Fans of breakdancing will witness the artform showcased at the Paris 2024 Games. The hip-hop dance style, originating from Bronx, New York, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, will make its Olympics debut this year in competitions known as “Breaking.” The name is derived from the breaks in musical beats that are integral to hip-hop music, as well as the sounds promoted by DJs from that era.
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The breaking matches will commence on Aug. 9, with the Olympics committee having published a schedule of dates and times for qualifiers and finals online.
The incorporation of elements from martial arts and gymnastics along with improvisation characterizes the dance moves of breaking. It remains to be seen what type of music, if any, will accompany the breaking events.
Megan Liz Smith of Scripps News delves into how breakdancing will be showcased at the Paris 2024 Games:
The Olympics stated that breaking was successfully introduced at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. Clear rules were established for competitors prior to its debut at Paris 2024 to ensure fairness.
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Judges will assess three basic elements in breaking, namely “top rock,” “down rock,” and “freeze.” Additional elements like “power moves,” “air flare,” and “flare” are explained in the Olympics’ evaluation criteria for judging.
Scores will be calculated based on six criteria: personality, creativity, variety, technique, musicality, and performativity.
