Breakdancing is on our radar for quite some time. Since the IOC saw potential in the dance- and art form as a sport in 2019, Discover the Games witnessed the urban sport on several occasions. Breaking has no comparison with any other sport out there. With that in mind, let us give a brief overview from the moment of Olympic debut to the qualification for the big Olympics at the European Games in Poland.
By Walter Tempelman
The Olympic debut –> Youth Olympic Games – Buenos Aires – 2018
The first time breakdancing finds itself within the world of multi-sport events is at the Youth Olympic Games in Argentina. The status wasn’t an official one yet, since the IOC only recommended it as being on the Olympic program. But everyone felt the fact that the sport could show itself on a stage as the YOG meant it was just a matter of time.
At that Youth Olympic Games culture and sport were unified in one person: Richard Colón aka Crazy Legs, a legendary b-boy (breakdancer) from The Bronx, New York. He was a judge at the YOG, but most of all: he was part of the upcoming hiphop culture back in the late seventies, begin eighties. As member of the Rocksteady Crew he helped breakdancing becoming a rage and later a steady cultural movement.
Crazy Legs recognized the different background and approach from the young b-boys and b-girls. “This generation has everything to take breakdance to another level,” he said in 2019. “They grow up in good conditions and can work on their moves at clubs and in the gym. I’m from The Bronx, where we apparently created something new on the street. But we had to find out how everything worked, to invent things. We made mistakes, did naughty things and made sure that breakdance – what we did every day – was a hit.”
Urban culture in urban event –> World Urban Games – Budapest – 2019
Breakdancing is not the only ‘new’, fresh and hip sport the IOC has it’s eyes on. 3×3 basketball for example is another one. In 2019 those sports had their own event (free running, laser running were other representatives) in Hungary. At an ancient site, Nagyvásártelep, near the river Danube the public lives for those sports. Especially breakdancing.
Some Hungarian early adapters of the dance culture in the eighties are coming to the event to see what has become of their favorite past time. They have one specific wish: to see Menno, a 3-time world champion from the Netherlands. Moj Rivas, another legendary b-boy, explained in Budapest why Menno is one of the best: “Menno is a freestyle dancer with calculated moves, while most of the others calculate to much. This guy connects with the music, with the environment, with what’s happening at that very moment. If you put it together, that’s extremely dangerous. Everyone is a little scared when Menno joins the competition.”
Menno about his style: “In the near future there will be breakers who can turn 20 times on one hand”, he said. “I create my own moves that comes from within. The people probably don’t understand why that guy who can turn 20 times doesn’t win, but the moves I do are extremely well performed. Think about Picasso, he’s a painter who creates his own style, which makes him different than the rest.”
At home, established –> World Games – 2022 – Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Back in the country the ‘sport’ was invented, breakdancing feels at home. And once again the stage is one of absolute beauty: the old and industrial steel factory Sloss Furnace, in Birmingham, Alabama. The place is packed, sweaty and greasy. Just like at the previous Games kids seem to love it. They want to get close to the stage (And they are allowed to! What a joy to see that happening at a sport event!) and are enjoying themselves intensely.
In Birmingham the sport combines it’s world wide potential with the American history and home ground. B-boy Victor claims victory in the men’s tournament and is talking about his Olympic dreams in stead of his moves and the battles. “I feel like I have a chance to reach for the medals at the Olympics, that would be amazing”, he said. The young man from Florida becomes an international sports star. From copying moves from MTV movie clips to Olympic gold. That’s what makes Victor an ideal role model fort he IOC.
The girl’s tournament was a win for Japanese b-girl Amy, defeating New York City’s Sunny.
The Olympic qualification –> European Games – 2023 – Novy Sacz, Poland
The Olympic ticket awaits for the winner in both men’s and women’s tournament. All the b-boys and b-girls know that. The goal is not only to dance and battle; all eyes are on the prize. Dany from France and India from the Netherlands get the coveted ticket. India is only 17 years old and grew up knowing it is possible to win Olympic gold if she’s good at breakdancing. And that’s exactly what she’s planning.
“In advance I tried to focus less on that historical content, but now that I have succeeded I realize it. I immediately cried when the results came, this is such a relief and takes a lot of stress away. School hasn’t been going so well lately, and now I have this. Awesome!” And there is b-boy Menno again, he lost the final to Dany and didn’t grab the ticket. Menno is the dancer with the old artistic soul who had to get used to the fact that breakdancing became an Olympic sport a few years ago. “But now it’s there, I really wanted it bad. I think I’ll manage to get to Paris, but I need to go by a different route now.”
Breakdancing has become a sport with all the associated happy tears of winning and major disappointment when losing, but it still maintained it’s unique character: beats, battling, dancing. Being a cultural, artistic outlet for dancers, with a possibility of a gold medal in the end.
