The first time for breakdancing at the Olympics

In the 1970s, New York was facing an economic crisis: many of its residents decided to move to the suburbs, leaving behind the chaos and confusion of a polluted and hectic city center. Unlike Manhattan and Times Square, the Bronx (more specifically the South Bronx, also known as the "Boogie Down Bronx" or "Bronx River"), was populated by residents of African American and Puerto Rican descent. Poverty reigned in that area, driving its inhabitants to commit acts of vandalism to make ends meet. Yet, it was in these graffiti-strewn streets that a significant branch of dance was born: breakdancing. This practice has evolved greatly since its inception and this year, for the first time, it will make its entrance among the Olympic disciplines. Although this dance style was introduced at the Youth Olympic Games in 2018 in Buenos Aires, it will make its first appearance at an official edition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

During its peak fame, the Bronx was also becoming known for a vibrant music scene. It established itself as the birthplace of many music genres, such as disco, salsa, funk, and mambo, attracting people from all over New York to party there until the early hours of the morning. It was in this atmosphere that hip-hop was born. It is said that the father of breakdancing was DJ Kool Herc, who brought the artistic background of his homeland, Jamaica, to American soil. It was during the "Jams" (also called "house parties" or "block parties") organized by DJ Kool Herc, held on street corners and in abandoned buildings, that the first B-boys and B-girls appeared. The term "breakdance" refers not only to the way the dancers' bodies "break," repair, fall to the ground, rise again, and so on, but also to the "break" (the pause, the interlude of a track that interrupts its rhythmic flow) of the vinyl that the DJ used and looped to animate the dance floor. From the very first day, breakdancing has consisted of performing acrobatic moves in the air and on the ground to the rhythm of hip-hop music.

From the 1980s onwards, the breakdancing movement spread beyond the Bronx, becoming popular worldwide. During this period, numerous films about breakdancing debuted in cinemas and contributed to this massive popularization, such as Breakin' and Battle of the Year. The 2000s further accentuated the rise of breakdancing, with the birth of more and more dance-related TV series. It is impossible not to mention Channing Tatum in Step Up, which helped make breakdancing outfits more appealing to fans. Indeed, looks play an important role in the sport. In the early 1970s, the outfits paid homage to the African color palette (black, red, green, and yellow). The athletes' accessories were numerous, their earlobes weighed down by diamond earrings, and the word "minimalism" was not in the dancers' vocabulary. In the early 1980s, the duo Kriss Kross stood out not only for their remarkable musical talent but also for their oversized outfits. Thus, the trend of "sagging" (wearing pants below the waist to show off one's underwear) was born. Extra-large pants, a hoodie, a loose T-shirt, and a big chain became the new uniform of breakdancers.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on August 10th and 11th, 16 B-Boys and B-Girls will compete for the breaking gold medal on the dance floor at Place de la Concorde. And yes, perhaps breakdancing is the most unconventional sport we will see in this Olympics - simply because it is the sport that most straddles the line between sport and art.