Explainer | Breaking down breaking – understanding the Olympic event, where the dance originated and learning its key moves
- Breakdancing is making its debut as an Olympic-level sport, featuring men’s and women’s events comprised of world’s best 32 breakers
- Hong Kong is sending four breakers – two B-Boys and two B-Girls – to Hangzhou to battle for a ticket to Paris 2024
Breaking is about to make its debut at one of the biggest global sporting competitions. With dozens of breakers heading to Hangzhou to compete for gold along with a shot at qualifying for the Paris Olympics, stakes are high for these athletes, many of whom are entering the most important competition in their careers thus far.
Breaking is a relatively new, niche sport, warranting a deep dive into its culture and unique nuances.
What is breaking?
Breaking – or ‘breakdancing’ as it has been popularised – is a street-born style of dance that requires athleticism and acrobatics, showcasing spins, flips and tricks. In distinguishing breaking from other dance disciplines, dancers primarily execute moves on the ground, and often only use their hands as contacts point with the floor.
Breaking is an Olympic sport
Following its debut in the Youth Olympic Games in 2018 in Buenos Aires, breaking will have its first appearance at the Olympic level in Paris.
Breakers ranked in the top 24 of the Olympic Qualifier Series will be among the world’s best 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls vying for the ultimate crown in August 2024.
At the Olympic event, dancers show off their moves in 60 second rounds – known in the hip hop community as ‘battles’ or ‘throw downs’ – where they face off against an opponent. The panel of judges will determine the winner of each round based on five criteria: creativity, performance, variety, musicality and personality.
Breaking at the Asian Games 2023
Along with its Olympic status, breaking is also making a first appearance in the Asian Games.
