How do you see the admission of breaking as an Olympic sport? Do you think it will be good or bad for the genre and why?

In the case of breaking, inclusion in the Olympics seems coherent and a natural step. Breaking as an Olympic sport is just another branch of what hip hop dances can be and become. The Olympics is another step in the fight to validate an art that has been discriminated against as a profession.

If it were any other dance, the situation would be much more complex. It's enough to remember the great controversy generated when the Federal Council of Physical Education (Confef) tried to control the process of teaching dance in Brazil, confronting the general and pacified awareness that dance is in no way a sport. Breaking, however, is a dance that has always welcomed the idea of being at the intersection of art and competition.

In fact, the Olympics is speeding up a more scientific regulation of something that was already happening very well just through the immediate and subjective knowledge of the judges.

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In 2021, when it was decided that breaking would become Olympic, Nelson Triunfo, one of the pioneers of the genre in Brazil, said that he hoped it would serve as a "fuse to light the whole country on fire", stimulating more practitioners and more structure. Have we seen anything along those lines yet?

We missed that opportunity. I think Brazilian breaking is extremely strong, especially considering the conditions in which it is practiced. 

Back when it was announced, I imagined a stronger and more present institutional network than actually happened. I can't come to terms with the fact that this and other dances are not part of the Brazilian education network.

But we can't forget that right after the inclusion announcement, in December 2020, we would still be facing another 3 years of the worst government for culture to date. And by not valuing Brazilian cultural production as a whole, it ended up erasing the possibility of a national project for breaking. The Olympics was the key to boosting the process and the culture of this dance-sport in Brazil. I won't be surprised if we find ourselves in a similar situation in 2028.

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If Brazil has (at least at first glance) a strong and consolidated breaking scene, why didn't we qualify for the Olympics?

This confusion over the choice of confederation has created a climate of uncertainty among bboys and bgirls.

But even though the organization process wasn't done well, we had two big Brazilian names in the Olympic Qualifiers Series and unfortunately they didn't make it. 

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What can the world expect from the new sport at the Paris Games? And what do you expect? 

We're going to see the Trivium judging system applied in its most demanding arena and everyone hopes that it will prove to be coherent and fair as far as possible. It's going to be a great party and I'm sure that the spirit of respect and celebration that the Olympics already brings with it will prevail.

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Are there any clear favorites for the gold medals? 

I think all the competitors are very strong. It's great to see the old generation like Hong 10 and Ayumi, who are an incredible 41 years old, meeting young dancers like Hiro10 and the Dutchwoman India, but I can't imagine anyone being the favorite. I'm really rooting for bboy Amir, for his focus on creating different routines and on invention and creativity, which is what attracts me the most. 

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How does this affect GRN?

I believe that Grupo de Rua, as well as the whole scene, will benefit in some way from this exposure, as it will further raise the high level that breaking already has.

 

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Is there a Pelé (or a Marta, or Biles or Rebeca) in the genre?

I don't think so. Perhaps this question will be answered after a few editions of the Olympics and as the athletes stand out. But will we have breaking in the next edition? 

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I hope we can learn from Rebeca's example and change from a culture of exception and appreciation after fame to one that strengthens the process and the real sporting culture.

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