Lajiväki was in awe in June 2019. Of course, Olympic status had been talked about and rumored, but few could seriously dream of such a thing.
However, the annual meeting of the International Olympic Committee decided on midsummer four years ago that breaking would be one of the four new Olympic sports in Paris 2024. Official confirmation of the matter was received a year and a half later.
Somewhere in the costume men’s cabinet, it was also decided that the name of the sport would be breaking and not breakdance, as was customary.
– Yes, at first we were all like, what is this, the head coach of the Finnish national team Jussi “Focus” Sirviö describes the moods of Finnish dancers.
As you might expect, some of the species got spoiled. In everyone’s opinion, the world’s biggest sporting event and hip hop culture don’t shake hands very well. The same discussion started as in the past with snowboarding and skateboarding.
Does Olympic status kill creativity? Will style disappear when everyone tries to do the same flashy and difficult tricks? Will the sport become a trapeze or circus-like trickery?
DJ Kool Herc
Jamaican-born DJ Kool Herc developed a new way of playing music in the 1970s in the Bronx, New York. At Kool Herc’s party, the breakdown of the songs was emphasized, i.e. the interlude, where the rhythm of the percussion instruments played a prominent role.
The blows of the percussion instruments, the “breaks”, also laid the foundation for a new dance. In the new way of dancing, musicality, rhythmicity and the dancer’s own style were emphasized.
As such, the species has remained until these days. Along the way, spectacular tricks have been added that require acrobatic skills from the dancer. Technology has developed, but the focus has always been on style. Puritans fear it will disappear with Olympic status.
– The opposition is perhaps afraid that we will become competitive machines that all do the same thing. They do the things that are required to do well in the games, Sirviö reflects.
Opportunity
Sirviö does not share the concern about the destruction of the deepest essence of the species. He is not only one of the best dancers of his time who ended his competitive career and is a current coach as well as a trained judge.
– My answer to the doubters is that it also comes from judging and training. We give weight to those who take the sport forward and bring their own expression. I’m not worried because as a judge I know how it works.
Judging Breaking is an interesting thing. It was based on the judges’ subjective experience for a long time, and the justification was, for example, “better flow” or “dopier style”. This does not happen in the Olympic Games.
– Before, we used to go by our feelings, Sirviö laughs.
– Now that the Olympic status has been obtained, of course the judging requires a different level of transparency and systematization.
There are still no mandatory moves, but the judges have clear areas that they evaluate. These include, for example, musicality, originality and technique. Any judging sport includes different opinions about the superiority of the athletes, but Sirviö is confident.
– An experienced and trained judge knows what he is looking for.
The Olympic Games make the sport not only more transparent and organized, but also better known. Finnish dancers see a great opportunity here.
– What’s wrong with it if the sport becomes mainstream? Now there is an option that dance can become a job, a career, whatever. The media is interested, different brands are interested. This could become such a thing that if there is talk about breaking in elementary school, then everyone knows what it is about, former top dancer and current coach Dennis “Aunt” Nylund vision.
Paris
Those who are interested in the competition venue have a tough job ahead of them. This year, 15 ranking competitions will be organized around the world, which you can collect ranking points by visiting. A ranking tour will be organized next spring, where the 40 male and female dancers with the most points will qualify. Among them, the 16 best men and women will be screened, who will finally get a place in the competition.
– At the moment, all the tough ones are going around the ranking competitions. All the best dancers will certainly be seen in Paris, Sirviö assures.
The Finns are also aiming for Paris. The goal of the national team is at least one competition place, preferably several. Success in the games itself is also in the sights.
– Finns always have a place at the heart of Breik internationally. The Finns have done such things that the sport has been able to develop and we are highly respected, says Nylund.
The Finns’ achievements in the sport are undeniably impressive. Sirviö and Nylund and their group Flow Mo Crew gained fame around the world in the 2000s and 2010s. However, the Olympic Games are their own chapter.
– Of course, you won’t be able to do it with just old sea routes. You have to know the tricks that create the wow effect, but do it with style. I have great faith that everything will be fine with Finns, Nylund smiles.