The Olympics are giving breaking a global stage in Paris. Not everyone is celebrating
4 months, 3 weeks ago

The Olympics are giving breaking a global stage in Paris. Not everyone is celebrating

Associated Press  

PARIS — In the basement of a sports complex in Paris, dozens of breakers, or break dancers, gathered almost every weeknight in July to freestyle, practicing classic moves like the windmill, freezes and headspins to the soundtrack of steady breakbeats from a playlist called “100% Flow.” They warmed up with footwork – “toprocking” – and catching the beat before diving into floor moves. “We come, we chill, we cypher – it’s like the main essence of breaking,” said Vongphrachanh, referring to the informal circle formed by breakers in which they enter one by one to dance and battle. “It’s a huge step for hip-hop and the breaking community,” said Rémi Chean-Len Heng, or “b-boy Fly Lin,” a breaker based in Paris who uses the dance as a form of therapy for new migrants arriving in France. “I saw their movement, I saw the way they danced and I wanted to replicate that.” Regulating hip-hop in France The mixed feelings among Paris’ local hip-hop community over breaking’s Olympic debut are intertwined with concerns over a French law that seeks to regulate the teaching of hip-hop dances — including breaking, popping and locking — through an amendment to a 1989 law that requires a state diploma for those teaching classical dance and jazz. Rappers Ice-T and Snoop Dogg expressed their excitement over the breaking competition, with Ice-T tweeting the event “could possibly be one of the HipHop culture’s proudest moments.” Many of the Olympic breakers themselves are navigating their roles as ambassadors of hip-hop to the Olympic world, seeing it as a “duty” to represent the authenticity of breaking and the broader culture’s heritage.

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History of this topic

Australia's 'Raygun' quits competitive breakdancing after 'really upsetting' backlash post-Olympics
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Australia's 'Raygun' quits competitive breakdancing after 'really upsetting' backlash post-Olympics

Firstpost  

‘Raygun’ had become the topic of memes after her viral performance on breaking’s Olympic debut at Place de la Concorde, her unorthodox routine featuring kangaroo hops among other moves Australia's Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn competes in the breaking event in the Paris Olympics. Reuters Australia’s Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has announced her retirement from breakdancing three months after representing her country at …

Paris Olympics breakdancing head judge one of many rallying around Raygun amid online criticism
4 months, 1 week ago

Paris Olympics breakdancing head judge one of many rallying around Raygun amid online criticism

ABC  

The breaking community wants the world to give Australia's Raygun a break as the Paris Olympics wrapped up. The sport made its Olympic debut in Paris — it might never be back — and one of the lasting images was the performance of an Australian B-girl known as Raygun who did a "kangaroo dance" and scored zero points. "Breaking is …

The Paris Olympics, a timely celebration of humanity, taught us about joy, hope and each other
4 months, 1 week ago

The Paris Olympics, a timely celebration of humanity, taught us about joy, hope and each other

ABC  

With a final flourish, the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris have come to a close, weary but just as engaging as they have been throughout. The final throes of the closing ceremony at the Stade de France began the process of casting forward to Los Angeles in 2028, but not without an extended celebration of this magical French summer. Any …

Paris Olympics: Break dancing steers Games towards the youth
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Paris Olympics: Break dancing steers Games towards the youth

The Hindu  

The art form of break dance took its biggest major sporting plunge in a spectacular manner on its Olympics debut, steering the Games’ towards a youth-centric future. As it projected the first Olympic champion in breaking, Japan’s B-girl Ami, in front of International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach. Japanese breaking is so good, I love it.” Indian origin Dutch B-girl …

Paris Olympics 2024: Japan’s Ami takes gold as breaking makes high-energy Olympic debut
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Paris Olympics 2024: Japan’s Ami takes gold as breaking makes high-energy Olympic debut

The Hindu  

The urban sport of breaking spun its way onto the Olympic stage on Friday for the first and possibly last time, with Japan’s B-Girl Ami winning the inaugural women’s gold. “I still don’t believe that I’m here because breaking is so different,” said Italian Antilai Sandrini, known by her B-Girl name Anti. “I never thought about breaking at the Olympics, …

