Paris Olympics 2024: Breaking Shatters Barriers With Games Debut

Seen through a break dancer’s perspective, the Statue of Liberty might be viewed as the first-ever ‘Freeze’—a dramatic pause in dance—that traveled from France to the USA. Yet, despite the Bronx being the birthplace of breakdancing in the 1970s, Americans decided against including Breaking in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

In contrast, Paris, renowned for its vibrant suburbs and its role as the world’s second-largest hip hop market, is embracing the sport by featuring it in the 2024 Olympics. While hip hop and graffiti originated in New York’s block parties, Europe has nurtured its own Breaking scene, turning what was once an underground subculture into a mainstream sport.

Victor Montalvo, known as B-Boy Victor, competed in the B-boy Red Bull BC One World Final at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York on November 12, 2022.

Paris is breaking free from traditional Olympic venues, transforming Place de la Concorde into a vibrant urban sports hub for events like BMX freestyle, skateboarding, and 3×3 basketball. The temporary setup will be dismantled after the games, leaving no lasting infrastructure as criticized by sociologist Andrew Zimbalist.

France is navigating a period of change, with a younger population critical of lavish spending. The Olympics, often seen as wasteful, might find a more welcome audience through Breaking, which defies elitist norms.

Jean-Laurent Bourquin, former senior advisor to the World Dance Sport Federation, highlighted Breaking’s appeal: “Not only is Breaking gender-balanced, youthful, and urban, but it is also flexible and sustainable, requiring minimal infrastructure and equipment.” He added that including Breaking in the Olympics would bring the Games closer to local communities and engage young people.

The sport’s inclusion was discussed by the International Olympic Committee in 2016, and a small floor was set up at the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, easily removed to accommodate other sports the next day.

The enthusiastic crowds in Buenos Aires and strong social media interest helped overcome IOC traditionalists’ resistance. Bourquin noted, “The most satisfying part was seeing some of the skeptics turn into proponents after Buenos Aires.”

Paris’s venue, Concorde, mirrors the sport’s diverse roots. The public square, under the ancient Luxor Obelisk, contrasts with the modern Olympic events.

Bourquin, who played a key role in promoting Breaking to the IOC, recalled how European cities embraced the sport in the 80s. Paris was among the early adopters, supported by influential designer Paco Rabanne when traditional venues rejected Breaking.

The origins of Breaking, blending Puerto Rican and Black youth culture from the Bronx, drew from various influences. The ‘break’ refers to the percussion-only segments of songs extended by Jamaican DJ Kool Herc. Battles and cyphers evolved in the 1990s, incorporating elements from Latin dance and martial arts.

German B-Boy Niels ‘Storm’ Robitzky described Breaking’s evolution, noting its blend of influences from James Brown, Bruce Lee, and Muhammad Ali. He emphasized, “The history of dance combines the contributions of these influential figures.”

Paris, with its trendsetting reputation, embraced Breaking’s inclusive and disruptive nature. The sport’s vocabulary includes terms like ‘Toprock’ for standing moves, ‘Downrock’ for floor work, and ‘Freezes’ as punctuation in routines. Storm explained, “Freezes are used like punctuation in sentences, ending a set with emphasis or as a pause for the audience to absorb the performance.”

Breaking’s global appeal unites diverse cultures through a common language of dance. As Paris prepares to showcase this dynamic sport, the Olympics become a backdrop to a world that Breaking has long inhabited.