Don’t be fooled into thinking that breakdancing is merely a series of flips, backspins, and headspins, one that can only be seen in cliche high school movies.
Breakdancing is much more than that; it is a dance style that requires talent, determination, and a heck of a fitness level. Along with that, it is a dance that is taking over the Middle East, with many Arabs competing in major competitions. Let us take a look at some notable Arab b-boys:
Bilal Mallakh (Billy The One)
In what was considered a historic moment at the Paris 2024 Olympics, breakdancing took on a whole new meaning when it officially became a sport represented at the global sporting competition. Bilal Mallakh, a Moroccan breakdancer known as a trailblazing figure in the world of breakdancing, was the first African and Arab athlete to compete as a breakdancer at the Olympics.
Known as Billy The One in the world of breakdancing, the 20-year-old dancer has made big strides, especially after winning the 2023 WDSF Africa Breaking Championship alongside his fellow Moroccan Fatima El-Mamouny.
Mahmoud Elshamy (Charley Breaka)
For more than 16 years, b-boy Charley Breaka, whose real name is Mahmoud Elshamy, has been a major breakdancing figure who formed many crews including Black Bulletz, Swaggers, Ups n Downs Cru, and Bronx 2 Cairo.
Over the years, he made a name for himself and even ended up taking part in a documentary that unravelled the struggles of Egypt’s breakdancing scene.
What’s cool is that he ended up representing Egypt at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a breakdancer and danced it out in front of the crowd.
Ali Yasser Salah El Deen (Bboy Thug)
Born in Jeddah and living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabian break dancer Ali Yasser Salah El Dean, aka Bboy Thug, has been taking over the streets with his epic moves since 2003.
He is a prominent figure in the breakdancing scene, as he is a member of the (CID) (International Dance Council) and a member of the dance crew “One Heart”.
Fouad Ambelj (Lil Zoo)
As one of the first Moroccan-born breakers conquering the global breakdancing scene, Fouad Ambelj, aka B-Boy Lil Zoo, is one of the big names of this dance style. Born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco, and currently residing in Austria, the breakdancer first started breaking when he was just 14.
Since then, he has become a member of the El Mouwahidin crew, the Flying Steps, and the Red Bull BC One All Stars. He also proved himself when he won the coveted Red Bull BC One world title in 2018.
Ali Ramdani (Lilou)
It is great to see so many Arabs taking over the breakdance world, and among them is two-time Red Bull BC One World Champion Lilou. Born in France but of Algerian descent, Ali Ramdani entered the world of breakdance after he first discovered it on TV and started copying the moves.
Today, he has built an impressive reputation as one of the breakdancing world’s most accomplished and popular dancers.
Seeing all these Arab dancers dominating the breakdance scene showcases how it is a growing art and sport that is taking over not just the region but the entire globe.