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Breaking, also known as breakdancing, made its debut in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.<\/p>\n
More than 30 B-Boys and B-Girls from over 15 nations are competing for gold, showcasing their intricate footwork, physics-defying stunts, and unique style. Sixteen B-Girls will compete on Aug. 9, followed by 16 B-Boys on Aug. 10, all judged by a panel of nine experts from around the world.<\/p>\n
The action takes place at the Place de la Concorde, Paris\u2019 largest public square and the Olympics\u2019 \u201ccool-kid corner,\u201d where other \u201curban\u201d events like BMX and skateboarding are held.<\/p>\n
One athlete to watch is USA\u2019s Victor Montalvo<\/strong>. Vice President of Breaking DanceSport for USA Dance, Zack \u201cCracker Zacks\u201d Slusser<\/strong>, called B-Boy Victor the \u201cMichael Jordan of breaking.\u201d The Floridian was the first American to qualify for the Olympics and is a two-time Red Bull BC One world champion. According to Slusser, this is because he\u2019s exceptional at everything: moves that are technical, exciting, and combined with an almost impossible-to-match flow.<\/p>\n With the introduction of any new Olympic sport, questions arise. So, here\u2019s everything you need to know about breaking at the Paris Games.<\/p>\n Breaking is a style of dance that emerged from Black and Latino communities in the Bronx, New York City, in the 1970s. This counterculture hip-hop dance form was born when people would dance to the \u201cbreak\u201d in a track played at parties and gatherings. The term \u201cbreak\u201d comes from the \u201cbreakbeats\u201d in funk, soul, and hip-hop music, where the rhythm breaks down and the instrumental part of the song, often with heavy percussion, is emphasized. Hip-hop pioneers found ways to extend these breaks, leading to extended breaking on the dance floor.<\/p>\n Breaking was one of the original four elements of hip-hop, along with DJing, graffiti, and MCing (rapping).<\/p>\n Over the past few decades, the rules of breaking have been established, and it has evolved into a full-fledged sport. It combines the athleticism needed to perform acrobatic moves with the artistry to make those kicks, flips, and spins work seamlessly with the music. One of the first international competitions, the Battle of the Year, was held in 1990.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n While it might seem like a new term, \u201cbreaking\u201d has always\u2014and originally\u2014been the term used by dancers who pioneered the style.<\/p>\n The term \u201cbreakdancing\u201d was used commercially to explain the art form to the masses. (Team USA B-girl Sunny Choi<\/strong> told Time<\/a><\/em>, \u201cIf you call it breakdancing, you\u2019re not a breaker.\u201d)<\/p>\n Breaking will undergo a bracket-style order of operations.\u00a0<\/strong>There will be two separate competitions for men and women, with 16 b-boys and 16 b-girls. Each group has 16 dancers, divided into four groups of four breakers each.<\/p>\n The dancers in these groups will go head-to-head in solo battles in a round-robin, meaning that, in these groups, every athlete will face off against every other\u00a0athlete at least once (meaning: three battles per athlete in a group of four).<\/p>\n The three rounds, also called \u201cthrow downs,\u201d where one breaker will get 60 seconds to improvise some moves to previously unheard music chosen by a DJ before the other competitor gets a chance to immediately respond with their own 60-second throw down. Whoever wins the best of the three rounds, per the judges\u2019 scoring system, wins the battle.<\/p>\nWhat Is It?<\/h2>\n
Why Is It Called \u2018Breaking\u2019?<\/h2>\n
How Will Breaking Work on the Olympic Stage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How Will It Be Judged and Scored?<\/h2>\n