Paris Olympics: Australian breakdancer Raygun hits back with tough message to her trolls and blasts IOC for scrapping the sport in 2028
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Paris Olympics: Australian breakdancer Raygun hits back with tough message to her trolls and blasts IOC for scrapping the sport in 2028

Daily Mail  

The Australian who has gone viral for her shocking Olympic routine has lashed the IOC for axing the new sport of breaking without giving it a chance to succeed. Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn was panned for her performance in the new Olympic sport of breaking Gunn failed to score a single point across three heats and her routine went viral Viewers …

Breaking competitor Raygun bows out of Paris Olympics without a point for Australia, in a sport that may be one and done
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Breaking competitor Raygun bows out of Paris Olympics without a point for Australia, in a sport that may be one and done

ABC  

With the breaking spun, won and done in an Olympics cameo in Paris, Australia's B-Girl, Rachael Gunn, aka Raygun, bowed out without firing a shot. Manizha Talash, a breaker from the Olympic refugee team, who was born in Afghanistan before fleeing the Taliban, made an early political statement by unveiling a cape during her round with the words "Free Afghan …

'Olympic breaking is so sick... I'm loving it!': Social media goes WILD as athletes hit the floor for dizzying dance blasts in newest sport in Paris - and even Snoop Dogg was hooked!
4 months, 2 weeks ago

'Olympic breaking is so sick... I'm loving it!': Social media goes WILD as athletes hit the floor for dizzying dance blasts in newest sport in Paris - and even Snoop Dogg was hooked!

Daily Mail  

The grand debut of breaking as an Olympic sport has been well received on social media with viewers stunned by the athletes' quirky trickery and talent. Before the action began, American rapper Snoop Dogg made a grand entrance to the soundtrack of 'Drop It Like It's Hot' to the delight of onlookers. Social media users were impressed by the grand …

It’s all about style and individuality as the world’s best breakers take the Olympic stage
4 months, 2 weeks ago

It’s all about style and individuality as the world’s best breakers take the Olympic stage

Associated Press  

PARIS — The journey of Olympic breaking was a long one that began with a vision — one that early pioneers of the art form in the 1970s in the Bronx hardly dreamed of. “People coming into breaking need to understand that there’s a history here of expression, especially from where it comes from,” said Slusser. “I feel like I’ve …

Olympics 2024: What is breaking, and why isn’t it called breakdancing?
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Olympics 2024: What is breaking, and why isn’t it called breakdancing?

Slate  

We’re now more than halfway through the 2024 Summer Olympics, and while the staple sports such as swimming and gymnastics have been completed, Paris still has a lot left in store. As Team USA b-girl Sunny Choi put it to Time: “If you call it breakdancing, you’re not a breaker.” Related From Slate What Happened to Ice Cube? The story …

Judging Breaking at the Olympics Is an Art, Not a Science
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Judging Breaking at the Olympics Is an Art, Not a Science

Wired  

Back in 2017, when I was watching the breaking battles at the Silverback Open in the suburbs of Philadelphia, a B-boy drew up into a handstand. Just a year earlier, the International Olympic Committee had announced that breaking was being added to the roster for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, an event often used as a testing ground for new …

Paris Games 2024: Breaking Celebrated By Google With A Street-Smart Doodle That Will Have You Stepping
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Paris Games 2024: Breaking Celebrated By Google With A Street-Smart Doodle That Will Have You Stepping

ABP News  

Google Doodle Today: As the Paris 2024 Olympics continue seeing human boundaries being pushed to superlative levels, Google continues bringing a series of Doodles to commemorate the global event, each focusing on a different sport. Check Out The Google Doodle Below: Breaking At 2024 Summer Olympics: Dates, Location Breaking is set to make its official debut as an Olympic sport …

‘Everyone loved it.’ American B-girls proud to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut
4 months, 2 weeks ago

