Breaking news: a brand new sport will be making its debut at this summer’s Paris Olympics – and to celebrate, the groundbreaking sport will be making its way into Marble Arch this week for some exhilarating live performances.
Breaking Marble Arch will run from today (July 15) to Friday (July 19), and will feature some heart-pounding, jaw-dropping breakdancing performances from members of the award-winning breakdancing group, Gully LDN Squad.
The dynamic dance crew has been delighting and dazzling audiences for over a decade, and have performed for big brands such as Nike, Spotify and Adidas. Three members of the group (Shahii, Chris and Chuckz) will be performing daily demos by the Marble Arch monument between 12.30 and 1.30pm this week. Passers-by can expect to see plenty of heart-pumping moves, many of which will be on display at the Olympic Games this summer. The performances are free to watch and no booking is required.
The week-long exhibition is taking place to raise awareness of the new Olympic sport which will see 16 athletes face off in some spectacular solo battles. Breakers will use a combination of impressive power moves including windmills, the 6-step, and freezes, and will improvise to the beat of the DJ’s tracks in a bid to win the first ever Olympic breaking medals.
What is ‘breaking’?
The sport originated in the United States back in the 1970s. Breaking (AKA breakdancing) is an urban dance style which was first discovered at the lively block parties in the Bronx borough of NYC. Breaking involves some incredibly impressive acrobatic movements and stylised footwork, and various international competitions have featured the sport since the nineties. It was included in the Buenos Aires Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2018, but Paris 2024 will be the first time breaking has been featured in the Olympic Games.
Chris Arias from Gully LDN Squad, said: “Gully LDN is excited to welcome a new audience to our scene, especially with breaking now being part of the Olympics. We aim to showcase how breaking has positively shaped us both physically and mentally. Join us in celebrating this dynamic sport and experience its transformative benefits.”
Born Barikor, Chair of Breaking GB, added: “At Breaking GB, our mission post-games is to continue fostering the growth and development of Breaking within the UK. We aim to build on the momentum from the games to inspire and support Breakers of all levels, promote diversity and inclusion, and create opportunities for community engagement and individual growth. Individuals and crews such as the Gully LDN Squad will play a vital role in the growth of our sport and we champion all events that inspire participation in Breaking.”