“What is the concept of Olympic breaking?
Breaking, destined to be unveiled for the first time in the Olympics in Paris, is the newest addition to the sporting programme. Competitors will exhibit breathtaking skills and daredevil stunts in fast-paced 60-second dance segments, staged over a span of two days prior to the Games’ conclusion.
Occasionally referred to as breakdancing – a term which is increasingly falling out of favour – breaking is a form of street dance that emerged in the 1970s in the United States. It is strongly associated with African American and Latino communities, especially in New York. Noted for its acrobatic and intricate footwork typically performed to funk, breakbeats, and hip-hop, breaking finds itself among the original four pillars of hip-hop, along with DJing, graffiti, and MCing.
In breaking competitions, participants engage in dance “battles”. These battles serve as a platform for performers to exhibit their top-notch moves. Adding to the challenge, each round of dance is unique, with no set routine for the b-boys and b-girls to rely on, and the tracks they will dance to remains unknown to them. The DJ alone controls the flow and tempo of the music for each battle, with an MC ensuring the electrifying atmosphere is maintained among the spectators.
Breaking debuted in the Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires in 2018 – an event that dramatically increased its global recognition, subsequently paving the way for its feature in the forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
When and where will breaking occur?
The breaking events will be spread over two days, with the women set to compete on Friday, August 9th, and the men slated for Saturday, August 10. The battles will be hosted at the Parc Urbain – specifically constructed surrounding Place de La Concorde. Nestled within the heart of Paris’ urban sport and culture scene, the venue will also act as the stage for 3×3 basketball, street and park skateboarding and BMX freestyle competitions.
Who will be participating?”
In the realm of this unique dance style, participants are not identified as contestants, sportsmen or dancers, rather they are b-boys and b-girls. These individuals usually go by their b-boy or b-girl monikers, with a total of 32 performers, split equally between b-girls and b-boys.
Can you talk about its structure?
A preliminary round robin stage forms the initial part of the contest structure, with the 16 performers being sorted into four batches. Each dancer is given a minute to perform their routine against every other participant in their respective group. The two standout performers per group go on to the elimination rounds. The majority of major dance-offs incorporate two or three bouts per battle, escalating to five during the ultimate showdown.
How is the appraisal done?
Each round and each duel are evaluated by a panel of judgements, rating the performance of dancers relative to five key parameters, each contributing to 20% of the final score.
Technical Proficiency: Ratings are attributed to elements such as athletic ability, body command, dynamism, control over space, posture, form and structure, as well as the successful execution of particular moves.
Variety: the diversity and quantity of moves are also scored, with a mix of moves from different positions fetching a higher score.
Implementation: Focuses on how impeccably a move is executed and how distinct it is from subsequent ones. The moves must exhibit flow yet remain distinct.
Rhythm: This isn’t a mere routine but a dance. Judges will observe how the performer interprets and translates the music through their movements.
Innovation: Scoring is on the basis of that wow factor – how the performer managed to make the dance their own.
In contrast to other sports that rely on scoring, these dancers participate in one-on-one matches to establish the best dancer without relying on a leaderboard.
Using a digital slider, judges, who are often esteemed members of the dance community, assign scores to dancers in each category without assigning a particular score to each criteria.
What’s their repertoire look like?
There is an immense variety of moves, but the performers amalgamate three primary elements in their routine:
Toprock: Executed while the dancer is upright, majorly involving hands and agile footwork. Most bouts commence with toprock. Its origin lies in a non-verbal signal for other dancers to clear the stage.
Downrock: Often considered the dance form signature, these moves are performed on the floor. Dancers spin at a breathtaking pace on any part of their bodies, infusing the routine with crafted footwork, quick drops and transitions.
Paralysis: This refers to the complete halt a breaker subjects themselves to, often manifesting in a physical display that appears improbably athletic, typically signalling a sequence’s conclusion.
Are we anticipating the most amazing spectacle in Paris?
Absolutely. In the words of the German b-girl, Jilou, “We’re planning to storm the Olympics with a party, because, after all, who else brings a DJ along, right?”