‘Everyone loved it.’ American B-girls proud to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut

LA Times  

Sunny Choi has spent many jams dancing in dark, cramped rooms. “I just don’t know what makes an Olympic sport,” Raygun said, noting the broad spectrum of disciplines in the Games from dressage to artistic swimming to the 100-meter dash. “Breaking is clearly athletic, it clearly requires a whole level of dedication across a number of different aspects, so I …

For Olympic newbie sports like breaking, there’s a lot more at stake than medals
4 months, 2 weeks ago

For Olympic newbie sports like breaking, there’s a lot more at stake than medals

LA Times  

When the battles begin, when the time comes to throw down, look for Victor Montalvo to bring his classic moves. “Like, a broader audience.” Some sports — gymnastics and swimming, basketball and track — don’t have to worry about getting noticed. Same with modern pentathlon, where Jessica Savner of the U.S. muses about finding “better ways to market and show …

It’s more than just the windmill. What to watch for as breaking kicks off at the Olympics
4 months, 2 weeks ago

It’s more than just the windmill. What to watch for as breaking kicks off at the Olympics

Associated Press  

PARIS — The b-girls and b-boys are ready for their spotlight. “Even though people weren’t there yet, I could just see the crowd already,” American Logan Edra, or “b-girl Logistx,” said after seeing the stadium for the first time. “This is also going to be the only sport where they’re going to incorporate other elements of hip-hop, because there’s going …

From sidewalks to the Olympics, breaking has come a long way : NPR
4 months, 2 weeks ago

From sidewalks to the Olympics, breaking has come a long way : NPR

NPR  

From sidewalks to the Olympics, breaking has come a long way Before B-boys and B-girls were competing at the Olympics, breaking became sidewalk sensation in the 1970s and 1980s. NPR's Mandalit del Barco has been documenting this phenomenon since the early 1980s. MANDALIT DEL BARCO, BYLINE: At a small studio in LA's mid-Wilshire neighborhood, Frankie Nunez - Frankie Flave - …

As breaking debuts at Olympics, meet the New York DJ behind the Paris party
4 months, 2 weeks ago

As breaking debuts at Olympics, meet the New York DJ behind the Paris party

LA Times  

All eyes are on the round boxing ring, where dancers trade air flares instead of jabs under a bright spotlight. “A referee is very much supposed to stay out of it, a judge is staying out of it, they’re completely separate from the event itself,” Fleg said. I have direct involvement.” “The DJ,” American B-boy Jeffrey “Jeffro” Louis said, “is …

Breaking is finally set to make its Olympic debut. How will the competitors be judged?
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Breaking is finally set to make its Olympic debut. How will the competitors be judged?

Associated Press  

PARIS — A new sport calls for new rules at the Olympic level. The international competitions aren’t new either — the Red Bull BC One World Final has been around for two decades and the sport resonated among younger viewers at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. “I think the critics have a misconception about breaking still being …

New to Olympics, breaking walks fine line between its roots and the mainstream
4 months, 2 weeks ago

New to Olympics, breaking walks fine line between its roots and the mainstream

New York Times  

Whatever the International Olympic Committee’s motivations, Sunny Choi and Jeffrey Louis appreciate the platform. But I’m very grateful.” Choi and Louis; aka, “B-Girl Sunny” and “B-Boy Jeffro,” are two members of the United States’ four-person inaugural breaking team, a competition making its Olympic debut this week at the Paris Games. The common belief among many is that it derived from …

Paris Olympics 2024 promises to ‘revolutionise’ the Games’ experience
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Paris Olympics 2024 promises to ‘revolutionise’ the Games’ experience

The Hindu  

In the history of the Olympic Games, the show-piece event in its modern avatar of 128 years has never been so inclusive as far as connecting with the masses is concerned. Accordingly, under ‘Marathon for All,’ Paris 2024 Organising Committee has selected 48048 people, with equal number of men and women, from France and abroad to give them a unique …

