Will the Olympics break breakdancing?

At a Glance

• Storm and Renegade’s Quest - “We’re not trying to get the highest points to like, no, what are you talking about? That’s not what we’re trying to do here. We’re trying to express ourselves.” This highlights their dedication to preserving the artistic and creative essence of breaking in the face of Olympic standardization.

• The Dope-ness Summit - “You start grouping words that mean the same thing, scratching the one that sounds ridiculous, like swagger, like what we’re doing, you know?” This humorous moment showcases the debate and struggle to define the essence of breaking in a more objective manner.

• The Three-Fold System - “It was like magic, mate. I’m telling you. I think we discovered something really special.” This marks the successful implementation of a new judging system in breaking competitions, bringing legitimacy and fairness to the sport.

• Mixed Feelings About Olympics - “Is this really the way we want breaking to grow?” Storm and Renegade express their concerns about the commercialization and standardization of breaking as it enters the Olympic stage, questioning the essence of the sport.

What to Do

• “Distill down what could be objective from what can’t really.” - This advice is given to emphasize the importance of focusing on objective criteria when evaluating something, in order to avoid subjective biases.

• “Express yourself and put your unique spin on a move.” - This advice encourages individuals to showcase their creativity and individuality, highlighting the importance of personal expression in any activity.

• “Balance the artistic and the athletic in judging systems.” - This advice suggests finding a balance between artistic expression and athletic performance when evaluating competitions, ensuring a fair and comprehensive assessment.

What to Get

• Not Much Here

Summary

In this podcast episode, the conversation revolves around the evolution of breaking, also known as breakdancing, as a competitive sport and its journey towards becoming an Olympic event. The episode features discussions between prominent figures in the breaking community, such as Niels Rabitzky (Storm) and Renegade, who have been instrumental in shaping the judging criteria for breaking competitions. They highlight the challenges of transitioning breaking from an art form rooted in hip-hop culture to a sport with defined rules and judging systems.

One of the key points of contention is the balance between creativity and athleticism in breaking competitions. Storm and Renegade emphasize the importance of preserving the artistic expression and individuality that define breaking, while also acknowledging the need for objective judging criteria to ensure fairness in competitions. They introduce a three-fold judging system that categorizes performances based on physicality, artistry, and interpretation, allowing judges to evaluate dancers more objectively.

The episode delves into the efforts to standardize judging criteria for breaking competitions, particularly in the context of potential inclusion in the Olympics. Storm and Renegade’s collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Dance Sport Federation leads to the adoption of a more structured judging system for breaking events. Despite initial concerns about compromising the essence of breaking, the new criteria aim to strike a balance between artistic expression and competitive fairness, paving the way for breaking to be recognized as an official Olympic sport.