BREAK DANCE
The categories of Break Dance are Solo and Crews.
Starting January 1st, 2018 the categories of Break Dance are: Solo Female, Solo Male ( B-Boys and B-Girls and Crews)
(ADM 2017, Implementation 1.1.2018, no change possible before 2021)
Age Divisions see in General Provisions of Street Dance Disciplines.
Break Dance is for Juniors and Adults only
SOLO
1. Music: Organizer’s music in Break Dance style.
2. Duration of Performance: Preliminary round: 2 minutes divided into three sections of 40
seconds duration each. The additional opening minute of the 1st round is not evaluated. In the
preliminary round, there must be no more than three (3) competitors dancing together. The
Chairperson of Judges determines the number of competitors in the opening minute and final
40 seconds in the preliminary round. The best 16 competitors fight in “battles” one by one in a
“knock-out-system” (5 – 10 minutes each battle).
3. Tempo: No restrictions.
4. Typical Break Dance Elements: Crown, Headspin, Backspin, Turtle, Helicopter, Windmill, Bailey
Windmill, Uprock, Freeze, Six step, One Hand Up, Swipe, Atomic, Flair, Holoback, Traxx, 99,
variable footwork, etc., including different variations of these figures, elements, and movements.
Keen ‘breaks’ (stopping of movement), isolations, breaking movements, plus acrobatic
movements in various combinations are all expected aspects of Break Dance routines.
The technical difficulty of performed elements, joining of elements (flowing acrobatic movements
melding into one another), originality, etc. are all highly important, and the entire presentation will be evaluated
NOTE: It is important to show more than two different figures and elements. Figures danced
twice are only counted once. If repeated, the best attempt of the two will be marked.
5. Acrobatic Movements: Permitted as outlined under General Provisions for Street Dance.
6. Forbidden Movements: Elements and figures that, according to the dancer’s ability, are too difficult or that could lead to injuries or loss of life.
7. Stage Props: As applicable for this discipline. For Teams, it is also allowed to use requisites.
8. Break Dance competitions are not organized in the Children age division.
9. The procedure of Break Dance solo competition
a. FIRST/PRELIMINARY ROUND: Each group of competitors begins dancing together in
the preliminary round with a one-minute ‘warm-up’ performance, which the judges do
not evaluate. They then dance (not more than 3) first 40 seconds period. When all
dancers finish, they start to perform the 2nd period of 40 seconds in the same order. The
final performance gives the judges an opportunity to compare the dancers. To avoid any
risk of injuries, judges shall walk around the competition floor during the final
presentations. Best 16 competitors will be qualified and continue with battles (knock out
system).
b. QUALIFICATION: If there are 18 dancers or more in the 1st round, Adjudicators should
qualify the best 16.
In the first round, the Judges evaluate each dancer with the points from 1 to 10.
Criteria for the points are:
1- bad- none of the elements are performed in the correct way, out of music
2- bad- one or two elements are performed correct but out of music
3- not bad- dancer is performing weak, the choreography is poor
4- not bad- dancer is performing various elements or style
5- satisfactory- dancer is performing various elements or style, but there is no fluidity or
is repeating the same element two or more time
6- good- dancer is performing various elements and style, there is not enough power or
image is poor
7- very good- dancer is performing the elements and style correctly, but with the small
mistakes
8- very good- dancer is performing the elements and style correctly, but losing the power
9- excellent- dancer is using different styles and performing various elements on a very
high level
10- outstanding- dancer is using different styles, performing various elements and
bringing a personal note in performance
Following the given points Judges will give A, B, C, D letters and additionally X’s, for
those that they want into the next round.
The Scrutineers count each given letter with the points. The points are given in the
following manner:
A- 4 points, B- 3 points, C- 2 points, D- 1 point. The cross is counted as 0.5 points. The
dancers are sorted out for the next round (spider) by the total amount of points that
comes from the given letters and crosses.
In case of tie the Scrutineer will use the following rule for the start numbers in tie:
first, the number of letters will be counted (C and D for one start number is better than B)
and if the tie cannot be broken the given points from all Judges (1-10) will be used in
order to select the dancers for the next round. If it is not possible to select the start
numbers for the next round after procedure explained in 1 and 2, then the actual redance
will be organized by giving the points from 1-10 and letters that are needed for the next round.
c. BATTLES: In the 8 battles that follow, the dancers from A class will battle with dancers
from D class, and dancers from B class will battle with dancers from C class (1st in a
ranking from group A with last from group D, etc.). Neither dancers nor Adjudicators
will be informed who belongs to which class, only Scrutineer and Supervisor
(Chairperson of Judges) will be informed. List of battles will be published. After 8 battles,
those who are winners will battle in the next 4 battles, and afterward in the last two for 4th
and 3rd as well as for 2nd and 1st place. All Adjudicators´ decisions must be also in
written form (made by Scrutineer and the Chairperson of Judges.)
