The iconic dance style born on the streets of the Bronx in the 1970s is set to make its debut at the Paris Olympic 2024 Games. Breaking often referred to as breakdancing outside the core community, is the sole new sport joining the Olympic roster in France.
What Is Breaking?
Breaking is a dynamic, urban dance form that thrives on improvisation and is usually set to hip-hop beats with distinctive drum breaks. The dance encompasses four primary elements: top-rock, down-rock, power moves, and freezes. Emerging from the hip-hop culture of the United States, breaking gained international prominence in the 1990s, with its first major competitions taking place on a global scale. Today, the Red Bull BC One, established in 2004, stands as the sport’s premier annual event. The World DanceSport Federation has governed breaking since 2018, and the sport made its first appearance in the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018.
Key Breaking Terminology
- Breaker: A gender-neutral term for a participant in breakdancing.
- B-boys and B-girls: Gendered terms, short for break-boys and break-girls, respectively.
- B-boying and B-girling: Terms denoting the act of performing breakdancing.
Olympic Breaking Competitions
At Paris 2024, breaking will feature separate competitions for b-girls and b-boys. Each category will see 16 competitors going head-to-head in solo battles, showcasing their skills in response to live DJ tracks. Expect to see impressive power moves such as windmills, the 6-step, and dramatic freezes.
Competition Schedule and Venue
The b-girls’ competition is slated for August 9, kicking off at 4:00 pm Paris time (14:00 GMT) and continuing until the evening. The climactic Gold Medal Battle will begin at 9:23 pm Paris time (19:23 GMT). The b-boys will take the stage the following day, August 10, with the same schedule, culminating in their Gold Medal Battle at 9:23 pm Paris time (19:23 GMT).
Both events will unfold at La Concorde in Paris, conveniently located just 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the Olympic and Paralympic Village. This stunning venue promises to provide an electrifying backdrop for what is anticipated to be a groundbreaking showcase of breaking at the Paris 2024 Games.
