KUCHING, Sept 29: Sarawak breaking enthusiasts will have a lot to cheer for in the upcoming Malaysia National Breaking E-Battle Championship 2021 on Oct 3, with two Sarawakian breakers qualified for the Top 16 battle.
Rong Jun (aka ‘Airz’), 25, and Mike Ting (aka ‘Jmike’), 26, are the two Sarawakian-borns who will be facing off with competitors from other states namely Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Selangor, Sabah, and Penang.
On the Sarawak duo, Sarawak DanceSport Association Breaking Division leader Ho John Cris Panganiban (aka ‘JayC Ho’) said they displayed excellent skills to impress an international panel of renowned Breaking judges, namely Bboy Focus, Bboy Gee One, and Bboy Bojin.
Airz and Jmike outshone some 120 other participants from throughout Malaysia in the earlier rounds to emerge as Top 16 qualifiers.
The competition will be showcased through a livestream at 8pm, Sunday (Oct 3), on both SDA and MYDF Facebook pages.
Meanwhile, Sarawak DanceSport Association president Chester Lim said the online E-Battle 1×1 format event is organised by the Malaysia DanceSport Federation (MYDF) Breaking Division and endorsed by MYDF to select two Bboys for the coming World Breaking Championship in Paris, France on Dec 4, 2021.
“Breaking is already included in the competition programme for the 2024 Paris Olympics and so this is big boost to all dreaming of making it to the Olympics stage.
“It is also good shot in the arm for promotion and development programmes in the country,” he said in a statement today.
Lim, who is also MYDF secretary-general, said breaking is also included in the 2021 Shantou Asian Youth Games and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Breaking is a style of dance that originated in the USA in the 1970s, taking form in the lively block parties in the Bronx, emerging from hiphop culture, and characterised by acrobatic movements, stylised footwork and the key role played by the disc jockey (DJ) and the Master of Ceremonies (MC) during battles.
International competitions were first held all over the world in the 1990s, popularising the dance form both among hip-hop communities and the public along the way.
Breaking made its Olympic debut at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018. Following its outstanding success, breaking has been chosen to be featured on the Paris 2024 Olympic sports programme as a new sport, along with surfing, skateboarding and sport-climbing. — DayakDaily
