Elephant News Reporters Chen Zhengyi, Xu Zhaopeng, Li Junfeng
The break dancing event that debuted in Paris this summer is one of the main new highlights of this Olympics.
In this project, Chinese contestant Liu Qingyi, an 18-year-old girl from Huixian County, Xinxiang, Henan, has attracted much attention.
Despite her young age, she has already achieved great results in many competitions. Her achievements are not only a personal honor, but also an important milestone in the development of break dance in China.
On February 25, 2023 local time, in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, Chinese player Liu Qingyi won the women's group final of the wdsf breakdancing Olympic points competition
How did she go from the county to Paris?
Elephant News went to Liu Qingyi’s hometown for an in-depth visit and learned that she is the eldest sister “Sister Yi” in the mouth of her classmates; she is a girl who is “especially able to endure hardship” in the impression of the enlightenment coach; she is also the mother who has the inner feeling of “No matter what you do, you will not achieve the goal.” The daughter of "give it up" character.
Come on, break dance "Sister Yi"!
She is the only girl in the class in the hip-hop club
A hip-hop club in Huixian, Xinxiang. This is where Liu Qingyi first came into contact with break dancing.
enlightenment coach Feng Wenbo remembered that the club organized a street performance at that time, which happened to be seen by Liu Qingyi and his parents who were shopping.
The next day, Liu Qingyi’s mother took her 10-year-old daughter to sign up to learn breaking. Feng Wenbo was surprised when he saw it: "How can a little girl learn breaking?" But Liu Qingyi said: "I want to learn. I have learned Taekwondo and I can stand on my head." Then, she demonstrated a handstand for four or five seconds on the spot. .
So, she became the only girl in the break dancing class.
Liu Qingyi is practicing dancing in the club
Before getting into break dancing, Liu Qingyi learned taekwondo, guitar and boxing. At the age of 7, she reached the black belt level in Taekwondo and won two provincial children's Taekwondo competition championships.
These laid the foundation for her to learn break dancing, and many years later, these interests and hobbies were delicately displayed in her dance.
"I found that this little girl knew how to endure hardship and practice." Feng Wenbo recalled, "Every day, the students basically finished walking, and she practiced with her friends until the early morning."
Liu Qingyi learned that when she was 7 or 8 months old , Thomas has almost learned the roundabout. A year later, she was able to skillfully use various difficult power moves (aerial spins) and ultimate moves in break dancing. These are the most difficult dance moves in break dancing.
Liu Qingyi's power move
Liu Qingyi's learning speed even surprised Feng Wenbo, "She is so amazing."
During Liu Qingyi’s growth stage, Feng Wenbo believed that participating in more competitions could increase her stage experience and overcome her nervousness in competitions.
"At that time, I participated in at least two competitions a month. At that time, I not only ran around Henan every day, but also went to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou to participate in competitions."
In 2018, during a competition in Shenzhen, Liu Qingyi and Enlightenment coach Feng Wenbo Group photo
It was precisely by virtue of this competition experience that Liu Qingyi broke into the top 16 in a national competition and gradually moved towards her own stage.
The girl who refused to admit defeat until she achieved her goal stepped onto the big stage
Starting from a small hip-hop club, her love for dance pushed Liu Qingyi to one big stage after another.
In 2019, in order to prepare for the break dance competition at the 2021 National Games, the Henan Provincial Street Dance Team was established, and Liu Qingyi became one of the candidate team members.
Liu Qingyi’s mother’s social platform uses her daughter’s photo
At this time, a multiple-choice question of fate was placed in front of Liu Qingyi and her parents: Should they continue their studies, or devote themselves to dancing?
With Liu Qingyi’s excellent academic performance, she is fully capable of passing the general college entrance examination and entering the university of her choice.
Since you can't predict the future, then choose to live the way you like.
In the end, Liu Qingyi chose her favorite dance and entered the provincial team.