7 things you need to know about the Paris Olympics
5 months ago

7 things you need to know about the Paris Olympics

Salon  

After months of anticipation, the 2024 Summer Olympics Games are nearly underway. From varied venues in and around Paris to key Team USA athletes to follow, check out Salon’s list of everything you should know about this summer's Olympic Games before you tune in. The Phryges are red, white and blue to reflect France’s tri-colored flag and wear the gold …

Breakdancing debuts at Olympics 2024 | Chennai’s breakers hit the streets with new moves
5 months ago

Breakdancing debuts at Olympics 2024 | Chennai’s breakers hit the streets with new moves

The Hindu  

You may think him cute but his swagger is unmatched. At Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore on a windy, weekday evening, this loud cypher has attracted curious walkers as they gasp at every handstand, spin and freeze by Chennai’s new crop of little breakdancers. First brush Chennai’s initiation into breakdancing can be largely credited to the name Antonio ‘Anto’ George, …

Paris Olympics: What to watch for
5 months ago

Paris Olympics: What to watch for

NPR  

Paris Olympics: What to watch for toggle caption Michel Euler/AP NPR is in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Breaking will make its Olympics debut Following the previous Summer Games’ addition of skateboarding and surfing, another sport with counterculture roots will take the Olympics stage for the first time in Paris. Simone Biles leads American gymnasts’ shot at redemption The …

Paris Olympics 2024: What is breaking? All you need to know about latest Summer Games sport
5 months ago

Paris Olympics 2024: What is breaking? All you need to know about latest Summer Games sport

The Hindu  

The Olympic Games, which initially started with just 43 events in nine sports in 1896, have come quite a long way. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will feature a total of 329 events in 32 sports, making the event a true sporting spectacle. With the Olympic Games commencing soon, Sportstar takes a look at the newly included sport of breaking, …

Paris 2024 Olympics: Sports which will make their debut this edition
5 months ago

Paris 2024 Olympics: Sports which will make their debut this edition

The Hindu  

CHENNAI The Olympic Games which initially started with just 43 events in 9 sports in 1896 has come quite a long way. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will feature a total of 329 events in 32 sports making the event a true sporting spectacle. With the historic sporting event commencing soon, Sportstar takes a look at the newly included sports …

What is breaking as an Olympic sport? All to know ahead of Paris 2024
5 months ago

What is breaking as an Olympic sport? All to know ahead of Paris 2024

Al Jazeera  

From street dance to Olympic sport, breaking will make its debut at the summer Games in Paris. The girls breaking competition runs on August 9 from 4:00pm Paris time to the end of the day. The boys breaking competition runs on August 10 from 4:00pm Paris time to the end of the day. The Olympics breaking competitions will take place …

Breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Its street dance origins, how it works and how to watch
5 months, 1 week ago

Breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Its street dance origins, how it works and how to watch

New York Times  

When music, movement, expression and performance meet, breaking ensues. Born from 1970s block parties in the Bronx, N.Y., breaking — an urban dance style that incorporates acrobatic movements and stylized footwork — will reach the sports summit next month when it makes its Olympic debut in the 2024 Paris Games. Throw in a few freezes — when the breaker abruptly …

Breakers weigh pressure and excitement as they make their Olympic debut at the Paris Games
5 months, 1 week ago

Breakers weigh pressure and excitement as they make their Olympic debut at the Paris Games

Associated Press  

Logan Edra knows her journey to securing a spot as one of the breakers on the U.S. team heading to the Olympics took longer than some expected. The other elements are DJing, MCing or rapping and graffiti “writing.” “I’m really excited to represent a whole country, but I’m more excited to represent my dance, my artform and I’m super excited …

French breaking dance showcase enthralls Shanghai audiences
6 months ago

French breaking dance showcase enthralls Shanghai audiences

China Daily  

A scene from Exit French Breaking Season captivated audiences at the Shanghai International Dance Center Theater from May 24 to June 10 with a display of three dynamic French breaking dance productions — Dos Au Mur, Exit, and We Are Monchichi — as part of the Festival Croisements 2024. This year, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and …

