Gold Coast’s Chris Cielo to compete at Red Bull BC One Cypher in Brisbane

Chris Cielo started breakdancing as a nine-year-old after watching a hip-hop music video. Now 34, he is hoping for back-to-back national title wins at a prestigious breakdancing competition.

A Gold Coast dad is hoping for back-to-back wins at a national breakdancing competition next month.

Chris Cielo from Palm Beach will compete in the Red Bull BC One Cyper at the Brisbane Powerhouse on August 24.

The winner will then head to Tokyo in Japan for the competition’s world final in November.

Cielo, 34, is the national competition’s reigning champion after taking out the title in 2024.

He started breakdancing when he was about nine-years-old after watching a music video from US hip-hop group Run-DMC.

“I decided to try and copy them,” he said.

“Then I met some friends who also had an interest (in hip-hop) and we kept trying to mimic their moves.”

Palm Beach breakdancer Chris Cielo, also known by his stage name B-Boy Cielo. Picture: Supplied

Cielo, also known by his stage name B-Boy Cielo, said he was self-taught but had been guided by some of the “older guys on the scene” to master the moves.

“What I love about breaking is the community and the culture,” he said.

“Everyone is very authentic and welcoming and willing to enjoy the art for what it is.”

This is the first time the national competition has been held in Queensland.

“For a time, Queensland has been the most dominant state in the breaking culture,” he said.

“We have the best young people coming through so it’s important the younger generation get to see these competitions and be inspired by the scene here.

“It’s cool that we can have our home crowd backing us.”

Breakdancing also runs in the family with Cielo’s four-year-old son, Sol, already busting a move like his dad.

“He has been doing it since he has been in the womb,” he said.

“He is a little legend … music is in his blood

“It’s good to be able to connect with my son through dance.”