Paris Olympics 2024: Breaking Debut Takes To The Stage

Paris Olympics 2024

Get ready for DJ decks, dizzy footwork and breaking- records. Yes, records in Breaking. The dance form is making its Olympic debut today, Friday 9 July at 4 PM.

Breakdancing – professionally known as Breaking, will kick off at the Olympic Games for the first time today at 4 PM. It will see to the B-Girls Pre-Qualifier Battle first, at the Parc Urbain.

Despite its heritage roots to New York in the 1970s, the two-day Breaking competition defies the stereotypes that it is an all American sport – with competitors coming to Paris from over ten countries including China, India, Ukraine, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea.

Different From Breakdancing

While breakdancing is the more commonly known term, the original B-Boys and B-Girls adopted the word Breaking as an ode to the nature of dancing, while originally happened in between the breaks of a DJ track.

Breaking originated in New York in the 1970s as a dance form at block parties. By the 1980s, it was hitting the mainstream with groups like the Rock Steady Crew and the New York City Breakers, who are believed to have innovated some of the moves you’ll see on the biggest sporting stage over the next two days.

The sport’s techniques include standing footwork known as top rock, and floor movements known as down rock. In Breaking, there are also tricks allowed. These are known as the power moves (twists and spins) and freeze. You probably known the the popular ‘baby freeze’. Similarly, all freeze movements in Breaking are when breakers freeze in poses while using their heads or hands for supports. Another reason to pop down to La Concorde tomorrow!

Olympic Sport

Officials introduced Breaking at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Argentina where the events’ viewership was over 1 million. This confirmed the sports’ appeal to a younger generation in its performance, and interested from an older generation who would want to watch it.

The sport was officially added to the Olympic program on 7 December, 2021. Breaking is not scheduled to be included on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program.