Olympics Newest Sport, Breaking, Debuts Today - Here's What You Need to Know
Get ready to witness the exciting debut of Olympic breaking today in Paris! Breaking, a dynamic style of street dance originating from the US in the 1970s, will take center stage with its gravity-defying stunts and impressive athleticism. Participants will captivate audiences with their moves set to funky beats and hip-hop music during intense 60-second dance battles.
The competition involves groups of four breakers facing off in one-on-one battles until only two advance to the quarterfinals. Judges will evaluate them on technique, execution, musicality and originality using the Trivium judging system. It is based on three overarching and inter-related domains; Physical (body), Artistic (mind), and Interpretive (soul) with each domain containing core qualities.
There are four elements to look for: Toprock as an introduction, Footwork showcasing various steps on the ground, Power move highlighting acrobatics and strength and Freeze where breakers hold a static position synced with music beats.
Competitors, known as b-boys and b-girls, showcase their skills without following any routine while engaging in energetic battles where each dancer brings something unique to the floor. The DJ controls the music, setting the tone for each battle as an MC keeps up the hype among spectators. This electrifying art form gained popularity after its successful introduction at Buenos Aires Youth Olympics in 2018 leading up to its inclusion at Paris 2024.
The breaking action is scheduled over two days at Parc Urbain near Place de La Concorde featuring both men's and women's competitions alongside other urban sports like basketball, skateboarding, and BMX freestyle. Thirty-two talented breakers -16 b-girls and 16 b-boys - are all geared up to impress judges through rounds showcasing technique, vocabulary execution musicality originality across various criteria scores
German competitor Jilou says, “We’re going to bring a party to the Olympics because who else comes with a DJ?” Rachael "B-girl Raygun" Gunn, 36, and Jeff 'J-Attack' Dunne, 16, are all set to represent Australia, with 33 total competitors vying for gold. The stage will look like a giant record with a massive boom box backdrop that pays homage to the musical roots of breaking. Here's everything you need to know about the new Olympic Sport.
