Breaking Through: The Key Cultural Moments That Propelled Breakdancing to Mainstream Status

From its beginnings on the streets of the Bronx and in the clubs of New York to today's global competitions, there is no doubt that breakdancing's popularity has grown exponentially over the past 40 years, as has its influence on fashion.

Being in my forties myself, I have seen with my own eyes how breaking has evolved from a niche dance genre to a sporting and cultural phenomenon.

I have fond memories of attempting moves like the backspin, the worm, and the windmill with my cousins ​​as kids. While my dreams of becoming a world-famous B-boy were quickly dashed by a few painful missteps, I remain in awe of breaking and its evolution. And as someone who has built a career at the intersection of street style and sports, I appreciate the opportunity to take a look at how a sport can influence style and fashion over time.

So, in honor of breaking becoming an official event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, we're jumping into the time machine to revisit the cultural moments that boosted breaking's mainstream popularity and massive influence on fashion.

1984: Release of the films Breakin' and Beat Street

Although breakdancing culture was booming in New York City in the 1980s, it wasn't until the art form was featured in these two films that breakdancing really began to gain mainstream attention.

Like many who watched Breaking in'I was completely hooked after seeing it. I remember immediately looking for a cardboard box big enough to make a “dance floor” so I could try to do some imperfect moves. And it wasn't just the moves that fascinated me; I became obsessed with the style.

In a memorable Scene at Gene KellyOne of the film's main characters, Turbo (played by Michael Chambers), dances with a broom while wearing high-top Nike Blazers and baggy, cuffed sweatpants, a combination that feels current to this day.

That same year, the The Rock Steady Team one of the legendary original B-boy crews appeared in one of the Beat Street Memorable dance battle scenes. Standout outfits included hoodie-vest and sweatshirt combos and classic matching nylon tracksuits paired with Puma Suedes. Personally, I became obsessed with the half-zip sweatshirts from the film. The nylon K-Way jackets that folded into a pocket at the waist were very popular at the time, and I wore my navy version constantly.

The lasting impact of these films on street style cannot be overstated; matching retro tracksuits have even seen a resurgence in recent times.

1990: Launch of the international breakdance competition Battle of the Year in Germany

Battle of the Year (BOTY) It was one of the world's first major breakdancing competitions. Its inaugural event, then called the International Breakdance Cup, was held in 1990, with a handful of crews entering.

Things have changed and now BOTY has become so big that teams have to qualify to participate. It has since become a truly international competition, which many call the World Cup of B-boying. It served as the inspiration for the film The battle of the yearreleased in 2013.

Unlike today's solo battles, early battles were fought in full teams. That meant lots of nylon jumpsuits and matching track jackets, the latter of which looked a lot like this one from London designer Martine Rose's Spring 2024 collection.

1997: Music producer Jason Nevins remixes Run-DMC's classic track It's like that

While breakdancing and B-boy culture were more influential than ever in the '80s and early '90s, I'd argue that the art form failed to capture mainstream attention in the mid-'90s. (It was still thriving, mind you, just outside the mainstream spotlight.) Until 1997, when Jason Nevins remixed Run-DMC's 1983 song It's like thatand the group posted a video depicting B-boys and B-girls engaged in a cipher battle.

The video sparked a resurgence in interest in breakdancing. I remember listening to this song on repeat all day, great song, legendary music video! I also remember thinking that the style of the dancers in the video seemed modern for the time. It was all about white Adidas Superstars or colorful Gazelles. The combination of baggy or flared brown or khaki pants with a fitted high neck or baseball tee was definitely inspired by the popular rave and techno parties of the late 90s.

2006: Release of the film Step Up

Long before his Magic Mike days, a young Channing Tatum showed off some pretty impressive breaking moves in 2006 IntensifyHis character, Tyler Gage, sported ultra-baggy jeans and sweatpants paired with Nike Air Force 1 Lows and it's a look that has endured. To think he would fit into a Modern-day Balenciaga track would be an understatement.

2008: The Jabbawockeez are crowned winners of America's Best Dance Crew

Arguably one of the most famous B-boy groups in the world, the Jabbawockeez exploded onto the scene on the first season of the dance reality show America's Best Dance CrewTheir beautiful and imaginative choreography, combined with their explosive acrobatics, brought the B-boy dance style back to the mainstream, introducing the art form to audiences on a scale similar to those iconic breakdancing films of the 80s.

When it comes to fashion, the Jabbawockeez pay homage to early B-boy styles, with choices like matching tracksuits and retro bucket hats. Bucket hats have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, appearing in designer collections from Marni And Pradaand in everyday streetwear.

From the 2010s to today: the collaboration between breakdance and fashion becomes concrete

Many of the stylistic trends of breakdancing have persisted in one form or another to this day. And today, the influence of breakdancers on fashion is not only significant, but also more direct.

In 2010, identical twin brothers Larry and Laurent Bourgeois, better known as Les Twins, burst onto the scene when a video of Their performance on the San Diego leg of the World of Dance tour went viral. Their unique hip-hop dance style, which borrows many breakdance moves, earned them over 50 million views, catapulting the French duo to global fame. They went on to tour with superstars like Jason Derulo, Missy Elliott and Beyoncé and won the Jennifer Lopez Award produced by The world of dance competition in 2017, which propelled their profile into the stratosphere.

The twins embody French street style, bringing their signature style to the stage every time they perform. I love how they extend that same energy to their considerable influence on fashion. They’ve worked with global brands like Chanel, Emporio Armani, H&M, Versace, and most recently, Hennessey. To further their street cred, the duo helped design a special edition Air Jordan 1 High in 2019.

These days, the relationship between breakdancing and fashion goes both ways. Today's breakdancers have taken the early style elements of the original B-boys and updated them using today's style trends. Pants are baggier and wider than ever, like this one pair of JW Anderson. At the same time, brands are putting themselves at the service of breakdancers, and not just borrowing ideas from them. Nike recently unveiled the Nike Jam the first sneaker created for breakdancing, and proof that the relevance of this sport continues to grow.

Today, tomorrow: competing in the Olympics will mean a new level of style influence