Image of a person break dancing in front of a gathered crowd

Victor Montalvo, also known as B-boy Victor, dancing

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Going for the Gold

A style of dance called breaking is coming to the Olympics for the first time!

May 13, 2024
By Nicole Tocco

As You Read: Why is breaking especially important to Team USA? 

Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images

Montalvo with his World DanceSport Federation medal

As the crowd watched, Victor Montalvo did backspins and headstands. While balancing on his hands, he lowered his legs and swung them around in a circle. In between flips and tumbles, Montalvo’s feet never stopped moving to the hip-hop music that was playing. 

That was the scene last September when Montalvo won the 2023 World DanceSport Federation World Breaking Championship. He had just become the world’s top-ranked B-boy. That’s someone who performs a style of dance called breaking. It was also the moment Montalvo qualified for the first spot on Team USA’s breaking team.

Breaking is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, France. The Games will begin in late July. For more than two weeks, about 10,500 athletes from around the world will try to win medals. They’ll compete in 32 sports, including gymnastics, surfing, and skateboarding.

Montalvo is excited to introduce many to breaking.

“I want to show people how beautiful an art form it is,” he says. 

The crowd watched Victor Montalvo. Hip-hop music was playing. Montalvo did backspins and headstands. While balancing on his hands, he lowered his legs and swung them around in a circle. In between flips and tumbles, Montalvo’s feet never stopped moving. 

This scene happened last September. That was when Montalvo won the 2023 World DanceSport Federation World Breaking Championship. He had just become the world’s top-ranked B-boy. That’s someone who performs a style of dance called breaking. It was also the moment Montalvo qualified for the first spot on Team USA’s breaking team.

Breaking is set to make its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Games. The Games will be in Paris, France. They will begin in late July. For more than two weeks, about 10,500 athletes from around the world will try to win medals. They’ll compete in 32 sports. These include gymnastics, surfing, and skateboarding.

Montalvo is excited to introduce many to breaking. 

“I want to show people how beautiful an art form it is,” he says.

Fact File: France

Jim McMahon/Mapman

  • Population: about 69 million. The U.S. has about five times as many people. 
  • Geography: 212,935 square miles. It would be the third biggest U.S. state.
  • Official Language: French
  • Population: about 69 million. The U.S. has about five times as many people. 
  • Geography: 212,935 square miles. It would be the third biggest U.S. state.
  • Official Language: French

The Start of Breaking 

Breaking got its start in the Bronx in New York City. In 1973, hip-hop music was created by DJ Kool Herc. At parties, DJs like Herc spun records, or played music. They also created beats. Rappers added words to the music.

One thing that made hip-hop music stand out was the break. During a break, all rapping and instruments stopped—except for the drums. That’s when the breaking began.

During the break, dancers known as B-girls and B-boys took turns. They showed off their moves and personality. As they spun on their heads or did backflips, the crowd cheered. Breaking became very popular in New York City. It soon spread around the world. 

Breaking got its start in the Bronx. That’s in New York City. In 1973, hip-hop music was created by DJ Cool Herc. At parties, DJs spun records, or played music. They also created beats. Rappers added words to the music.

One thing that made hip-hop music stand out was the break. During a break, all rapping and instruments stopped—except for the drums. That’s when the breaking began.

During the break, dancers showed off their moves and personality. The dancers are known as B-girls and B-boys. They spun on their heads or did backflips. The crowd cheered. Breaking became very popular in New York City. It soon spread around the world. 

Pause and Think

Describe how breaking got its name. 

Describe how breaking got its name. 

Learning From Losing 

Growing up in Kissimmee, Florida, Montalvo was introduced to breaking by his father and uncle. He danced with his family every chance he got. In 2007, when Montalvo was 14, he entered his first competition. Montalvo made it to the finals, but he didn’t win. That didn’t stop him though.

“In breaking, you lose more than you win,” he explains. “For me, it’s like, keep going and learn from your losses.”

That’s exactly what Montalvo did. He kept going. He practiced his skills and went on to win championships. Now he’s getting ready to show his moves to the world at the Olympics. 

Montalvo grew up in Kissimmee, Florida. He was introduced to breaking by his father and uncle. He danced with his family every chance he got. When Montalvo was 14, he entered his first competition. Montalvo made it to the finals. But he didn’t win. That didn’t stop him though.

“In breaking, you lose more than you win,” he explains. “For me, it’s like, keep going and learn from your losses.”

That’s exactly what Montalvo did. He kept practicing. Montalvo went on to win championships. Now he’s getting ready to show his moves to the world at the Olympics. 

Talk Like a Breaker

Many B-girls and B-boys will tell you the same thing. Don’t say breakdancing when you talk about this style of dance. Just say breaking. Here are a few other words the pros use.

Many B-girls and B-boys will tell you the same thing. Don’t say breakdancing when you talk about this style of dance. Just say breaking. Here are a few other words the pros use.

Harry How/Getty Images

  • Top Rock: Usually at the beginning of the dance, these are moves a dancer does while standing up.
  • Footwork: Tricky foot moves done while the dancer’s hands are on the floor.
  • Power Moves: These are the big moves, like headspins and backspins. 
  • Freeze: Dancers do this to show off a move. They “freeze” in a pose for a few seconds.
  • Top Rock: Usually at the beginning of the dance, these are moves a dancer does while standing up.
  • Footwork: Tricky foot moves done while the dancer’s hands are on the floor.
  • Power Moves: These are the big moves, like headspins and backspins. 
  • Freeze: Dancers do this to show off a move. They “freeze” in a pose for a few seconds.

Looking Ahead

Montalvo hopes the Olympics inspire others to get into breaking. But some people say it shouldn’t be included in the Games. They don’t think it’s a sport. Montalvo thinks he and other breakers can change those people’s minds. 

“If you watch the moves they are doing, it’s so incredible,” he says. “Once people see it in person, they’re going to be so amazed.” 

Montalvo hopes the Olympics inspire others to get into breaking. But some people say it shouldn’t be included in the Games. They don’t think it’s a sport. Montalvo thinks breakers will change those people’s minds. 

“If you watch the moves they are doing, it’s so incredible,” he says. “Once people see it in person, they’re going to be so amazed.” 

What You Need to Know About The Paris Olympics

©Paris2024 (medal); Shutterstock.com (Eiffel Tower)

  • Paris joins London, England, as the only cities to host the Games three times. 
  • Each bronze, silver, and gold medal contains a piece of the Eiffel Tower. This is Paris’s most famous landmark.
  • Surfers will compete more than 9,000 miles from Paris, in Tahiti. That’s the largest island of French Polynesia, which is in the South Pacific Ocean.
  • Paris joins London, England, as the only cities to host the Games three times. 
  • Each bronze, silver, and gold medal contains a piece of the Eiffel Tower. This is Paris’s most famous landmark.
  • Surfers will compete more than 9,000 miles from Paris, in Tahiti. That’s the largest island of French Polynesia, which is in the South Pacific Ocean.
  1. Based on the article, what does it mean to qualify for a spot on a team? How did Victor Montalvo qualify for Team USA’s breaking team?
  2. Based on what you have read, do you think breaking should be considered a sport? Explain, using evidence from the article.
  3. According to the sidebar “Talk Like a Breaker,” if a breaker says she is practicing her “top rock,” what is she doing?
  1. Based on the article, what does it mean to qualify for a spot on a team? How did Victor Montalvo qualify for Team USA’s breaking team?
  2. Based on what you have read, do you think breaking should be considered a sport? Explain, using evidence from the article.
  3. According to the sidebar “Talk Like a Breaker,” if a breaker says she is practicing her “top rock,” what is she doing?
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