Breakdancing a step closer to becoming an Olympic sport

Breakdancing moved a step closer to becoming an Olympic sport after their inclusion for the Paris 2024 games was approved by members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday.

Surfing, skateboarding and climbing were also proposed for approval. These three will make their debut in Tokyo 2020

The final decision on breakdancing for Paris will be made in late 2020.

This comes as the Olympic community is pushing for events that are “more gender-balanced, younger and urban”.

Breakdance is the oldest known hip-hop style of dance. It is believed to have originated in the Bronx, New York, in the 1970s. Musical inspirations date back to the energetic performances of funk maestro, James Brown.

In the early days of deejaying, emceeing, and breakdancing, a break — the instrumental part of a song that is looped repeatedly by the DJ — was typically incorporated into songs to allow a showcase of breakdance moves.

In the late 1960s, Afrika Bambaataa recognized that breakdancing was not just a form of dance. He saw it as a means to an end. Bambaataa formed one of the earliest dance crews, the Zulu Kings. The Zulu Kings gradually developed a reputation as a force to be reckoned with in breakdancing circles.

Rock Steady Crew, arguably the most important breakdancing collective in hip-hop history, added innovative acrobatic moves to the art. Breaking evolved from simple headspins and backspins to sophisticated power moves.

As Notorious BIG would say, “It was all a dream… You never thought that hip-hop would take it this far”.

with information from liveabout.com