Breakdancing appeared in the dance world in the 1960s and ’70s. It has grown to become a form of street performance. It is a major stage presence as some b-boys and b-girls blend their fast and dangerous moves with some of the more subtle moves that come with modern hip hop. Now, breakdancing is breaking yet another boundary by becoming an Olympic sport.
Breakdancing appeared as a successful category at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Now, there is potential for breaking, the sport’s official Olympic title, to be an event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. On the Olympics’ official website, they announced that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) wants to make “the Olympic programme gender-balanced, more youth-focused and more urban” as we move toward the games in Paris.
The potential for breakdancing to make its way to the Olympics is an incredible step for the dance world. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has been trying to bring Dancesport (specifically competitive ballroom dancing) to the Olympics since it was recognized officially by the IOC in 1997. Until the 2018 Youth Olympics, dance has not been given the chance for Olympic prestige.
Alongside breakdancing, climbing, surfing and skateboarding are also on the list of games that the Paris organizing committee wants to include. This means, softball and baseball will be left behind after the 2020 games in Tokyo, Japan along with some other games that they feel are less appealing to younger audiences.
Breakdancing isn’t schedule as an event for the 2020 summer games in Tokyo, but that just means the world’s best dancers have more time to prepare their best moves for Paris.
