B-boys and b-girls go to battle as breaking arrives at the Asian Games

B-boys and b-girls across Asia are headed for battle in Hangzhou, China as breakdancing — officially called “breaking” — makes its debut as a medal sport at the 19th Asian Games.

Korea's Kim Heon-woo, ″Wing,″ competes during the b-boy competition at the 2023 World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Breaking Championships in Hangzhou, China in July. [XINHUA]

B-boys and b-girls across Asia are headed for battle in Hangzhou, China as breakdancing — officially called “breaking” — makes its debut as a medal sport at the 19th Asian Games.

The breaking competition kicks off Friday, beginning with a pre-selection round to determine the battle lineup for the men’s and women’s round robin before the knock-out stage on Saturday. A total of 45 dancers, formally referred to as b-boys and b-girls just as one might say "swimmers" or "footballers," are competing across the sport with 25 in the men’s category and 20 in the women’s contest.

In breaking, two dancers go head-to-head in a battle, taking turns to perform improvised minute-long programs called “throw downs” while a DJ spins a track. Watch for power moves like the windmill, when a dancer rolls in a circle on the floor with their legs V-shaped in the air, and the self-explanatory headspin.

Judges on a panel vote for the winner by scoring the breakers on six criteria: Creativity, performativity and technique — the weightiest marks — along with variety, personality and musicality.

It’s the second time this year many of the dancers will battle it out in Hangzhou after the city hosted the 2023 World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Championships in July.

Korea's Kim Heon-woo, better known as "Wing," took gold in the men’s contest at the WDSF Asian Championship while Kim Hyon-gul finished third. Jeon Ji-ye also finished third in the women’s category. B-boys Kim Heon-woo and Kim Hyon-gul, along with b-girls Jeon and Kwon Seong-hui will represent Korea at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Breaking was officially approved as an Olympic sport in 2020 after a successful debut at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018, and it’s also the first time the sport is a medal category in Asian Games history.

The gold-medalists in the men’s and women’s categories at the Hangzhou Asian Games automatically earn a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where there are 16 dancer spots in either contest.

Dance battles at the Asian Games will last two days, with medals awarded on Saturday.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]