Beat Breakdown
Beat Breakdown
06
Mar
03
Apr
Event

Beat Breakdown


When
6pm - 9pm
March 6, 13, 20, 27 ​
April 3
 
Where

Palm Grove Forecourt (in front of IMAX Sydney), Darling Harbour

Get directions
Price

FREE

Map, showing Beat Breakdown

Rise to the challenge and unleash your dance potential

Sydney - get ready for an electrifying display of dance talent! Beat Breakdown is back in Darling Harbour this Autumn.

Experience the energy and excitement as Sydney's best dancers battle it out in an open competition. Witness incredible breaking, popping, waacking, and more. Every Thursday night, we'll showcase a different style of dance. Enjoy a vibrant atmosphere with DJs, MCs, and hosts, culminating in an all-star battle you won't want to miss.

And if you're feeling inspired to try some moves yourself, Dancekool will hold some workshops to help you find your own dancing feet.

Battle schedule

  • 5.30pm: Dancer registrations
  • 6.00pm: Showcase
  • 6.10pm: Prelims (1 x 45 sec per dancer)
  • 7.00pm: Showcase / DJ Break
  • 7.15pm: Top 16 (2 x 45 sec per dancer)
  • 7.45pm: Judges Showcase
  • 7.50pm: Top 8 (2 x 45 sec per dancer)
  • 8.30pm: DJ Break
  • 8.40pm: Top 4 (2 x 45 sec per dancer)
  • 8.50pm: Finals (2 x 45 sec per dancer)
  • 9.00pm: Winner announced / event concludes
    *Schedule is subject to change


Sign up now

Think you've got what it takes? It’s time to step up! 

Whether you’re a master at breaking, popping, waacking, dance hall or lite feet – this is your chance to share your style, win epic prizes and wow the crowd. 

Beat Breakdown is an open battle, with 32 spots available*. Signing up for the battle is free. So bring your talent and your crew, it’s all on us!

Over two seasons in March and September, we'll bring together a regular Thursday night competition of Sydney's best dancers. Culminating in an all-star-battle of talent, prepare for some of the best dance skills you have ever seen in Darling Harbour.​

Each night will include a DJ, MCs and hosts a different style of dance showcased.

In collaboration with local legends, Dancekool – the pioneering street dance studio, you can also join workshops to find your dancing feet amongst the action.​
 

Weekly dance schedule

6 March - Waacking

Waacking is a dynamic dance style born in LA’s 1970s LGBTQ+ clubs, inspired by disco, funk, and musical divas. Known for sharp arm movements, fast spins, and bold poses, it was first called "punking" before evolving into "waacking." Revived in the 2000s through street dance battles, it now thrives globally, celebrated for its rhythm, flair, and expressive energy.
Sign up

13 March - Lite Feet and Dancehall

Litefeet is a high-energy dance style from early 2000s Harlem, NYC, known for fast footwork, sharp moves, and playful improvisation. Rooted in the Harlem Shake and influenced by jerkin’ and popping, it blends quick steps with smooth body flow. Popularized through viral videos, Litefeet keeps evolving in global street dance culture.

Dancehall originated in 1970s Jamaica, mixing reggae rhythms with expressive hip and waist movements. Global icons like Sean Paul helped spread its energetic style, making it a lasting influence on music, dance, and culture worldwide.
Sign up
 

20 March - Breaking

Breaking, born in the 1970s South Bronx, NYC, revolutionized street culture with its mix of hip-hop, funk, and Latin rhythms. Combining creativity and athleticism, it features powerful moves and was popularized by pioneers like Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa. Sydney’s Darling Harbour has hosted iconic cyphers and battles since the '90s, keeping breaking alive as a dynamic global movement.
Sign up
 

27 March - Popping

Popping, born in late 1960s California, emerged from the funk and soul scene, especially in the Bay Area. Influenced by styles like the "robot" and "boogaloo," popping gained global fame in the '80s through films like The Electric Boogaloo Movie. It quickly spread to Australia, where Sydney and Melbourne saw underground cyphers and battles in the late '80s. Today, popping continues to shape street and commercial dance, evolving with new techniques like "wave" and "tutting."
Sign up

3 April - All Star Battle

After a month-long celebration of different dance styles, it’s time for the highly anticipated All Star Battle! This massive night of dance will crown the ultimate champion as we bring back the winners and runners-up to face off for the crown. Watch as Waacking, Dancehall, Popping, House, Lite Feet, and Breaking come together in a massive display of local dance talent. The stakes are higher than ever with Wild Card entries heating things up, and an all-star panel of judges—including Andy Kuramoto, Edwin Liberty, and 2024 Australian Breaking Olympian J-Attack (aka Jeff Dunne)—will be there to decide who takes home the title. 


Registrations open on Thursday 13 February. We’ll see you there! 


*Spots are capped at up to 32 per battle, so if you miss out on registration, you’ll be added to the waitlist. Available spots are subject to change. Participants must be over 16 to enter (participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).

View the Beat Breakdown Participant Waiver and Terms & Conditions here