Breakdancing Makes Olympic Debut: Discover the Moves and Mechanics

The 2024 Olympics will witness the historic debut of breaking, more commonly known as breakdancing, on its global stage. Held in Paris, France, the event promises an exciting showcase of talent from b-girls and b-boys around the world.

On Friday, breakers will take center stage, syncing their moves to the DJ’s breakbeat in front of an audience unprecedented in size for the scene. Earlier this week, athletes tested out the custom dance floor at the Place de la Concorde. The setup nods to breaking’s roots, featuring a record-like stage and a giant boombox backdrop—symbols of the breakbeat’s musical heritage.

“Even though people weren’t there yet, I could just see the crowd already,” commented American Logan Edra, also known as “b-girl Logistx,” on the venue. “And the floor felt amazing.”

The competition will feature 33 breakers from 15 countries, including members of the Refugee Olympic Team. This marks the first time breaking is recognized as an Olympic sport, blending gymnastics and martial arts with music and improvisation. Unique to this event is the Trivium judging system, which evaluates dancers on technique, variety, execution, musicality, and originality.

Ronnie Abaldonado, one of NBC’s commentators for the breaking competition, emphasized the cultural elements integrated into the sport. “This is the only sport where they’re going to incorporate other elements of hip-hop, because there’s going to be a DJ and a host, or an emcee,” he explained.

According to Zack Slusser, vice president of Breaking for Gold USA, the DJ’s role is crucial in maintaining the flow of the event. “Breaking is always about the party,” said Slusser. “The DJ facilitates that party.”

Breaking combines four primary elements: Toprock, Footwork, Power moves, and Freezes, each offering a blend of skill and creativity. The Olympic competition will start with a round-robin phase, whittling down participants through quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final showdown to determine the champion.

The event will kick off with a pre-qualifier match between India Sardjoe, or “b-girl India,” and Manizha Talash of the refugee team, known as “b-girl Talash.” Talash’s inclusion came after her story of defying the Taliban in Afghanistan caught the attention of the International Olympic Committee.

The stage is set for an electrifying competition that blurs the line between sport and art, making its debut one of the most anticipated events of the 2024 Olympics.