by PARIS (AP) — From the Australian b-girl with her meme-worthy “kangaroo” dance move to the Lithuanian silver medalist wearing a durag, The Olympic debut of breaking There were a few moments that raised questions among viewers as to whether the essence of the hip-hop art form was captured in the Paris Games.
Rachael Gunn, or “b-girl Raygun”, A 36-year-old teacher from Sydney, Australia, has quickly become an internet celebrity, but not necessarily because of her Olympic-level skills. Competing against girls half her age, she was eliminated from the group stage without winning a single point, and her unconventional moves landed flat without matching the skill level of her opponents.
At one point, Gunn lifted one leg while standing and leaned back, arms curled toward her ears. At another point, while lying on her side, she grabbed her toes, rolled over and did it again in a move dubbed “the kangaroo.”
Gunn has a PhD in cultural studies and her LinkedIn page says she is “interested in the cultural politics of breaking.”
“I could never beat these girls on what they do best: their power moves,” Gunn said. “What I bring is creativity.”
Clips of his routine went viral on TikTok and elsewhere, and many cringed as his moves were presented on the Olympic stage as a representation of hip-hop and breakdancing culture.
“It’s almost like they’re making fun of the genre,” wrote one user on X.
Some things were “weird to see”
Many black viewers have criticized silver medalist Lithuanian b-girl Nicka (whose legal name is Dominika Banevič) for wearing a durag during each of her fights. Durags, once worn by African slaves to tie their hair back at work, are still worn by black people to protect and style their hair. They became a fashionable symbol of black pride in the 1960s and 1970s, and in the 1990s and early 2000s, they also became a popular element of hip-hop style. But when worn by people who are not black, durags can be considered cultural appropriation. Banevič is white.
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Actor Kevin Fredericks responded on Instagram to Banevič wearing the head covering by saying it looked “weird to see someone who doesn’t need it for protection or to make waves wearing the durag.”
The 17-year-old breaker eventually won the silver medal after losing in the final to Japan’s Ami (Ami Yuasa).
Banevič, for his part, attributed his success and style of breakdancing to the 1970s breakers from the Bronx — the OGs — or “original gangsters” of hip-hop who created the dance.
“It’s a huge responsibility to represent and raise the bar for breaking because they’ve done an incredible job. I have a lot of respect for the OGs and the pioneers who invented all these moves. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible,” she said. “Without them, breaking wouldn’t be where it is today. So I’m grateful for that.”
Concerns about loss of breakdancing’s roots
The challenge for Olympic organizers was to introduce breakdancing and hip-hop culture to a mass audience, including many viewers who were skeptical about adding the dance form to the Olympic program. Others feared the co-opted subculture Hip-hop was born in black and brown communities in the Bronx as a way to escape violence. socio-economic conflicts and struggles and make a statement of empowerment at a time when they were labeled lost and lawless children by New York politicians.
Manizha Talash, refugee breaker, Talash, or “b-girl Talash,” channeled that rebellious energy by donning a “Free Afghan Women” cape in her pre-qualifying bout — a personal and provocative statement for a 21-year-old who fled her native Afghanistan to escape Taliban rule. Talash was quickly disqualified for violating the Olympics’ ban on political statements on the field of play.
The two American b-girls were eliminated on Friday during the group stage, a hard blow for the country representing the birthplace of hip hop in what may be the discipline’s only appearance at the Games. B-girl Logistx (legal name Logan Edra) and b-girl Sunny (Sunny Choi) both placed in the international top 12 but did not advance to the quarterfinals.
“Breaking for the Olympics changed the way some people dance,” Choi said, referring to some of the more spectacular moves and highly charged routines. “Breaking evolves over time. And maybe I’m just old school and don’t want to change. … I think a lot of people in our community were a little afraid that that was going to happen.”
Before Friday’s fights began, American rapper Snoop Dogg made a grand entrance into the stadium to the sound of “Drop it Like it’s Hot,” prompting cheers and dancing in the stands.
“I’m hip-hop and I know what hip-hop and breakdancing are supposed to look like,” he told Vogue magazine before the Paris Games began.
Rapper ICE T also expressed his excitement for the breaking competition ahead of yesterday’s battles.
“This is gonna blow people away who haven’t seen breaking in a while,” he posted on X. “All respect to HIPHOP.”
B-boys take to the stage Saturday to give Olympic breaking another chance to represent the culture.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
