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Breakdance, the new Olympic sport, was in the spotlight at the School Sports Games, which ran until April 7th. Two American break-dancing stars introduced students to the sport at the Gymnase Auriol (8th arrondissement). Here's a report.
"One, two, three, four!" In the Auriol gymnasium (8th arrondissement), Grace "Sunny" Choi and Jacob "Kujo" Lyons set the tempo. Opposite them, pupils from fourth and fifth grade follow the rhythm and link up dance steps for an exceptional initiation session! On April 4th, the two American breakdance champions were guests of honor during the School Sports Games, organized throughout Paris during Olympic and Paralympic Week. Grace was a world championships silver medalist in 2022, while Jacob "Kujo" Lyons is a pioneer in a discipline he's been practicing for 30 years.
Grace "Sunny" Choi and Jacob "Kujo" Lyons American breakdancers
Credit
Clément Dorval/Ville de Paris
Breaking is no longer just another type of dance; it is now an Olympic sport.
To reach a high level, you need to be as talented as a contemporary dancer.
PE teacher for the city of Paris
"It is both complex and highly technical: to reach a high level, you need to be as gifted as a contemporary dancer," explains Jérôme Tétard, a dance enthusiast and PE teacher in Paris schools. For several weeks now, he and his colleagues Mana and Néva have been introducing pupils in the 8th arrondissement to the basics of breakdance. "We've been teaching them simple moves, such as the 'toprock' and floor stuff," he explains.
Breakdance workshop during the School Sports Games at the Auriol gymnasium (8th arrondissement)
Credit
Clément Dorval/Ville de Paris
Breakdance workshop during the School Sports Games at the Auriol gymnasium (8th arrondissement)
Credit
Clément Dorval/Ville de Paris
Breakdance workshop during the School Sports Games at the Auriol gymnasium (8th arrondissement)
Credit
Clément Dorval/Ville de Paris
"[Breakdance] is an activity that straddles the border between art and sport, and young people have no preconceptions about it. They get into it very easily.
Jérôme Tétard drew his inspiration from another teacher, a pioneer of breakdance in schools: David Bérillon, who is head of the hip-hop sporting excellence section at Lycée Turgot (Paris Centre).
With the help of the two American athletes, the young students get stuck in! The approach is simple and unceremonious and after a few minutes' warm-up and some introductory moves, "Sunny" and "Kujo" show them the a head freeze, one of breaking's most popular moves. It's a difficult one for beginners though.
Despite the difficulty, the students were won over. "The freeze move really impressed me," confides ten-year-old Jassem. "I'd seen videos of it before, but seeing it in real life is much more impressive". Elinor, a fifth-grader who has been practicing hip-hop dance for two years, is equally enthusiastic: "It's great to meet these dancers: they move so fast! I hope we'll be able to see breaking events with the school in 2024.
What's next for Jérôme Tétard? "I'd like to integrate breakdancing into the school's contemporary dance curriculum as early as next year!"
Emancipation through break
On June 19th, schoolchildren rocked the Hôtel de Ville with an impressive breakdance display. Battles and freestyle demonstrations rounded off the first year of the "Emancipation through break" educational project.
Under the scintillating Hôtel de Ville ceiling, young breakers mixed acrobatics and dance moves for a final display. Kids showed off their new skills much to the delight of their friends and families.
"The success of the "Emancipation through Break" program is based on the mobilization of a number of partners including dance groups working in middle schools, the La Place cultural center,, the 11th arrondissement town hall, principals and teachers and educational assistants from the Action Collégiens program who accompanied the youngsters", explains Malo Grandjean, the project coordinator for the City of Paris.
Throughout the year, the project was marked by a number of highlights, including exchanges with members of the American team who will be taking part in the Olympic Games, and a meeting with a student from the only hip-hop section at the Lycée Turgot. Festive moments that were just like the one at the Hôtel de Ville on June 19th.
Under the scintillating Hôtel de Ville ceiling, young breakers mixed acrobatics and dance moves for a final display. Kids showed off their new skills much to the delight of their friends and families.
"The success of the "Emancipation through Break" program is based on the mobilization of a number of partners including dance groups working in middle schools, the La Place cultural center,, the 11th arrondissement town hall, principals and teachers and educational assistants from the Action Collégiens program who accompanied the youngsters", explains Malo Grandjean, the project coordinator for the City of Paris.
Throughout the year, the project was marked by a number of highlights, including exchanges with members of the American team who will be taking part in the Olympic Games, and a meeting with a student from the only hip-hop section at the Lycée Turgot. Festive moments that were just like the one at the Hôtel de Ville on June 19th.
Middle-school students perform Break and Hip-Hop dance at City Hall in front of their families
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
Middle-school students perform Break and Hip-Hop dance at City Hall in front of their families
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
Schoolchildren break at City Hall in front of their families
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
Middle-school students perform Break and Hip-Hop dance at City Hall in front of their families
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
Breakdance at the heart of middle schools
This year, four Parisian secondary schools are took part in an educational project based around break-dancing with initiation sessions and conferences.
>Learn more.
>Learn more.
School sports games in pictures
The School Sports Games took place all over Paris up until April 7th allowing 15,000 schoolchildren to get a piece of the Paris 2024 Games! It was an opportunity for them to discover Olympic and Paralympic sport and earn a few medals!
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
School sports games, boxing lessons with Mathieu Stehlin, world champion in French boxing and Taïkwendo
Credit
Laurent Bourgogne / Ville de Paris
Breakdance workshop during the School Sports Games at the Auriol gymnasium (8th arrondissement)
Credit
Clément Dorval/Ville de Paris
School sports games during Olympic and Paralympic Week at the Lilas gymnasium (19th arrondissement)
Credit
Henri Garat/Ville de Paris
School sports games during Olympic and Paralympic Week at the Lilas gymnasium (19th arrondissement)
Credit
Henri Garat/Ville de Paris
School sports games during Olympic and Paralympic Week 2023 at the gymnasium des Lilas (19th).
Credit
Henri Garat/Ville de Paris
School sports games during Olympic and Paralympic Week at the Lilas gymnasium (19th arrondissement)
Credit
Henri Garat/Ville de Paris
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