French breaking dance showcase enthralls Shanghai audiences
6 months ago

French breaking dance showcase enthralls Shanghai audiences

China Daily  

A scene from Exit French Breaking Season captivated audiences at the Shanghai International Dance Center Theater from May 24 to June 10 with a display of three dynamic French breaking dance productions — Dos Au Mur, Exit, and We Are Monchichi — as part of the Festival Croisements 2024. This year, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Sino-French diplomatic relations and …

Paris Olympics 2024: What is breakdancing, or breaking, that will make its debut
6 months ago

Paris Olympics 2024: What is breakdancing, or breaking, that will make its debut

Firstpost  

Breakdancing is an art form that originated in the 1970s within the hip-hop culture. AP Breakdancing or Breaking is a dynamic urban dance style that originated in the United States during the 1970s within hip-hop culture. AP Breaking made its debut at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where its remarkable success led to its inclusion in …

Paris Olympics: What to know and who to watch during the breakdancing competition
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Paris Olympics: What to know and who to watch during the breakdancing competition

Associated Press  

A roadmap to follow for the debut of breakdancing at the Paris Olympics: Athletes to Watch Victor Montalvo, United States: A breaker who describes himself as a student of old school b-boys from the founding era of hip-hop, the 30-year-old Montalvo, who is from Kissimmee, Florida, qualified for Paris by besting all other b-boys at the 2023 WDSF World Breaking …

Australian breaker ‘Raygun’ swaps lecture theatre for 2024 Paris Olympics
7 months ago

Australian breaker ‘Raygun’ swaps lecture theatre for 2024 Paris Olympics

Al Jazeera  

Breaking is a new sport at the Paris Olympics with athletes from different backgrounds and ages vying to take part. The athletes battling for breaking gold at the Olympics will bring an array of tricks to Paris but Australia’s Dr Rachael Gunn may be the only one armed with a PhD in the sport’s culture. The 36-year-old known as “Raygun”, …

Kid Karam wants to ‘create fireworks’ as breaking prepares for Olympic debut
7 months, 1 week ago

Kid Karam wants to ‘create fireworks’ as breaking prepares for Olympic debut

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our …

How breaking made it to the Olympics, and how Team USA is prepping for Paris
1 year, 2 months ago

How breaking made it to the Olympics, and how Team USA is prepping for Paris

New York Times  

Editor’s note: This article is part of our “Origin Stories” series, focusing on the backstories of athletes and topics around the Summer Olympics. “It’s a different type of field than what comes from street dancing or hip-hop.” Hall’s dance instructor wanted to teach her breaking and challenged her to think about what the sport meant to her. “Because I was …

US breaking pros want to preserve Black roots, original style of hip-hop dance form at Olympics
1 year, 3 months ago

US breaking pros want to preserve Black roots, original style of hip-hop dance form at Olympics

Associated Press  

As ambassadors of the country where breakdancing originated 50 years ago, members of Team USA have something to prove — and potentially to lose — when the hip-hop dance form makes its official debut at the Paris Games in 2024. Mace Maya, also known as B-Boy Mace, competes against Nelzwon during the semifinals in the Breaking for Gold Big Apple …

Break dancing fostered Black and brown unity. Some of its pioneers worry of erasure
1 year, 4 months ago

Break dancing fostered Black and brown unity. Some of its pioneers worry of erasure

LA Times  

Emceeing, DJing, graffiti, knowledge and break dancing. “I want to say to them, ‘Help me find an environment to make sure that the art is stored and that the kids who created it have the chance to experience it.’” In 2020, the International Olympic Committee announced it was adding skateboarding, surfing, sport climbing and breaking as medal sports to the …

Breakdancing holds firm to its roots but readies for Paris Olympic stage
2 years, 1 month ago

