BREAKING: An Olympic Breaking Breakdown

Breaking, often mistakenly referred to as "breakdancing," is making its official Olympic debut, with B-boys and B-girls battling it out in the men's and women's events on August 9 and 10 at La Concorde in Paris. This urban park, which also hosted the BMX freestyle and skateboarding competitions, will now serve as the stage for the world's top breakers. Among them are reigning champions from the World Breaking Championship: Victor "B-Boy Victor" Montalvo from the United States and Dominika "B-Girl Nicka" Banevič from Lithuania.

What Is Breaking?

Breaking originated in the Black and brown communities of the Bronx during the 1970s, as an outlet to channel tensions from gang rivalries into dance battles rather than physical fights. The dance style, deeply rooted in hip-hop culture, evolved around the "break" in songs—a percussive segment that inspired dancers to showcase their moves. DJ Kool Herc, a founding figure in hip-hop, is credited with popularizing these breaks and coining the terms "B-boy" and "B-girl."

The main elements of breaking include:

• Toprock: Moves performed while standing.
• Downrock: Moves executed on the floor.
• Freezes: Poses that defy gravity, held in place.
• Power Moves: Acrobatic spins and dynamic motions.

Why Isn’t It Called “Breakdancing”?

The term "breakdancing" was popularized by the media and is often viewed as a simplification that misrepresents the culture of breaking. Many breakers, including Victor "B-Boy Victor" Montalvo, consider the term "corny" and prefer the more authentic "breaking."

How Is Breaking Judged at the Olympics?

Breaking will be judged in best-of-three rounds called "throwdowns," where competitors have up to 60 seconds to perform an improvised routine to beats provided by DJ Fleg from New York and DJ Plash from Poland. A panel of nine judges will evaluate the performances in real time, based on five categories:

• Originality: Creativity and uniqueness of the moves.
• Technicality: Skill level, including athleticism and control.
• Vocabulary: Variety and quantity of moves.
• Execution: Precision and cleanliness of performance.
• Musicality: How well the moves align with the music.

Each category accounts for 20% of the overall score, emphasizing both technical prowess and artistic expression.

Team USA Competitors

Representing the United States in this year's Olympic breaking event are:

• B-Girl Sunny (Sunny Choi), 35: Competing in the women's event.
• B-Girl Logistx (Logan Edra), 21: Competing in the women's event.
• B-Boy Victor (Victor Montalvo), 30: Competing in the men's event.
• B-Boy Jeffro (Jeffrey Louis), 29: Competing in the men's event.

The Significance of Breaking at the Olympics

Breaking's inclusion in the Olympics comes six years after a successful showcase at the Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. While it's not scheduled for the 2028 L.A. Games, its debut in Paris could influence its return in 2032. Although some breakers worry that Olympic recognition might dilute the art form's roots, others see it as an opportunity to bring breaking to a global audience and expand its cultural impact.

When and Where to Watch

The two-day competition will be streamed live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. The schedule, with all times in ET, is as follows:

Friday, August 9

• 10 a.m.–12:10 p.m.: Women’s qualification
• 2 p.m.: Women’s quarterfinals
• 2:45 p.m.: Women’s semifinals
• 3:15 p.m.: Women’s bronze-medal battle
• 3:23 p.m.: Women’s gold-medal battle

Saturday, August 10

• 10 a.m.–12:10 p.m.: Men’s qualification
• 2 p.m.: Men’s quarterfinals
• 2:45 p.m.: Men’s semifinals
• 3:15 p.m.: Men’s bronze-medal battle
• 3:23 p.m.: Men’s gold-medal battle

Live watch parties are also planned, including one at the Ladies of Hip-Hop studio in Queens, New York.

What If I’m Obsessed?

For those looking to dive deeper into the world of breaking, there are local events and global competitions like the Red Bull BC One World Final on December 7 in Rio de Janeiro. For those inspired to start learning, many dance studios offer introductory classes, and community practice sessions are available in places like New York.

As Luis "Prevail" Toledo, a veteran breaker, advises, "It can be intimidating to hang out around practitioners who have done this for years, but the cool thing about this community is everyone’s very helpful and always wants you to be comfortable."

News Source:- vulture.com