Gravity deifying moves and seemingly impossible inverted body head-spins drew cheers from the crowd at the Button Factory in Dublin’s Temple Bar as breakers rolled out endless, energy-sapping and dizzying dance combinations, timed to pulsating music, with perfection.
Breakers battled it out for a spot in the Red Bull BC One National Cypher, held for the first time in Ireland in 13 years. Split into B-boy and B-girl brackets, breakers faced off in intense one-on-one battles hoping to win the favour of the judges.
Four-time Red Bull BC One champion and current judge B-boy Menno was joined on the judging panel by B-girl Roxy, a renowned UK breaker who holds the world record for head-spins completed in 60 seconds (71), and B-boy Doke, part of well-known Bad Taste Cru. Explaining their scoring, the judges said they were looking at the breakers’ respective style, character, creativity and musicality, how they break to the music and the attitude and uniqueness with which they do it.
Breaking is enjoying its time in the sun following Paris 2024, when it made its debut at the Olympic Games. An outsider walking through the doors could be forgiven for believing they had stepped inside a live video game, an octagon circled with raucous supporters, roof-raising energy with competitors facing off and locked in high-energy combat. The casual clothing worn by the dancers masks lithe muscular athletes with core strength that Olympic gymnasts would be proud of. But despite the intense duels in the octagon, competitors never touch their opponent, except in a mutual embrace at match end to convey their respect and admiration for each other’s skills, dexterity, moves and combinations.
B-boy Aleon (Leon Dwyer) and B-girl Tara (Tara Bredemeier) came out on top, and will now face stiff competition from more than 30 countries for the top prize at November’s Red Bull BC One World Final in Tokyo.
B-girl Tara said she was “honoured and very excited to be representing Ireland” in Tokyo and is “looking forward to watching the female scene unfold and expand”. B-boy Leon, has been making a name for himself on the international breaking scene for years, and fell just short of Olympic qualification in 2024, reaching the top 32 of the Olympic World Series before being knocked out. Speaking about his win, Leon said he was “overwhelmed” and “emotional”. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was very young ... a lot of sacrifice to get to the stage I’m at now.”
