You never thought that hip hop would take it this far. -C. Wallace
Fifty-one years ago - nearly to the day - hip hop was born in the South Bronx. This past weekend, in the waning days of the 2024 Paris Olympics, it took one of the world's grandest stages as one of its elements - breaking - made its Olympic debut. Breaking's inclusion was part of an Olympic initiative to attract a younger crowd - a fact that makes me chuckle a bit, considering the OG B-boys and B-girls are collecting social security these days. Breaking is recognized by the World DanceSport Federation, which in turn is recognized by the International Olympic Committee, hence its inclusion. All evidence points to it being a one-and-done - that is, it's not currently on the slate for 2028 or future games.
Before I get into the thoughts, I'll lay my biases on the line. I'm a lifelong hip hop head. I am (was?) a dancer myself, though breaking was never my discipline. And, of course, I operate in a space with judged artistic competition as someone who follows marching band and drum corps.
So first: Is breaking a sport? Reasonable minds can disagree on this one. The only clear evidence that isn't is axiomatic: Once upon a time, we drew a line of demarcation as to what is sport and what isn't, and at that point, breaking didn't make the cut. There's no real reason for its exclusion beyond that. Some may point to the fact that it is a judged competition, but so too are gymnastics, diving, and figure skating.
With that said, artistic activities - I'll include breaking here, as well as marching band - sometimes act as though to be a sport is some sort of high-water mark for acceptance. To be art is a noble cause in itself. And while some may disagree as to whether or not either is a sport, it's unquestionable that its participants are athletes.
Breaking comes with with an additional consideration: Culture. The artform is inextricable from the culture that birthed it - hip hop. Hip hop is now a global commodity AND the birthright of Black and Latin kids from the South Bronx, and neither part of that reality can be divorced from its spread. So while there are technical aspects upon which it can be judged, what is a technically correct performance if it lacks a soul to give it life?
Judging art also allows for the pitfall of performing for judges, rather than the crowd. For the band and drum corps folks, I'm sure you've all seen staging send the drumline down front to ram a bunch of notes in front of the judges to show off how technical they are while everyone but the percussion fankids yawns. Performances that respect the flow and pacing of an actual battle can easily leave points contrived by judging systems on the dancefloor.
I will give Olympic breaking this faint praise: If it set out to connect with youth, mission accomplished. I was watching the men compete on Saturday and my kids came down and were enthralled. No requests to switch to YouTube or games, and my younger kid called it "the only Olympic thing I'm not bored at." I suppose if you don't have the baggage of decades as a hip hop head to draw on, it was quite enjoyable.
In fact, taken in totality, I did enjoy many of the dancers, if not the overall presentation. It was clear there were plenty who were of the culture, if not naturalized into it, who gave the artform the respect it deserved. There were also those who did not. I would have loved to have seen some of breaking's OGs weigh in, but that too was a point of contention - many who appreciate the art for art's sake had no interest in seeing is commodified for the Olympics.
As it stands, Olympic breaking has likely come and gone. Like the cypher itself, it was a moment in time that will never be seen again.
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