# Breakdancers take the floor at Senegal's Youth Olympics

> Senegal hosts the first Olympic event ever held on African soil, with breakdancers blending traditional African styles into their routines.
- Title: Breakdancers take the floor at Senegal's Youth Olympics · NPR
- Summary: Senegal hosts the first Olympic event ever held on African soil, with breakdancers blending traditional African styles into their routines.
- Keywords: senegal, youth olympic games, breakdancing, dakar, suzanne toure, francis siméon gomis, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/11/g-s1-150228/senegal-youth-olympic-games-breakdancing
- Published: 2026-11-11T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: senegal, youth olympic games, breakdancing, dakar, suzanne toure, francis siméon gomis, news
## First Olympic event on African soil
Senegal is hosting the Youth Olympic Games this month. It marks the first time an Olympic event has been held anywhere on the African continent.
## Breakdancers blend African traditions
Senegal's team mixes traditional moves from national styles such as mbalax and Yela into their breakdancing routines.

> You can sense some American and European influence in our routines, yes, but there are also African dances.
## Suzanne Toure competes for Senegal
Fifteen-year-old Suzanne Toure is the only girl on the Senegal National Sport Dance and Break Team.Her little brother introduced her to breakdancing three years ago.The team hopes to win a medal on home turf.
## Key takeaway

Senegal is hosting the Youth Olympic Games this month, the first Olympic event on African soil, with breakdancers competing by mixing traditional African dance styles into their routines.