If there is no clear majority in the breakdance battles (crossed arms), one more round
(one entrance of each) will be done. After the additional round (entrance), Judges have to clearly
decide about their choice, showing the hand to the dancer they would like to see as a winner.
Judges have to use the given judges sheet who they would like to see in the next round. The
Judges then show the hand to a dancer following the judging sheet. The Chairperson
and Scrutineer control the showing of hands.
Ranking after the 1st round:
1A 5B 9C 13D
2A 6B 10C 14D
3A 7B 11C 15D
4A 8B 12C 16D
If there are 10 to 17 competitors in the 1st round, Adjudicators will qualify only 8 dancers, 2 of class A (4 points), 2 of class B (3 points), 2 of class C (2 points), and 2 of class D (1 point). Then in next round, there are only 4 battles (A1/D8; B3/C6; A2/D7; B4/C5). The winners of these four battles will go on to two battles and finally will be one battle for 1st place and one battle for 3rd place. If there are less than 10 competitors in the 1st round, Adjudicators will qualify only 4 dancers, one of each class and then there are only 2 battles (A1/D4 and B2/C3); followed by battles of the winners of previous 2 battles (one battle for 1st place and one battle for 3rd place).
In the Break Dance battles solos, only three battle “entries” should be necessary.
(If needed it could be possible to include one more entry)
1. Number of Dancers: 3-7
2. Music: Teams = Crews may use their own music in the first round. Organizer’s music in Break Dance Style will be used in the final round.
3. Duration of Performance in the first round (Show): 150-180 seconds (2:30 – 3:00 minutes) of each team’s/crew´s performance may be danced using the team’s/ crew´s music. In case that the music is too long or short the crew will be disqualified.
The “Semifinal-Battle” (3. and 4. place) will last about 5 – 10 minutes. The “Final-Battle” 10 – 15 (20) minutes, according to the Supervisors decision. The last-minute will be announced.
4. Tempo: No restrictions.
5. Typical Break Dance Elements: Same as for Break Dance Solos, plus: Acrobatics should have some style continuation. Choreography for the exhibition to the team’s own music must be a clear performance of a team, not just a demonstration of unrelated solo performances. Musicality, the difficulty of movements and figures, originality and team variability will all be highly evaluated. Synchronized movements, shadow standing, mirror positions and smooth transitions of these components from one into another, along with choreographic variability and work with space will also be evaluated. All typical elements of Break Dance should be performed – Styles - Pop Locking - Power moves – Electric Boogie.
6. If one crew disturbs another team’s performance or endangers another team’s safety, a loss of evaluation points will result.
7. The final ‘battle’ portion of each contest shall consist of individual performances of dancers from the competing crews in which each dancer must dance his or her solo part at least one time, and the crew´s performance will be judged as a whole.
8. Based on the first-round results, the Chairperson of Judges will determine the order of “battles” between 1st - 2nd ranked crews and the 3rd - 4th ranked crews.
9. All other rules are as outlined under Break Dance Solo.
10. The procedure of Break Dance Team competition
First-round is a show of crews who will dance to their own music. The Adjudicators will evaluate and select the four best crews. The Adjudicators give the best crew 4 points (A), the next best crew 3 points (B), the next best crew 2 points (C) and the next best crew 1 point (D) . Only the 4 best crews will battle to the Organizer’s music (3rd against 4th and 1st against 2nd).
If there are more than 8 crews in the 1st=preliminary round, a Supervisor together with a Chairperson of Judges may decide to ask for additional crosses for crew/crews on the next position after 4 best crews (cross means placement).
Special note for Break Dance and Electric Boogie:
When asked to select Adjudicators for this discipline, each nation should only invite Adjudicators who are very experienced in Break Dance and Electric Boogie. This type of VIP Adjudicator would include past champions, celebrity performers, teachers and choreographers who are all considered experts in this field. This note is intended as a guideline only and is not a rule.