"Qingyi has been obedient since she was a child, but she has the kind of character that won't give up until she achieves her goal." Liu Qingyi's mother Ai Haixia recalled. "At that time, we mainly saw that she liked this more, so we supported her to pursue her dream."
After Liu Qingyi entered the provincial team, she not only trained harder, but also saw a bigger world.
In the 2021 National Games, 16-year-old Liu Qingyi won the first break dance (women) championship in the history of the National Games. After that, Liu Qingyi entered the Chinese National Breakdancing Team and became a seed player in the team. Subsequently, she won the first gold medal in women's break dancing at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.
"May you have stars and sea in your eyes, thousands of hills and valleys in your chest, and blooming flowers in your heart."
This is what Liu Qingyi's enlightenment coach Feng Wenbo wrote on his video account on October 8, 2023. By the way, that day was the day after Liu Qingyi won the first gold medal in women's break dancing in history at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
Feng Wenbo sent blessings to Liu Qingyi who was competing
"I went to watch Qingyi's competition. I was so excited when she won the gold medal. I was really happy for her." Feng Wenbo said.
It was this competition that allowed Liu Qingyi to get a ticket to the Paris Olympics.
"Big Sister" in the eyes of friends
In the hearts of friends, Liu Qingyi is the one who works the hardest and is the most special.
In June 2024, an Elephant News reporter interviewed Liu Qingyi’s classmate who once learned hip-hop together
"Liu Qingyi? Our "Sister Yi"!" Han Jiachen and Liu Qingyi were in the same school. In his opinion, Liu Qingyi has always been a "big sister" Image, "Every time we finish practicing, she will guide us how to dance better."
A photo of Liu Qingyi with her friends when she was a child (second from right is Liu Qingyi)
"She has always been very positive, and learning has always been the focus of the whole school. The first few are also good at dancing, and I feel like she can do anything." Liu Qingyi's friend Song Zan said, "She told me before that she has a booklet with her goals written on it."
In the booklet, Liu Qingyi made extremely specific plans for her life, from daily movement exercises and physical training to the target rankings in competitions, all were clearly set.
Despite such hard work, Liu Qingyi's dance journey has also encountered twists and turns.
Many technical moves in break dancing are not "friendly" to girls. In order to practice these moves well, she often has injuries all over her body.
In 2018, her arm was unfortunately broken, and she thought she would never be able to dance again.
"I'm afraid I'll never be able to dance again." She, who has always been strong, also shed tears.
’s mother Ai Haixia distressedly persuaded her to give up, but Liu Qingyi, who had persisted for three years, was unwilling to stop.
After removing the plaster and taking out the steel nails, she chose to start training again.
Although he eventually returned to his previous level, the wounds left by the surgery still remain.
"Show the world Chinese dance"
After confirming to participate in the Paris Olympics, Liu Qingyi expressed her feelings many times on her personal social account.
Photos of Liu Qingyi in front of the Louvre after arriving in France
"Let's go to the battle! Give me a hug and cheer for me. Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement. I am ready to show the world Chinese dance! Embark on the journey to the Olympics."
For this girl who is passionate about dance, her heart is filled with infinite expectations and challenges.
Before participating in the Paris Olympics, Liu Qingyi posted on her personal social account, "'Going round and round' has moved to Paris. I hope this time, I can spin happily on the stage."
Facing the test of the Olympics, she knows that only strength can is the most powerful language: "When the strength is strong enough, nothing needs to be said."
Faced with pressure, Liu Qingyi has a unique way of decompressing: "Everyone has pressure, but for me, dancing on the field It’s time to forget everything.”
Liu Qingyi has incorporated Chinese style elements into dance many times, creating a unique personal style.
This time, she is eager to show her new attempts and breakthroughs at the Olympics: "I also hope that on this stage, everyone can see my new changes and those unprecedented attempts."
She is full of expectations. In this On a stage that attracts global attention, dance tells unique stories about China.
