A New Chapter for Breaking
As a DJ spins music, athletes twist, whirl, and leap—each moves a dizzying mix of fancy footwork and contorted limbs. This month, breaking, known professionally as breaking, makes its Olympics debut in Paris. For decades, breaking has flourished on the streets of New York and other US cities, but now it steps onto one of the world’s biggest stages.
A Journey from Streets to Global Stage
Breaking is deeply rooted in the hip-hop culture that emerged in New York City in the 1970s, serving as a creative expression among Black and Latino youth. Sergey Nifontov, secretary-general of the World DanceSport Federation, emphasizes, “Breaking was a pivotal part of the hip-hop movement, combining dance, music, and urban culture.” This art form’s influence grew thanks to media coverage and movies like “Wild Style” and “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo.”
The internet and social media further connected dancers worldwide, allowing them to share and learn new moves. Reality TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance?” also break into the mainstream. Richard M. Cooper, an expert on hip-hop culture, notes, “Breaking (was) created against all odds at a time when there was a lack of resources. It was a way for Black and Brown kids to have artistic expression … (and) create this beautiful, complicated, stylized art form.”
Honoring Tradition: Breaking vs. Breakdancing
While “breakdancing” is the term popularized by mainstream media, the original practitioners coined the word “breaking” to honor the dance battles during breaks in tracks. Nifontov explains, “The community prefers breaking as it encompasses the dance’s deeper cultural and artistic significance.”
The International Olympic Committee has been adding sports like skateboarding and surfing to attract younger audiences, and breaking fits this trend. Its introduction at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Argentina drew a viewership of 1 million. Despite some concerns about cultural dilution, Cooper acknowledges the importance of this global recognition, saying, “Breaking is getting the recognition it deserves, and he’s excited to see athletes highlight its culture and creativity on a global stage.”
Scoring the Art of Breaking
A panel judges breaking competitions based on five factors: execution, musicality, originality, technique, and vocabulary. Zack Slusser, a vice president at USA Dance, highlights, “The DJ sets the mood, and the dancers have to react to it.” Montalvo, a leading figure in the breaking scene, adds, “It’s more about the character, originality, and respecting the dance and bringing the essence.”
Unlike the traditional street battles judged by audience cheers, today’s breaking events follow a structured scoring system. Cooper reflects, “This is how it worked back in the day. Those patterns of adulation and cheers decided the winner. It was communal. It was based on street credibility.”
Team USA: Ready to Make History
The US breaking team, led by Victor Montalvo, is set to make history in Paris. Montalvo, known for his gravity-defying moves, started breaking at age 9, inspired by his father. “It’s about the dance. And it’s not just breaking. It’s like hip-hop. It’s graffiti, DJing, breaking, and emceeing. So it’s like you put that together, and it’s a group of people in a room just having fun, partying, and living their best life,” he says.
Other US competitors include Sunny Choi, Logan Edra (B-Girl Logistx), and Jeffrey Louis (B-Boy Jeffro). Louis points out the subjective nature of judging, saying, “You’re judging art that’s transformed into sport. Sometimes I don’t even know why one guy lost.” Choi, a former gymnast, left her corporate job to pursue her passion for breaking. She remarks, “In terms of the Olympics, so many of us, even the breakers, were like, ‘There’s no way that’s going to happen because it’s still such an underground street culture.’”
A New Era for Breaking
As breaking makes its historic debut at the Paris Olympics, it will showcase athletic prowess and celebrate hip-hop’s rich cultural heritage. With athletes like Montalvo and Choi leading the way, breaking is set to captivate a global audience and inspire a new generation of dancers. Don’t miss the chance to witness this dynamic and expressive sport as it takes center stage in the world’s most prestigious athletic competition.
