Breaking, an electrifying dance form with roots deeply embedded in hip-hop culture, is set to captivate a global audience as it debuts at the Olympics. This dynamic and acrobatic style, born in the streets of the Bronx, New York in the 1970s, is now taking center stage on the world’s most prestigious sporting platform. This evolution from local street dance to Olympic sport is a testament to breaking’s global appeal and athletic prowess.
The genesis of breaking can be traced back to DJ Kool Herc, also known as Clive Campbell, a Jamaican American DJ who noticed dancers’ heightened energy during the instrumental breaks of songs. Pioneering the “breakbeat,” Herc extended these instrumental sections, creating a continuous rhythm that fueled a new dance style. At a “Back to School Jam” in 1973, hosted with his sister Cindy, Herc introduced these breaks, igniting a dance revolution. He drew inspiration from James Brown’s music, particularly the 1970 album “Sex Machine,” to create these extended danceable beats. The enthusiastic response to these “breaks after breaks” cemented Herc’s role as a founding father of both hip-hop music and breaking.
Herc’s parties quickly grew in popularity, leading to dance contests where winners earned cash prizes. It was Herc who coined the terms “B-Boys” and “B-Girls” for these energetic dancers, terms that remain synonymous with breaking culture today. He explained that “breaking” was 1970s slang for excitement and energetic expression, perfectly capturing the spirit of this nascent dance form.
Initially, breaking began with “toprock,” upright movements performed while standing. As the dance evolved through the mid-1970s, breakers incorporated “freezes,” striking poses requiring balance and style. The early 1980s saw the emergence of “downrock,” intricate footwork performed close to the ground, drawing inspiration from dances like the Ukrainian Tropak. By 1983, a B-Boy named Powerful PEX and the New York City Breakers revolutionized breaking further by introducing “power moves.” These acrobatic and visually stunning moves, including windmills and headspins, have become iconic and are often what people associate most strongly with breaking. The dance continued to evolve in the 1990s with “Euro-style” and “Toronto-style” downrocks, adding layers of complexity to the footwork vocabulary of breaking. Today, breaking battles and performances are built upon these core elements: toprock, downrock, power moves, and freezes.
Breaking’s journey from the Bronx to the Olympic Games reflects its remarkable global spread. Popular among Black and Puerto Rican youth in New York City boroughs in the 1970s, breaking gained mainstream visibility through television and Hollywood movies in the 1980s. This exposure propelled breaking onto the global stage, inspiring dancers and communities worldwide. Now, decades later, Breaking Dance Olympics represents the pinnacle of achievement for B-Boys and B-Girls, showcasing the athleticism, artistry, and cultural significance of breaking to a truly global audience. The inclusion of breaking in the Olympics marks a significant milestone, celebrating its rich history and vibrant future.
