Join us on Saturday 31st August from 11:00am-2:45pm at St Marys Market in St Helens town centre as part of the St Helens Carnival of Creativity.

If your children and grandchildren have been inspired by our St Helens Graffiti Art Murals or Breaking in the Olympics, then they won’t want to miss out!

St Helens Graffiti Art Schedule

• Contribute to a special Graffiti Mural: Kingsyze will create a mural that everyone can join in with from 11:30am.
• Create your own Graffiti Art: Coach Kingsyze will coach attendees from 12:00-1:30pm to create their own St Helens Graffiti canvases that burst with colour.

St Helens & Knowsley Break Dance (Breaking) Demonstration:

• Watch the Breakers in action: Our students are freshly inspired from Breaking at the Olympics and will be demonstrating Breaking Battles outside St Marys Market at 11:00am.

St Helens Circus & Breaking Workshops

• Learn new skills: Whether you’re a beginner or looking to hone your skills, this is a chance to learn some juggling, balancing and Breaking moves from 2:00-2:45pm.

We invite everyone to join us at the Carnival of Creativity, whether your children or grandchildren want to be the next St Helens Graffiti Artist, an Olympic Breaker or a Greatest Showman Circus Performer.

These workshops and demos are a perfect taster of learning a new hobby and a great opportunity to ask questions.

Please feel free to send us a message to enquire about the days schedule or attend our weekly classes.

Join us on Saturday 14th September from 1:00-4:00pm at St Helens YMCA Youth Hub to explore the rich St Helens Heritage of Breaking (Break Dancing) and Hip Hop culture.

Step into the hidden world of Hip Hop in st Helens with an exhibition that spans from 1984 to 2024. Explore our exciting collection of photos, memorabilia, videos, and fashion that highlight the evolution of this influential culture.

Experience the Thrill of Breaking (Break Dance):

• Watch Breaking Battles and Demonstrations: Witness the energy and skill of our top Breaking students as they battle it out on the dance floor.
• Join a free Breaking Class: Want to learn the moves? Join our Breaking (Break Dance) classes on the day and become part of the action.

Unleash Your Creativity:

• Learn Graffiti Art with Kingsyze: Dabble at graffiti art with expert guidance from Kingsyze, and express your creativity on a new canvas.

Discover the Art of DJing:

• Try Your Hand at DJing: Whether you’re a beginner or looking to hone your skills, this is your chance to spin the decks and mix the beats.

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, offering free access to thousands of fascinating buildings, places, and events across the country. It provides a unique opportunity to explore hidden gems and learn more about the rich heritage that shapes our communities. For more information about the festival and to find events near you, visit Heritage Open Days.

This St Helens heritage event is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the ‘Creative Underground’ project, coordinated by St Helens Archive Service, part of St Helens Borough Council.

We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this remarkable milestone but we understand that you may questions about accessibility or suitability for friends and family.

Please feel free to send us a message or visit our Heritage Open day page for access features.

The host nation of the Olympics has the privilege to choose four additional sports to include in the regular roster. These choices are typically made to cater to local interests, target specific demographics, or raise awareness of certain activities. For the Paris 2024 Olympics, the chosen sports are Breaking, Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, and Surfing. 

This year marks the Breaking is a unique blend of sport, dance, and culture that originated in the late 1970s. The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) submitted Breaking to the Olympic Committee following its high viewership at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018. This recognition as a sport led to its inclusion in the Olympic Games. 

Breakers from over 100 countries have been competing globally to earn points for the Olympic Qualifiers tournaments held in 2023. Those who qualified could compete in eight tournaments against the world’s best. Winners secured their Olympic spots, while others were selected based on high scores, host nation spots, and universality places, forming a top 18 list. Unfortunately, Sunni Brummitt and Karam Singh from Great Britain narrowly missed the top 18.

Breaking Battles (1 vs. 1) are judged by nine judges, similar to gymnastics but with a competitive element akin to judo or boxing. Judges score Breakers on five criteria using electronic tablets in real time:

• Vocabulary: Quantity of moves, style, move types, and variations.
• Technique: Athleticism and body control during moves.
• Originality: Personality, creativity, and spontaneity in battles.
• Musicality: How well they move to the beat and music.
• Execution: Performance quality with minimal slips or falls.

The competition starts with a 16-person round-robin tournament. The B-Boys and B-Girls with the most points advance to a 1 vs. 1 knockout tournament.

• Top Rock: The standing-up aspect of Breaking, usually at the start of a battle.
• Drops: Movements to get from standing to the floor.
• Footwork: Ground movements, often on hands and feet, in various directions.
• Power Moves: Momentum-based spins, e.g., backspins, windmills, headspins.
• Tricks: Kicks, jumps, and pushes, e.g., backflips, handhops, handsprings.
• Freezes: Strength-based holds, e.g., handstands or headstands.

Breaking will not be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, which will feature Baseball, Cricket T20, Flag Football, Squash, and Lacrosse. However, Breaking will return for the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal in 2026. Australia, the host of the 2032 Olympics, has not yet chosen their additional sports.

The Breaking events will be energetic and thrilling, perfect for both new fans and long-time enthusiasts. Expect to see DJs, competitors, and a vibrant culture coming together for a spectacular show. For a preview, check out this Qualifiers Highlight reel: Qualifiers Highlight.

• B-Girls Competition: Friday 9th August
  • 3:00pm – B-Girls Round Robin
  • 7:00pm – B-Girls Quarter-Finals
  • 7:45pm – B-Girls Semi-Finals
  • 8:15pm – B-Girls Finals
• B-Boys Competition: 

• 3:00pm – B-Boys Round Robin
• 7:00pm – B-Boys Quarter-Finals
• 7:45pm – B-Boys Semi-Finals
• 8:15pm – B-Boys Finals

If you’re inspired by the Olympics, Breaking classes are available in St Helens, Liverpool, and Warrington.

Contact us today to join a class

Enjoy the debut of Breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics!