The atmosphere heats up in Châtelet, a hotbed of hip-hop culture in Paris, which has prepared itself to celebrate the arrival of the dance at the Olympics.

Paris

The 2024 Summer Olympics are underway in Paris, with competition lasting until mid-August.

Paris Olympics

Paris is embracing the arrival of breakdancing as it makes its Olympic debut. The historic event is set to ignite Châtelet, a noted center of Parisian hip-hop culture. Breakdancing, which emerged on the streets of New York approximately fifty years ago, is set to feature in the Olympic Games. The competition will showcase the talents of 32 dancers competing for the first Olympic gold medal in breakdancing.

The unique nature of breakdancing has sparked discussions on whether it should be classified as a sport or an art. An exhibition titled "Dancez" in Paris explores such questions, celebrating breakdancing through interactive zones designed for all ages. The exhibit unites groups and encourages creativity, highlighting the communal and expressive aspects of dance.

The "Dancez" exhibition will run in Paris until June 2026, offering visitors a chance to explore the history and impact of breakdancing. It provides an immersive experience that connects participants of all ages through the universal language of dance.



Paris celebrates breakdancing as the sport makes its Olympic debut

One half century after it first appeared on the streets of New York, breakdancing makes its Olympic debut this Friday in Paris. Before the start of the competition, the atmosphere heats up at Châtelet, a stronghold of Parisian hip-hop culture. It will allow us to highlight this discipline, which is both surprising and very physical. Of course, there are movements that are super beautiful, but the most important thing for me is creativity. I think it's cool and all, because we are spotted by breakdancing, because breakdancing is still a sport, yes, but for my part, it's not just a sport, it's above all an art. For me, when you say sport or culture, it's the same, but it's very good that we are in sport, because it's a good, good promotion for the breaking. 32 dancers will face each other in a duel this Friday and Saturday with one goal, the first Olympic gold medal in breakdancing. But is dance really a sport? Or is it an art? And why do we dance all over the world? An exhibition called Dancez here in Paris asks these questions. Paris has also opened up an exhibition dedicated to breakdancing in celebration of the sport. This immersive exhibition invites children and adults through interactive zones. In all the exhibits, what we can see is that there are groups, families who come to participate and dance, and in fact there is a link that is created between groups, people who don't know each other, and all of a sudden it's unity, union, through dance. Three choreographers have imagined spaces that encourage creativity. Dance is really one of the first forms of expression that appeared at the same time as man. Dance appears in religious celebrations, it appears in entertainment, in this desire to celebrate. At the child's, from birth, the motricity that comes into play. It's after, when you grow up, that inhibitions come into play. Invite a child from the age of four and you come as an adult to the exhibition and that's it, you will be able to dance. The Dancez exhibition is on show in Paris until June 2026. www.dancez.org

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Paris Olympics