Few people can say they found their calling in just three weeks, but few people are nine-year-old Jeremy Veilleux, who discovered his love for breakdancing almost instantly this summer.
“It became my passion,” he said of his time learning the sport at the Studio Party Time summer camp in Quebec City.
He says he finds some of the moves difficult, but with more practice and battles — his favourite part — it’s getting easier.
Jeremy is one of several young dancers in Quebec City who are anxiously waiting to watch the best of the best breakers battle it out on the Olympic stage on Friday — marking the sport’s official debut in the Games and the first dance sport ever represented at the competition.
“It’s going to be really cool. I’m really excited to watch it,” Jeremy said.
Elliot Cardinal, 8, started breaking almost a year ago. He says he can’t stop his feet from moving when he hears the music.
“It just gives me the urge to dance,” he said.
Elliot was inspired to take up the sport after watching competitions on TV.
But now, he has his sights set on an even bigger dream: competing at the Olympic level. He says he has what it takes to get there.
“I don’t listen to what other people say. I concentrate on myself and I tell myself I’m capable,” he said.
Having fun being yourself
Guildo Griffin, founder of Studio Party Time, has been teaching breaking and hip-hop to dancers of all ages and levels since opening the school in 1995 — the first of its kind in Quebec City.
A B-boy since age 14, Griffin opened the school to give dancers an alternative to ballet and jazz education.
“I wanted to be different and I wanted to be street style,” he said.
His son, 28-year-old Kristopher Griffin, has been a trainer at Studio Party Time since he was 14. He says he tried a bunch of different sports growing up, but none made him feel as free as breaking.
“When you’re breaking, you can have fun and just be yourself and do what you like in your movement,” he said.
He said that breaking in front of others takes courage — and he’s seen kids’ confidence soar when they give it a try.
Henri Cormier, 6, is a first-time breaker. Already, he says his favourite thing to do is go on his head.
“Sometimes it hurts … but it doesn’t bother me,” he said.
Inspired by 1984 Olympics
Griffin says it’s a dream come true that breaking — both an artform and a sport — is finally being recognized at the Olympic level. And he’s flying off to Paris to witness the historic moment.
“I have goosebumps on my arms and it’s incredible. I don’t have the words to say how I’m happy to be there, to see my passion for many, many, many years,” he said.
It’s a full circle moment for him, as his passion for breaking first began during the closing show of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“It was Lionel Richie [singing] All Night Long. They had a lot of B-boys and poppers who were dancing … and I said to my brother, ‘I wanna do that,'” Griffin said.
After carving out a career in the sport for almost three decades, Griffin will now be watching the B-boys’ pre-qualifier battle and rooting for Canadian breaking star and world champion Philip Kim, who competes as Phil Wizard.
“I see the kids and they’re doing such amazing things that I was not able to do at my prime,” he said.
“Now it’s another level and it’s fun and I’m so happy to see that.”