By: Shuwan Qin

The 2024 Paris Olympics are very exciting and perhaps it is most exciting for the breakers because their sport is finally making its Olympic debut. The breakers, often called b-boys and b-girls, will compete in the Olympic battles on Aug. 9th and Aug. 10th. There they will do cool moves like backspins, windmills, and backward ankle slides, and a freeze in a cool position to end their performance. It has been more than fifty years since its establishment, and now the sport is finally going to become an Olympic sport, where breakers will compete for gold and glory!

What is breaking? Breaking is sort of like hip-hop, but while hip-hop is a dance, breaking is more like acrobatics. The dance form originated from New York City during the 1970s, when young Black and Hispanic people danced at basement parties and park jams to music beats played by DJs like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. Soon the art of breaking started leaking out of New York City. According to The New York Times, technology like VHS tapes, DVDs, Movies like Beat Street, and video platforms like YouTube allowed breakers around the world to learn moves and iterate new ones. Now, breaking has gone from the streets of New York to popularity around the world, and it’s at the Paris Olympics.

Back then, breakers danced for escapism and expression. They danced to make a name for themselves and to earn respect in the neighborhood. Later, they started to dance for competition. Now, young breakers get to compete one-on-one with top-notch breakers all around the world, and the older ones get to judge the youth in their favorite sport. “This was something we did to release,” said Beta Langebeck, a pioneering B-girl who is now judging competitions. “These kids now, it’s a different opportunity. They get to elevate and compete with the best.”

The world’s best breakers will compete on Aug 9th to 10th. Who do you think will win?

Credits:

Breaking Will Finally Make Its Olympics Debut in Paris – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

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