Breakdancing holds firm to its roots but readies for Paris Olympic stage

The Hindu  

Breakdancing is ready to embrace the Olympic spotlight with its Games debut less than two years away, as the pillar of hip-hop culture returned to its roots in New York this weekend. The Netherlands’ India Sardjoe and United States’ Victor Montalvo were crowned the Red Bull BC One World Final champions on Saturday in a celebration of breaking - as …

B-Girl Jo breaking the Olympic mould
3 years, 1 month ago

B-Girl Jo breaking the Olympic mould

Live Mint  

At 17, Johanna Rodrigues had the best year of her life. That’s the first time I saw breaking live,” Rodrigues, now 25, says over the phone. “Initially I wasn’t sure how it will change, but I am already seeing that dancers’ families are taking it a lot more seriously and that’s really helpful for them to grow,” says Rodrigues. Worse …

Australia's breakdance community takes aim on selection for inaugural Olympic competition at Paris Games in 2024
3 years, 1 month ago

Australia's breakdance community takes aim on selection for inaugural Olympic competition at Paris Games in 2024

ABC  

Olympic events are traditionally rich in history. "It's not like anyone that's going to be competing in the Olympics is going to be doing a class and learning a routine and then performing that routine," Clark said. "With the announcement of breaking coming into the Olympics, I think there's a lot of the next gen really taking things much more …

EXPLAINED: Why Weightlifting Is Under Olympic Exit Cloud And How Sports Are Added To The Games
3 years, 4 months ago

EXPLAINED: Why Weightlifting Is Under Olympic Exit Cloud And How Sports Are Added To The Games

News 18  

India’s best-ever Olympic medal tally, which came this year at Tokyo, includes a silver bagged by Saikhom Mirabai Chanu. At a meeting on the sidelines of the Tokyo Games, the IOC amended the Olympic Charter to state that the “IOC Session may remove any sport from the programme of the Olympic Games if, among other violations, the relevant International Federation …

After Skateboarding and Surfing, 'Breaking' to Make Olympic Debut in 2024 Paris Games
4 years ago

After Skateboarding and Surfing, 'Breaking' to Make Olympic Debut in 2024 Paris Games

News 18  

The International Olympic Committee has decided the event program and the athlete quotas for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with ‘breaking’ — a competitive form of breakdancing, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing — being confirmed as additional sports proposed by the Paris 2024 organising committee. Skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing have already been included in next year’s Tokyo Olympics while …

Breakdancing Gets Included In The Olympics!! Officially Added As New Sport In 2024 Paris Games
4 years ago

Breakdancing Gets Included In The Olympics!! Officially Added As New Sport In 2024 Paris Games

ABP News  

Imagine Akshay Kumar, Hritish Roshan, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff winning India a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.yes it's not impossible. The International Olympic Council on Monday night approved break dancing as an Olympic sport, ratifying a proposal made a year back and tested in youth Olympics. The International Olympic Committee ratified the inclusion of breakdancing …

Olympics: Surfing and Breakdancing Among Four Sports to Win Paris 2024 Spot
4 years ago

Olympics: Surfing and Breakdancing Among Four Sports to Win Paris 2024 Spot

News 18  

Breakdancing, surfing, skateboarding and sports climbing won a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics when the International Olympic Committee ratified their inclusion on Monday, IOC President Thomas Bach said. The Paris 2024 organising committee had last year proposed the four sports for inclusion and was waiting on a final review by the IOC’s Executive Board. Organisers Say 2020 Tokyo Games …

‘Breaking’ news: Breakdancing added as an event for 2024 Paris Olympics
4 years ago

‘Breaking’ news: Breakdancing added as an event for 2024 Paris Olympics

LA Times  

Jannis Bednarzik performs at a 2017 championship competition in Germany. Breakdancing was one of four sports added to the 2024 Paris Olympics on Monday. It’s official — the 2024 Paris Olympics will include breakdancing, or breaking, as a medal sport. “With this program, we are making the Olympic Games Paris 2024 fit for the post-corona world,” IOC president Thomas Bach …

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