Breaking for Gold World Series Rio 2023: Ayane to power her way out of Shigekix's shadows
The older sister of arguably the world's top breaker from Japan is keen to gain her own international recognition, and it could happen this weekend in Brazil.
Breaking
Dance sport fans know Shigekix as one of the world’s biggest names in breaking. But not many, probably, know about his older sister Ayane, who is also in the sport.
All that could start to change this weekend, however.
Ayane will be making her Breaking for Gold World Series debut in Rio de Janeiro, where ranking points towards Olympic qualification will be on offer.
Rio is the second stop of the series following the event in Kitakyushu, Japan, which was held in February.
Although he fell short of delivering victory in front of the home crowd, Shigekix finished a solid third, taking a step towards Paris 2024.
Will it be Ayane’s turn in Rio?
“There were only a certain number of competitions I could take part in until last season,” Ayane said during training camp with Japan’s best and brightest last month on the outskirts of Tokyo, before departing for Brazil with her brother three-and-a-half years her junior.
“For me, to be going to Brazil in itself means a lot. I get to compete on a stage I’ve wanted to compete on but couldn’t in the past," Ayane said.
“Once I’m there I want to show what I’m about, which is power. Not only certain moves but the whole performance.
“But I have to pay attention to details because they matter. The judges do rate the finer points.
“But I still want to be able to overwhelm everyone with my power because that’s my style.
“I want people to know what Ayane is about.”
With a lot of the other Japanese B-Girls scoring points through technical execution, Ayane - her real name Nakarai Ayane - is about strength and brute force, the power to her dancing glaringly obvious.
There was a time when Ayane was torn by her own style, because of the stark contrast to the likes of world champion Ami, Ayumi, and Ayu who have, so far, received more international acclaim.
But Ayane has come to the conclusion that she is who she is, and is sticking to her guns.
“I’ve stopped looking at it that way anymore. If I do what I need to do, I like to think I stand a chance against anyone,” she says.
Without Ayane, there may never have been a Shigekix, as she is the one who took up dancing first.
Shigekix has been showered the accolades and fame, and has become the indisputable face of Japanese breaking. One couldn’t ask for a better ambassador as the sport readies to make its Olympic debut next year.
But Ayane is far from jealous of her little bro. If anything, she is grateful that arguably the world’s greatest breaker is someone so close, always there to motivate her.
And while the 25-year-old will shyly brush off the whole siblings-Olympics talk, make no mistake, she wants to be in the French capital in 2024 just as much as Shigekix does.
“Oh, I’m thinking about Paris for sure. And I plan on being there”, she said. “It’s only a year away but depending on how you look at it, I still have a year to work on things.
“I try not to put unnecessary pressure on myself, but at the same time, I’ll have to win what I need to win to get there. It won’t be easy.”