Breaking, a dance style that has been around since the 1970s, has gained popularity in competitive circles over the years. Large-scale judged competitions such as Battle of the Year, Miami Pro-Am, and Freestyle Session helped pave the way for competitive breaking around the world. More international competitions like Outbreak, The Notorious IBE, and Red Bull BC One found success as breaking gained traction in the 1990s and beyond.
In 2016, the International Olympic Committee was won over by breaking’s athleticism and competitive spirit, leading them to approve breaking as a discipline for the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games and subsequently for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, b-boys and b-girls will face off in one-on-one battles, where they will showcase their skills and attempt to sway the judges to vote for them. The judges will directly score the competitors against each other using a comparative judging system.
Breaking at the Paris Olympics will most likely use a panel of nine judges utilizing Level A of the World DanceSport Federation’s Breaking Judging System. This system was developed by the organization responsible for managing breaking in the Olympic ecosystem. The judging system focuses on five core categories: Technique, Vocabulary, Execution, Musicality, and Originality. Technique involves physiological control and athleticism, while Vocabulary focuses on the range of movement techniques displayed. Execution is about performing moves with clarity and without errors, and Musicality requires synchronization with the music being played. Originality encompasses creativity and uniqueness in a breaker’s performance.
Unlike conventional sports, breaking is judged qualitatively due to its open-ended and artistic nature. The judging criteria do not specify specific techniques, and there are no quantifiable points for performing a particular move. In a battle, a breaker only needs to outperform their opponent by shifting the balance in their favor. The Olympic judging system uses a sliding scale for each core criterion, allowing judges to move the sliders in favor of one breaker or the other. The breaker who influences the battle more strongly will ultimately emerge as the winner. Competitors are encouraged to play to their strengths and use their unique approaches in each battle.
In conclusion, breaking as an Olympic sport at the Paris 2024 Games will be judged using a comprehensive, transparent, and intuitive system developed by the World DanceSport Federation. B-boys and b-girls will compete in one-on-one battles, showcasing their skills in Technique, Vocabulary, Execution, Musicality, and Originality. The qualitative nature of the judging criteria allows for creativity and individuality in each breaker’s performance. As breaking continues to grow in popularity and gain recognition on the Olympic stage, viewers can expect to see an exciting and dynamic showcase of athleticism, skill, and creativity at the Paris 2024 Olympic breaking events.
