Storm: The Legendary Breaker Who Shaped Modern Breaking
Storm is one of the most influential figures in breaking and Hip Hop culture. People around the world recognize him as one of the most innovative and respected breakers of all time. Indeed, Storm played a crucial role in transforming breaking from an underground street dance into a globally recognized art form.
Interview with Storm (Niels Robitzky)
For more than four decades, Storm has inspired generations of dancers, choreographers, artists, and Hip Hop enthusiasts through performances, teaching, cultural advocacy, and historical research.
Furthermore, he has dedicated much of his career to preserving and sharing the culture’s history. From winning major competitions to educating future generations, his contribution to the global breaking community is remarkable. As a result, his influence continues to shape breaking around the world.
Storm Niels Robitzky and Battle Squad
Storm first gained international recognition as a member of Battle Squad. Soon thereafter, the crew became one of the most influential breaking groups of the early 1990s. Today, competitions, workshops, and performances worldwide still reflect the influence of Storm, Niels Robitzky and Swift, Boris Leptin on breaking culture.
Alongside fellow pioneers Swift, Emilio, and Maurizio, Battle Squad won the prestigious Battle of the Year 1991 title. As a result, their combination of creativity, musicality, originality, and technical excellence helped redefine competitive breaking.
Consequently, the legacy of Storm Niels Robitzky extends far beyond dance, influencing education, culture, and artistic expression.
Storm and Sweden: Building Bridges in 1992
An important chapter in Storm’s international journey began in 1992. That same year, Swedish Hip Hop pioneers Mattias Bäcklin, Pärra Andreasson, and Jerker Hedenstedt met Storm and Swift at the legendary Spring Jam event in Frankfurt.
There, Spring Jam brought together some of the most influential names in Hip Hop, including Seen, Futura 2000, Crazy Legs, Wiggles, and Grandmaster Caz, all from the USA, plus the German Hip Hop Elite.
Today, many people consider Spring Jam one of the most important gatherings in European Hip Hop history.
Meanwhile, throughout 1992, Storm strengthened his relationship with the Scandinavian scene. In addition to appearing at major German events such as Battle of the Year in Hannover, he visited Sweden several times.
His visits included:
The Swedish Rap Championships at Cirkus in Stockholm
The Uppsala International Hip Hop Festival
Jam in Uppsala at Ungdomens Hus
Style Wars in Malmö
Through these events, authentic breaking culture was introduced to Swedish audiences. Moreover, they showed that Hip Hop was much more than rap music.
In fact, it was a complete cultural movement built on:
Breaking
DJing
Graffiti writing
MCing
Knowledge
As a result, more people gained a deeper understanding of the culture and its foundations.
The New York Connection
The story of this international friendship also has roots in New York City. There, Swedish dancers connected with Storm through the legendary dancer Kwikstep.
Earlier, in 1989, Mattias Bäcklin and Andreas Derblom visited New York to meet Hip Hop pioneers. During their stay, they occasionally met Mr Wave, T-La Rock, Wiggles and Kwikstep.
As a result, important relationships began to form between the Swedish and American scenes.
Later, after Storm and Swift visited New York in 1991, they received contact information for the Swedish crew. Consequently, this exchange eventually led to their meeting at Spring Jam in Frankfurt the following year.
Furthermore, it strengthened the relationship between European and American Hip Hop communities. Ultimately, these connections helped build lasting bridges across the international scene.
A Global Ambassador for Breaking Culture
Over the following decades, Storm remained a central figure at major international events, including:
Battle of the Year
Street Jam Berlin
Spring Jam Frankfurt
Red Bull BC One
While many know him as a world-class breaker, Niels Robitzky has also become a respected educator, choreographer, cultural ambassador, and historian.
Moreover, his work extends far beyond performance. Through lectures, workshops, documentaries, books, and artistic productions, he has dedicated himself to preserving and sharing Hip Hop culture with younger generations. In addition, he continues to educate new audiences about the history, values, and foundations of the culture.mself to preserving and sharing Hip Hop culture with younger generations. In addition, he continues to educate new audiences about the history, values, and foundations of the culture.
Educating the Next Generation
Storm is widely respected for teaching the roots, values, and evolution of Hip Hop culture. In particular, his workshops focus on creativity, originality, musicality, and respect for the culture’s foundations.
For example, one of his educational projects is the series Footwork Fundamentals on YouTube. In this series, he shares both technical knowledge and historical context with dancers around the world. Through projects like these, Storm helps preserve the authenticity of breaking while also encouraging innovation and personal expression.
Books, Films, and Artistic Projects
Beyond the dance floor, Storm has made significant contributions to documenting Hip Hop culture. In addition, he has shared his knowledge through books, lectures, films, and educational projects.
For instance, his acclaimed book Think Breaking has become essential reading for dancers seeking a deeper understanding of breaking’s history, philosophy, and creative process.
Furthermore, the legendary graffiti artist Mode 2 created the cover artwork. As a result, the book maintains a strong connection to Hip Hop’s broader artistic legacy.
Storm has also appeared in numerous films, documentaries, and stage productions. One notable example is the acclaimed performance Solo for Two.
In this way, the production demonstrates how breaking can thrive in both street culture and contemporary performing arts.
How Storm Niels Robitzky Shaped Breaking Culture
As breaking continues to gain worldwide recognition, Storm remains one of the culture’s most respected voices. Notably, this includes breaking’s historic appearance on the Olympic stage.
His influence reaches multiple generations of dancers. In fact, his artistry, knowledge, and commitment to authenticity have inspired many dancers around the world. Few individuals have contributed as much to the growth and preservation of breaking culture.
Today, Niels Robitzky, better known as Storm, is more than a legendary breaker. He is a cultural ambassador, educator, author, choreographer, and pioneer. Ultimately, his contributions helped elevate breaking from a street dance movement into a globally respected art form.
Here is the link to Storm Homepage: https://www.stormdance.de/
ALSO Watch: My Interview with Ken Swift
For more insight into the history of breaking and the pioneers who shaped the culture, watch my interview with Ken Swift:
