The Philadelphia story: Jams and battles in Olympic shadows

Abstract

As breaking moves to the Olympic stage, we anticipate that the dance will succumb to increased regulation, standardization and homogenization. The modifications that occur as dance migrates from a vernacular practice to a competition framework have been well identified in dance scholarship and are evident from existing international breaking contests that feature elite dancers who tactically train for these events. Undoubtedly, its presence in the Olympics will award breaking an unprecedented degree of international visibility, funding and sponsorship, and hyper-athleticism within this sporting domain. As breaking transforms into a global spectacle for a mass audience, many of whom will be unfamiliar with its history and culture, we look to Philadelphia as an exemplar of a collectively articulated and self-regulated breaking community to question what will be erased and no longer legible. We examine the diversity of participants, the myriad of styles and abilities, dancing in shitty spaces, the intimate presence of the crowd, and unregulated behaviours to consider what might be marginalized and why that matters.