Fans of breakdancing will have the opportunity to witness this artform on display during the Paris 2024 Games.
The hip-hop dance style, originating from Bronx, New York, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, will be making its Olympics debut this year in competitions known as “Breaking.” This name is derived from the instrumental breaks in musical beats that are integral to hip-hop music and were popularized by DJs from that era.
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The Breaking competitions will commence on Aug. 9, with the Olympics committee having published a schedule of dates and times for qualifiers and finals online.
The musical accompaniment for breaking events remains unspecified. The dance incorporates elements of martial arts and gymnastics and is predominantly improvisational.
Megan Liz Smith of Scripps News explains how breakdancing will be featured at the Paris 2024 Games:
The Olympics successfully introduced breaking at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. As for its implementation at Paris 2024, a set of clear rules was established for competitors to ensure fairness ahead of its debut.
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There are three fundamental elements that judges will consider, including “top rock,” “down rock,” and “freeze.” Other elements outlined in the Olympics’ judging criteria encompass “power moves,” “air flare,” and “flare.”
Scores will be based on six criteria: personality, creativity, variety, technique, musicality, and performativity.
