doors for those who want to pursue a career breakthrough. Communities with deep cultural ties to dance sports may have more agency than before as their skills become more tangible on the international stage, with Olympic glory attached.
“Paris is going to highlight the sport… We’re preparing for that growth. So we’re prepared to say, ‘Actually, if little Margaret wants to break into Dorset, there’s a way,'” Barico said. I told wealth. “We can reach and inspire communities that traditional sports cannot reach. As a sport, it inherently encourages those who come from difficult real-life backgrounds to participate in sports.
Etan Abramovich—AFP/Getty Images
Fast-food chain Subway was one of the supporters of Team GB’s breakout (the team ultimately failed to make it to the Olympics). It supports the movement because it “has a future” and promotes “a movement between different communities”.
A Subway spokesman said: “Breaking brings people of different ages, cultures and ethnic backgrounds together and is growing in popularity across the UK.” wealth.
The spokesperson added that the partnership with Breaking GB “will help improve the sport through major event partnerships (national championships), support for community events (workshops, masterclasses, fights) and funding for coaching and training. Accessibility.
Barikor said Breaking is clearly still in its early stages, as it still faces obstacles such as limited resources and funding to host training camps to prepare participants for an Olympic-sized event. wealth.
“We’d love to get funding, but as you can imagine, being a new sport, it all depends on where you’re going to get the medals,” he said.
Travel light – but make an impact
B-boys and B-girls will be judged on five criteria set by the International Olympic Committee: musicality, vocabulary, originality, technique and execution. The music used during the match must also be free of profanity, and spoilers’ points will be based on their reaction to their opponents in the face-off.
Some vandals criticize systematic forms of destruction as violating the free-flowing, spontaneous nature of the art form.
This is where striking a delicate balance between global recognition and authenticity becomes important.
Events surrounding the sport have become increasingly common, with Red Bull hosting one of the most high-profile annual competitions since 2004. Sports – some play to win;
David Balogh—Getty Images
Wilson said that since the word “break” has many meanings depending on who you ask, the Olympic events, which kick off on August 9, will either spark excitement or be a source of disrespect for the sport. A bad example of cultural appropriation.
“When the IOC takes this very important step, they also take an important step in recognizing and embracing the context in which this art form emerged, which will be very important,” she said. One way to do this is to have experienced saboteurs serve as judges.
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), the governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee to oversee dance sports, said it was taking a number of steps to ensure the roots of the dance sports form are recognised. Some of the steps it takes include involving prominent figures from the Breaking community, educating viewers about the history of the sport and ensuring diversity among contestants.
A spokesperson told WDSF that being excluded from the 2028 Olympics is not a “permanent setback” from WDSF’s perspective wealth. Factors such as youth participation, success at the Paris Olympics and global interest are likely to increase wrestling’s profile in the coming years as sports rosters are reviewed before each Olympics.
It remains to be seen how the match will turn out. A successful debut could pave the way for future Olympic opportunities while providing funding to support a career-breaking career. Wilson likened Breaking the Pledge to sports like basketball and football that serve as anchors for young athletes to escape poverty or disadvantage.
“This is a platform that can help protect and promote the culture from which break dancing originated,” she said.
