If it was in the Bronx, in the early 1970s, that breakdance took its first steps, it is in France that its history will be written. For the first time, this discipline, on the border between art and sport, will be represented at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024. In the meantime, the best French B-Girls and B-Boys will compete this Friday and this Saturday, at the Opéra Comédie, in Montpellier (Hérault), for the national final of Red Bull BC One, one of the most popular breakdance competitions in the world.
After qualifying in the four corners of France, the cream of French breakdance will try to win a golden ticket for the world final, which will take place at Roland-Garros on October 21. But how are these breakers decided? Junior, one of the world references in the discipline, who will be one of the judges of Red Bull BC One in Montpellier, explained to 20 minutes how B-Girls and B-Boys were rated.
How are the performances going?
The judges will be three, at Red Bull BC One. Their number is always odd, in this type of competition, “to avoid that there are ex aequo”, explains Junior. To the sound of Taj Mahal, one of the discipline’s most prominent DJs, the candidates will compete in one-on-one battles on the Cypher, the circle formed by the dancers, in the center of which one of them perform. At the end of the two performances, the judges vote for their favorite.
On what criteria are the dancers judged?
The judges are attentive to several criteria in these competitions. First, “I would say that there is the ‘physicality’,” says Junior. “It’s how the dancers manage to impose an athletic side to their performances, how they manage to control their movements,” he explains. But if the power of the performances is an essential criterion, in this discipline, the artistry is obviously not so far away. “The emotions that the dancers will succeed in making us feel, beyond their physical performance, are very important,” adds the famous B-Boy. And of course, the “artillery of movements” that the candidates will show also counts a lot in the ratings. “And how they will manage to link them together”, completes Junior.
The toprock (the dance steps performed by the breakeurs before rushing to the ground), the footwork (the footwork), the powermoves (the impressive rotations on the back or the shoulders), the freezes (the stopped positions ) or flips (somersaults) are all fundamental elements that dancers have at their disposal to impress the jury. The originality of the performances or the attitude of the B-Girls and B-Boys can also count greatly in the ratings, for some judges.
Is there an element of subjectivity in the rating?
In football, the player who has scored the most goals wins. In the shot put, whoever threw it the farthest wins. But in breakdance competitions, as in other artistic disciplines, it is up to the judges. So yes, “there may be a part of subjectivity, says Junior. But it is lessened, because we all, the judges, have common references of vocabulary, success, movements, execution… Most of the time we find a certain homogeneity in the notations. Of course, if two judges have different approaches to breakdancing, different stories, there can be a bit of subjectivity. »
What is strictly prohibited on the Cypher?
The dancers are free to perform the performance they wish. However, there are certain rules to follow at Red Bull BC One. It is, for example, forbidden to touch your opponent aggressively. Sometimes the most provocative breakers implement moves that can sometimes involve touching them. But that’s only acceptable, the competition rules say, if it’s done in a respectful and non-violent way. “Breakdance advocates respect, recalls Junior. We can spoof, yes. But there are limits that should not be exceeded. Especially lack of respect. We are here to dance. We settle our accounts by dancing, not otherwise. »
The Red Bull BC One takes place this Friday (from 5.30 p.m.) and this Saturday (from 7 p.m.), at the Opéra Comédie, in Montpellier. Program and ticket office here.