America’s own Sunny will be making her very first trip to China this 23 June to compete against upwards of 60 other b-girls at the 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship in Nanjing. 

The Tennessee-born, New York City resident doesn’t seem too worried about the trip, however, having competed against a number of the other dancers elsewhere during her 11-year career as a b-girl. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and sharing the dance floor with new people,” she says about the Championship. 

That attitude should hold her in good stead with some of the world’s leading b-girls set to compete this weekend. But with consistently strong showings at Red Bull BC One World Finals, the Silverback Open, and Outbreak Europe events, b-girl Sunny is definitely one to keep an eye on this week in Nanjing! 

Q: What are you most looking forward to about the 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship?
A: I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and sharing the dance floor with new people. 

Q: Have you ever been to China/Nanjing? 
A: No, I have not ever been to China!

Q: Do you have any new techniques ready for Nanjing?
A: Not really. I’ve had a few injuries and I’ve been working a lot so I’m just training as usual and hoping for the best.

Q: Is there anybody competing in Nanjing that you would really like to battle and, if so, why?
A: I don’t know some of the women battling so it’s hard to say! I’m sure there will be new faces and new talent. I’m excited to see what’s in store for us.

Q: What is your greatest strength/best move as a b-girl?
A: I’m not sure that any one of us have just one best move or strength. I think I’m fairly well-rounded in that I dance and have power but I’m not the only one at this competition that can say that. At higher levels, many of the women are well-rounded, some better at some things and others at others. 

Q: What advice do you have for young breakers just starting out?
A: Have fun and be you when you dance. Yes, there’s foundation to this dance so keep that in mind but explore and find your own way of dancing and expressing yourself. Don’t look to others for inspiration but take the time to discover who you are as a dancer. And when you have the opportunity, travel and learn about other cultures. It’ll help you in dance and in life!

Q: Who inspired you as a young breaker?
A: A lot of the dancers around me in Philadelphia were my inspirations. I was never one to watch footage online but just learn from the people I saw at practice and at battles.

Q: Do you have a favorite song/ artist to break to?
A: I generally like to dance to rap but don’t have a favorite artist or song to dance to. That changes based on my mood from day to day.

Q: What one word best describes your style?
A: Happy. I smile when I dance and I like to have fun. I think you can sense it when you watch. 

Q: What is your favorite place to compete?
A: I don’t think I have a favorite place to compete, but I generally prefer smaller, more intimate events with good music and lots of dancing/cyphering.  

Q: Who’s been your toughest competitor and why?
A: This is probably the most cliché answer I can give but the toughest competitor out there is myself. I’m always battling time, expectations, physical conditions, my shyness, my mood, or whatever else is on my mind from day to day. I’m usually really tough on myself so I’m working on letting go of that control, trusting myself, and just being happy with what happens. I’m getting better at it but still struggling, especially on big stages at larger events. We’ll see how this one goes!

Venezuela’s Lil G is one of roughly 100 b-boys set to compete at the 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship on 23 June in Nanjing, China. 

A versatile and highly experienced Breaker, Lil G has been doing his thing since the age of 11 and has garnered a strong following worldwide for never resting on his laurels. 

Lil G has competed in numerous Red Bull BC One World Finals, the Silverback Open, and Outbreak Europe, among many others. While he has visited China a number of times, his appearance at the World Championship will be his first time in Nanjing.

We look forward to seeing Lil G bring his unique style and originality to the floor!

Q: What are you most looking forward to about the World Championship?
A: I’m looking to do my best in this battle but the most important thing for me is to enjoy the moment.

Q: Do you have any new techniques ready for Nanjing?
A: I have some new moves but I’m still not 100% sure I will try them at the World Championship. 

Q: Is there anybody competing in Nanjing that you would really like to battle and, if so, why?
A: I really want to battle the people who are on fire, because then I can push myself more.

Q: What is your greatest strength/best move as a b-boy?
A: I don’t have any exact move, I have strong musicality on my power moves.

Q: What advice do you have for young breakers just starting out?
A: My advice for the new generation – or for everyone – is to do everything from the heart. If you want to be in the game of big battles, prepare your heart for when the losses come and take it as a gain, because it will be a growing experience and not a defeat.

Q: Who inspired you as a young b-boy?
A: The people who inspired me when I was young were my crew members Shadow and Knnon from Venezuela. Then it was Storm from Germany, Salah from France, The End from Korea, Boy from USA and now I am inspired by all the new generation coming up.

Q: What one word best describes your style?
A: Risk, of course.

Q: What is your favourite place to compete?
A: Asia.

Q: Who’s been your toughest competitor and why?
A: The toughest competitor has been myself, because every loss is difficult and to continue to keep it up until now has been hard. But I learn [something in every situation which is a victory in itself] and I always feel good no matter the result.

The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) will celebrate Olympic Day in style this year with the 2019 WDSF World Breaking Championship in Nanjing, China. 

The goal of Olympic Day, celebrated around the world on 23 June to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on the same day back in 1894, is to promote participation in sport regardless of age, gender or athletic ability and to get as many people as possible active. 

What better way to get inspired than to watch some of the world’s best Breakers – 150 b-boys and b-girls from 66 countries in total – compete for the title of World Champion, including eight Olympians who participated in the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires last year. A list of all b-boys and b-girls who will be in Nanjing can be found here.* 

It’s the kind of talent pool that has b-girl Hurricane of France, who will be one of 10 judges in Nanjing, excited to be part of the event. 

“It’s going to be a magic moment for the scene,” said Hurricane, who added that it will be an excellent opportunity to check out what’s happening in the global Breaking community all in one place. “It’s officially the first time that we can talk about a ‘World Championship’ with a real selection and qualifications, so it’s going to show our talent and give respect to our scene.” 

To ensure universality targets are met, qualification for the World Championship not only allowed each WDSF National Federation (NF) to send up to four breakers (two b-boys and two b-girls) but also allowed for an additional 45 wild card spots and the possibility for countries without a National Federation to send athletes. 

Most WDSF NFs organised national qualifiers in the first half of the year to identify the athletes to represent their countries at the World Championships. 

One of three b-boys representing Venezuela is the seasoned pro Lil G, who says he is looking to feed off those who are at the top of their game in Nanjing. 

“I’m looking to do my best in this battle, but the more important thing for me is to enjoy the moment,” said Lil G, who has competed in China on numerous occasions but never been to Nanjing. “I really want to battle people who will be on fire, because then I can push myself more.”

For those unable to make it to Nanjing, The Olympic Channel will livestream the action starting from the Round Robin stage from 13:30 local time (07:30 CEST, 01:30 EDT). The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 19:30 local time (13:30 CEST, 07:30 EDT), with the finals set to begin one hour later.

In addition, all the battles from the Round Robin stage onward will be saved on the DanceSport Total.

The Championship will double as a qualifying event for the first GAISF World Urban Games in Budapest, Hungary this September. 

*Chinese entrants will be decided during national qualifiers on 22 June.