07 Apr 2020 07:06
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has taken the decision to postpone the 2020 WDSF World Breaking Championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Championships were scheduled to take place in Nanjing, China on August 30.
The decision was made to protect the health of the athletes, their entourages, the organisers and fans during this unprecedented time.
The WDSF is currently working with the Nanjing organisers to find a date in 2021 to reschedule the Championships. The new date, along with updated deadlines and qualification procedures, will be communicated in due course.
The WDSF, our Chinese friends and all National Member bodies were excited to see the best b-girls and b-boys compete in Nanjing this summer. We hope that by rescheduling the World Championships to 2021, the event will become a celebration for the entire DanceSport community and we vow to return stronger than ever.
Thank you in advance for your understanding. Stay strong, stay healthy, and see you all in 2021, the Year of the Ox!
16 Jan 2020 12:01
Following the success of the 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship in Nanjing, China, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) is pleased to announce that the 2020 edition will return to the eastern Chinese city on 30 August.
This year’s Championship will gather over 150 b-boys and b-girls, who will compete in 1vs1 battles for the chance to be crowned world champion.
“We were very satisfied with the outcome of last year’s Championship and are excited to be returning to Nanjing this year,” said WDSF President Shawn Tay. “Most importantly, the feedback from the dancers was quite positive, so we are looking forward to once again seeing the world’s best b-boys and b-girls showcasing their incredible skills in China this August.”
The World Championship will be jointly organised by the WDSF, the Chinese DanceSport Federation, the Social Sports Administration Centre of Jiangsu Province, the Nanjing Sports Bureau, and the Lishui District People’s Government of Nanjing City.
The 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship featured some 150 breakers from a record 65 countries. B-girl Ami (JPN) and B-boy Menno (NED) are the reigning world champions.
Qualification for the 2020 WDSF World Breaking Championship will be through WDSF National Member Bodies (NMBs). Each NMB can select two b-girls and two b-boys, most of whom will qualify via national qualifiers. The local organisers have the right to also invite a number of the world’s leading breakers in addition to the national quotas. More details will be provided in due course.
Breaking has been provisionally approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be part of the sports programme for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, following its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018. A final decision on whether Breaking will appear in Paris will be made in December this year.
In December 2019, the IOC confirmed that Breaking has been included on the sports programme for the next Youth Olympic Games, due to take place in Dakar (SEN) in 2022.
04 Dec 2019 12:44
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) warmly welcomes the latest decision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include Breaking on the sports programme for the next edition of the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Dakar, Senegal in 2022.
The IOC announced Tuesday that Breaking would join skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing in Dakar – all four sports have received provisional approval to appear at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with a final decision set for December 2020. In addition, karate will make its YOG debut in Dakar.
In total, 24 b-boys and b-girls between the ages of 14 and 18 will compete at the 2022 YOG.
“We are extremely pleased with the news that Breaking has been included on the programme for Dakar 2022, as it will once again allow the best young b-boys and b-girls around the world to showcase their talent,” said WDSF President Shawn Tay. “After the great success of Breaking at the YOG Buenos Aires 2018, we will continue to work closely with both the Breaking community and the IOC to ensure that we deliver the best possible event in 2022.”
Since making its Olympic debut in 2018 at the Buenos Aires YOG, Breaking has also debuted at the World Urban Games and enjoyed successful WDSF World Championships.
In total, athletes from 33 sports will compete at the 2022 YOG. For the first time in Olympic history, full gender equality in terms of athletes and representation in each sport will be achieved.
“The Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 will be the first Olympic event on the African continent, which is historic for Senegal and historic for the continent of Africa. The agreed athlete competition is youthful and completely gender-balanced and shows that the IOC continues to develop the Youth Olympic Games that will feature over 4,500 athletes from all National Olympic Committees,” said IOC President Thomas Bach.
Read the full IOC press release here.
13 Nov 2019 14:23
The three-day event began on Friday with the master classes with some of the world leaders in Breaking, including Intact (UKR), Katsu One (JPN), Abstrak (USA) and Crumbs (USA). More than 80 athletes took part having the opportunity to pump their knowledge with the experienced mentors.
On Saturday, the competitions started with preselection in eight categories. Following the results of the first day, the strongest athletes proceeded to the final stage of the Russian Open Breaking Championships and took part in the final battles on Sunday, along with the invited participants.
The competitions were assessed by an international panel of judges: Abstrak (USA), Crumbs (USA), Intact (UKR), Niek (NED), Katsu One (JPN), Tuff Kid (BEL), Differ (KOR), and as the head judge of the competition Jamal (RUS). DJ Legioner and DJ Smirnoff took care of the beats, and MC Kazak and MC Scream of the speaks.
An impressive list of invited participants starred the event. The 1vs1 battles were starred by Cheerito (RUS), Alkolil (RUS), Bullet from Space (RUS), Zip Rock (RUS), T-Rock (BEL), Shadr (KAZ), Sirop (BLR), Sarah Bee (FRA), Jilou (GER), Ramona (FIN), Tata (RUS), Vavi (RUS), Klara (RUS) and Kastet (RUS). The team battles were attended by FlipStyle Technique (CAN), Fusion MC (KOR), From Down Town (FRA), East Side B-boys (UKR), Illusion of Exist (RUS), OBC (RUS), Predatorz (RUS) and TOP 9 (RUS).
The WDSF Open B-girls competition had 47 B-girls on the starting list. After the battle for gold B-girl Sarah Bee celebrated her victory and B-girl Jilou took second place. Natalia Kilyachikhina (B-girl Kastet) won the bronze.
WDSF Open B-girls
1. Sarah Bee (FRA)
2. Jilou (GER)
3. Kastet (RUS)
4. Art (RUS)
The WDSF Open B-boys competition had 151 participants. The entire podium was taken by the Russian athletes. In the battle for the main prize Ivan Ososkov (B-boy Alkolil) defeated Nazip Minikayev (B-boy Zip Rock). The bronze medalist was Eugene Pervushkin (B-boy Cheerito).
WDSF Open B-boys
1. Alkolil (RUS)
2. Zip Rock (RUS)
3. Cheerito (RUS)
4. PJ (RUS)
The Russian Open Breaking Championships 2019 ended with battles between teams in a five vs five format. Forty teams, including eight invited, took part in this competition. Top 9 (RUS) became the winner by defeating East Side B-boys (UKR). In the battle for bronze, Fusion MC (KOR) won FlipStyle Technique (CAN).
ROBC Crews 5vs5
1. Top 9 (RUS)
2. East Side B-boys (UKR)
3. Fusion MC (KOR)
4. FlipStyle Technique (CAN)
Congratulations to all participants, winners and prize winners on their successful performance at the Russian Open Breaking Championships 2019!
17 Sep 2019 13:32
Breaking’s involvement at the first World Urban Games this past weekend in Budapest received glowing reviews across the board.
Spectators? Check.
Organisers? Ditto.
Judges? Loved it.
Media? Full marks as well.
Most importantly, the breakers were also stoked to have been involved.
“It was amazing. I loved the energy around me,” said eventual gold-medal winning b-boy Victor of the United States. “I loved the crowd. They were screaming for everybody, so it was really good energy.”
It was a sentiment echoed by France’s Lagaet, one of 16 elite b-boys who competed at the WUG along with the world’s 16 best b-girls.
“I felt really good here, the atmosphere was so dope,” he said. “We got to share with other people from other sports. For me this is a path, you know what I mean? Because we are trying to go to the Olympics.”
He stressed that the WUG was excellent preparation ahead of Breaking’s possible inclusion on the programme for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in that it helped the breakers get used to taking part in multi-sport events, multiple battle rounds and a new judging system.
“It’s not the end, we are just starting now,” he said. “We are trying this [event], then the next one, until we make it perfect for the Olympics.”
Breaking was provisionally included on the sports programme for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this June. A final decision will be made in December 2020. If accepted, Breaking would be the first World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) discipline to appear at the Olympic Games, a logical next step after Breaking’s auspicious debut at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.
The inaugural edition of the World Urban Games, organised by the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), took place in the Hungarian capital from 13 to 15 September. The Breaking battles were all livestreamed on the Olympic Channel and breakingforgold.com, while the finals were broadcast live on Eurosport. A list of all the Breakers who competed at the first World Urban Games can be found here.
Victor beat WDSF World Breaking Champion Menno (NED) in the b-boy final, with Youth Olympic Games champion Bumblebee (RUS) picking up bronze.
On the women’s side, World Champion Ami (JPN) defeated Sunny (USA) in the b-girl final, while 16-year-old Logistx (USA) overcame Kate (UKR) to claim bronze.
“I had a really great time this whole event,” Logistx said of her time at the WUG. “I loved where the venue was. I loved how it was super hip hop with all the graffiti. I loved the energy from the crowd.”
She said the dancers got an extra boost of energy from the big and knowledgeable crowds that turned up on both competition days and also tipped her hat to MCs Amjad (SUI) and Rambo (HUN). “Props to both of the people on the mic, who were really cultivating the energy for us dancers cuz we really need that while we’re dancing,” she said.
Not to be left out, DJs Fleg (USA) and South Scream (UKR) and supporting drum and bass band The Kinkies (SUI) also got a sizeable pat on the back.
“The music helped me a lot,” said b-girl Ami on her gold-medal winning run. “The DJs and the live band were great and I enjoyed every bit of the competition.”
The WDSF was proud to be a part of the inaugural edition of the World Urban Games, which also featured BMX Freestyle, Roller Freestyle, Parkour, 3X3 Basketball and Flying Disc Freestyle. Indoor rowing and laser run were included as showcase sports.