By: Emila Zhang
After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) tested breakdancing at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics, the public were quickly convinced that it should be added ahead of the Paris Summer Games.
The dance form was created and cultivated by Black and Hispanic youth in the Bronx, New York, during the 1970s andrapidly gained popularity. More than 50 years since its founding, Breaking has officially become a sport in the Olympics for Break- Boys and Break-Girls across the globe to dance and win gold.
The Olympic battles, set for Aug. 9 and 10, will have 16 males and females competing on the last two days of the Summer Games. IOC President Thomas Bach stated that they added breakdancing to draw in more interest from young people in the Olympics. In Paris, breakers from countries like Japan, China and Costa Rica will compete in battles watched by a global audience.
There are a lot of essential moves in Breaking including Top rock. In breakdancing, top rock is foot movement performed while standing, serving as the opening display of style. It allows the dancer to show rhythm and movement.
Ami Yuasa, a Japanese B-girl, said she uses top rock for “vibing up,” connecting to the music.
“Breaking is like expressing myself,” Yuasa said. “When I’m doing top rock, I’m trying to use my hand to, like, tell them who I am and open up to everybody in the venue.”
Dancers often use Top Rock as a warmup at the start of the battle, to start to open up and move.
Down rock, also known as Footwork or Floorwork, is also a significant part of breaking. The moves are based on the floor and movement on the floor with hands to support the dancer while they complete the moves.
Candy Bloise, Paris Olympic commentator, said on Ami Yuasa. “Ami’s footwork skills are almost unmatched. Her vocabulary is one of the most broad and vast, even amongst the top 15, ”
The U.S.has sent some talented breakers to the Olympics. B-boy Jeffro ,whose real name is Jeffrey Louis will be the other American man in the field after he nabbed a late qualifying spot. Sunny Choi and Logan Edra will be Team USA on the women’s side. Sunny Choi, a Queens native, said she never choreographs her routine, the better to display her individuality and does her own freestyle.
“It’s how you’re feeling in the moment, whatever’s going on around you, the context of your life, what happened that morning, what you eat for breakfast,” Choi said. “All of that affects the way that you feel that day and how you’re going to dance.”
For people watching, it’s just another sport in the Olympics to show what humans are capable of. But for the breakers who started this dance, it’s seeing their dream come true.