Break dancing breaking into new heights in Bangladesh

Break dancing or breaking got Olympic status on December 7 last year.

In a cricket-crazy nation with football being the second-most followed sport, nothing else is really on the menu for the average Bangladeshi sports buff.

But in the recent past, with people now more willing to try out more unorthodox career paths (and sports as a result), breaking has seen a rise in the country. 

We caught up with some of the first breakers in the country and how breaking caught on in the country. 

Hrid Iffat, Razib Ghosh, Yousuf Gazi and Fahmida Ahmed are four of the co-founders of Hip Hop Studio BD, a studio to learn breaking in Banasree, and they detail their journey so far and breaking in Bangladesh.

Hrid, Razib and Yousuf are some of the best breakers in the country, having been winners in different breaking competitions here.

Fahmida became the first female to win an award as runner up in a breaking competition titled 'Battle of Steps Vol. 1.1' and is considered the best female breaker in the country. 

Hrid is one of the oldest and first breakdancers in Bangladesh and he explains how it all started in 2011 with him in a breakdancing group 'Anonymous Crew'.

Hrid Iffat, Razib Ghosh, Yousuf Gazi and Fahmida Ahmed are four of the co-founders of Hip Hop Studio BD, a studio to learn breaking in Banasree. Photo: TBS

"We have to go back to 2011 then. A crew named 'Anonymous Crew', started it with only a few members. Then more crews were founded within the next three years. The main thing is, as we were street dancers, we just wanted to see how people were reacting to us and if they were liking what we were doing. Fortunately, it was mostly positive," Hrid, who goes by the stage name Bboy Hrid, says.

It took a few years before bigger organisations started to organise events where breakdancers could perform. 

But in late 2014, when the American Embassy organised the event 'Next Level', more break dancers got to meet each other and that's when things started to grow and become more popular.

This is the competition that Hrid won, becoming the first breaking champion in Bangladesh.

"The main objective of 'Next Level' was to promote the hip-hop culture in Bangladesh and spread proper knowledge about it. That was the event that brought all the hip-hop artists of Bangladesh under one umbrella. So we got to know each other very well as we were all practising together at the EMK Centre. We were trained by Amirah Sacket, a veteran breakdancer from Chicago," Hrid says. 

From 2018 at least one breaking competition has been arranged by various crews and breakdancers and that has seen breaking reach its peak popularity in recent times.

"The Cypher 2018 (organised by Anonymous Crew), Battle of Steps Vol.1 at 2019 (organised by Hasin), Time to Battle at 2020 (Organised by O2 SDC) have been some of the big events organised recently. I also organised a few competitions like Elements Vol.1 and co-arranged Comilla Hip Hop Jam in 2018 with Hasin & Soul Chain Dance Crew," Hrid explains. 

While breaking is starting to gain popularity, it is hardly a cash cow or even a stable career path yet.

Plus, when you're dancing in the streets, not everyone will be welcoming or reacting in a pleasant manner as Razib explains.

"Although we have to deal with certain people giving us weird looks and taunting us there are people from the younger generation who have been more supportive. And sometimes, they even want to join us and that helps us grow. But without regular sponsors and a steady flow of cash, arranging events have been more challenging. Without sponsors, we've had to spend out of our own pockets to arrange events at times. So the main challenge now is to have sponsors that can help us make a better career out of breaking," Razib, who goes by the stage name Bboy Raz, admits.

But there is hope for the breakers here as they see how breakers abroad are making a living by doing this and that is something they look forward to, according to Yousuf.

"If we look at other countries like the USA, UK, Japan, South Korea and even our neighbours India, they are making very good money by breaking. Obviously, not all of them are making big money but they are doing well enough to do this full-time. They are participating in many competitions and some are also judges in those competitions, which is another good source of earning. Besides, you can earn more by winning the local battles (competitions). As breaking is a very energetic dance form, energy drink companies are sponsoring breakers all over the world," Yousuf, who has the stage name Bboy Trickster, explains.

With breaking now a part of the Olympic Games, the Bangladeshi breakers are eager to represent their country on the grandest stage. 

But to do that, they are looking to form an association like other sports that is government approved and Fahmida is hopeful that can be done soon. 

Fahmida became the first female to win an award as runner up in a breaking competition. Photo: TBS

"We are planning to form a breaking association. We have to get it approved by our government and hopefully it will happen very soon. We absolutely want to see a Bangladeshi flag in the 'Breaking Zone' of the 2024 Olympic Games and we are trying our best to make it happen!" said Fahmida, who goes by the stage name Bgirl Fahmi.

Breaking is overall giving the youth of the nation a new opportunity to try a different sport and give them a chance to learn a new skill.

While it's not financially lucrative or nearly as popular or as respected as sports like cricket and football, it is an inexpensive sport to pick up and try and it certainly has the 'cool factor' attached to it.

As long as the current breakers get proper support, the growing popularity of breaking will only help them break barriers and break into new heights in Bangladesh.