Breaking is a new sport at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris where the competitive form of break dancing is a big part of the Parisian culture.
PARIS, France — A rich dance culture of Paris is now on the biggest sports stage as competitive breaking makes its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Summer Games on Friday.
“I think it’s a good thing because I am optimistic,” said Remi Heng.
Like all B-boys and B-girls, Remi has a breaking name, which is B-Boy Fly Leading. Remi takes part in a breaking lifestyle where B-boys and B-girls gather for what they call breaking battles.
“It’s a big spot yes, a lot of B-Boys and a lot of B-girls come into Parisian battles,” said Heng.
In the competitive format, 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls go head-to-head in solo dance battles, with sets filled with breaking moves that combine dance, strength and music, which is a big part of where the sport gets its name.
“It originated from the DJ’s the DJs throwing the block parties this DJs would create a dance loop and that creates a break,” said Heng. “Those dancers who danced on the break, he called them B-boys and B-girls.”
And while breaking is usually free flowing, judges are looking at creativity, personality, technique, variety and musicality.
While breaking is in the Paris Olympics, it won’t be at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Los Angeles picked flag football, cricket, squash, baseball, softball and lacrosse to be played.
