In 2017, during the breaking battles at the Silverback Open near Philadelphia, a B-boy executed a handstand that caught the audience’s attention due to its unique twist—he balanced on the back of his wrists. This moment sparked a thought: how are such spontaneous creative expressions scored in competitions?
This question gained significance following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to include breaking in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). This event often serves as a testing ground for new Olympic sports, similar to the introduction of 3-on-3 basketball. Breaking performed exceptionally well at the YOG, paving the way for its inclusion in the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
The IOC appointed the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) to guide breaking’s transition to the Olympics, a surprising choice since the WDSF mainly oversees ballroom dance and had no prior affiliation with breaking. They were tasked with preparing breaking for the YOG debut and developing a judging system approved by the IOC.
At most breaking battles, especially smaller ones, judging is relatively straightforward. An odd number of judges typically evaluate the performances, casting votes by pointing or crossing their arms in the case of a tie, which usually leads to additional rounds of competition. Traditionally, these votes are not governed by strict rules; instead, judges assess dancers based on standard values such as creativity, style, character, and musicality, relying on personal discretion.
However, this informal approach would not suffice for the Olympics. Fortunately, prior to the IOC’s involvement, community members were already creating a judging framework for major events like Battle of the Year. B-boy Niels “Storm” Robitsky, Kevin “Renegade” Gopie, and Dominik Fahr, founder of and8.dance, led efforts to establish a consistent evaluation system. After the YOG announcement, they collaborated with the WDSF to refine this approach; it was successfully implemented at the YOG. In 2022, Robitsky, Gopie, and Fahr parted ways with the WDSF, which subsequently developed its own version of the judging system for the Paris Olympics, building upon the foundation they had previously established.