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Black and Latino Youth Pioneered Breaking, Now It’s Debuting as an Olympic Sport

Black and Latino Youth Pioneered Breaking, Now It’s Debuting as an Olympic Sport

Breaking originated in the Bronx, New York City, during the 1970s, conceived by Black and Latino youth as part of the burgeoning hip-hop culture. As one of hip-hop’s four foundational elements, alongside DJ’ing, MC’ing/rapping, and graffiti, breaking quickly became a defining aspect of this vibrant cultural movement. 

Its Origin

DJ Kool Herc, a pioneering figure in hip-hop, noticed that dancers at his neighborhood parties responded with heightened energy during the instrumental breaks of songs. To extend these breaks and give dancers more time to showcase their moves, Herc employed a technique called the ‘Merry-Go-Round,’ mixing between two copies of the same record. According to Red Bull, this innovation was pivotal in the development of breaking. 

Breakbeats, funk, rap, and soul are the primary musical genres that accompany breaking, with iconic tracks like “Apache” by the Incredible Bongo Band and “Just Begun” by Jimmy Castor Bunch being favorites among dancers. Breaking also features in unexpected tracks across various genres, such as the rock opera “Overture” from Jesus Christ Superstar. 

In the 1970s, breaking spread across New York City boroughs and gained media attention. The Rock Steady Crew, a prominent breaking group, embarked on the Roxxy European Hip-Hop tour in 1982, performing in London and Paris and appearing on the American talk show Letterman in 1983. The New City Breakers further amplified breaking’s exposure by performing on the TV pilot Graffiti Rock in 1984 and dancing for President Ronald Reagan during the Kennedy Center Honors the same year. 

Although the term “breakdancing” was mistakenly coined by the media, the correct term remains breaking. The dance’s visibility surged through appearances in music videos and films. 

While breaking faded from mainstream popularity in the late 1980s, global competitions like the Battle of The Year in Germany and Red Bull’s involvement in the early 2000s revitalized the scene. The International Olympic Committee introduced breaking to the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018, where it was met with enthusiasm. Subsequently, the IOC included breaking in the Paris 2024 Olympic program. 

Breaking at the Paris Olympics

The breaking competition at the Paris Olympics will feature 16 male and 17 female breakers, competing in a one-day event. The competition format involves a round-robin phase followed by knockout rounds. Competitors are evaluated by nine judges on technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality, and originality. 

The B-girls’ battles will take place on Friday, August 9, starting at 10 a.m. E.T. and the B-boys will compete the next day, Saturday, August 10, also at 10 a.m. E.T. The event will be held at Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris, which will also host other urban sports like BMX freestyle, skateboarding, and 3×3 basketball. 

Notable competitors include Mexican American breaker Victor Montalvo, who won the 2022 Red Bull BC One event, and B-girl Sunny Choi, who secured her Olympic spot by winning the Pan American Games in Chile. 

Despite its exclusion from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic program, breaking has the potential to return for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics if it proves successful in Paris – and we have a feeling this new Olympic sport will leave everyone impressed.  

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