With her parents owning a performing arts studio, dancing is in Melody McAvoy’s blood, and that has helped propel her to breaking success.
Break dancing, or breaking, is a sport with growing popularity worldwide, so much so that it was included in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Melody has a long-held affection for breaking, beginning as an 11-year-old when she began receiving lessons from Lee Crowley, better known as ‘Reckless Lee’, who is head of breaking at the I GOT SOUL Breaking Academy.
That love for breaking is evident in the dancer’s performances which have seen her grace the stages of the X Factor, The Voice, and Strictly Come Dancing, as well as supporting global live acts including Ed Sheeran.
“It started as a really fun hobby,” Melody told Fen Regis Trophies. “I wanted to learn new tricks and learn a new style.”
In the Blood
Growing up in West London and seeing her mum and dad dancing, it was only natural for Melody to wish to follow in their footsteps.
“They (Melody’s parents) were dancers…not break dancers…but they were dancers,” she said. “I grew up having that to look up to, so I have always wanted to do something dance-related.”
“Breaking came along after I started dancing,” Melody added. “I did the baby classes when I was younger, from the age of two.
“As I got older, around the age of six, I started wanting to do stuff that people were doing on TV, such as dancing with artists – called commercial dance.
“I started doing that along with the technical stuff – like ballet, tap, lyrical – which I started before I did breaking.
“As I wanted to go into commercial dancing professionally by the age of 11, I wanted to learn a new style at the same time.”
Competitive Breaking
While breaking has long been a part of Melody’s repertoire, it wasn’t until 2021 that the talented dancer decided to try her hand at competitive dancing. In 2021, she entered the Red Bull BC1, an annual international breaking competition
“By the age of 16 or 17,” said Melody. “I wanted to give breaking a go and by 2021, I thought I might as well compete.
“That was my first competition, the Red Bull BC1, and I got quite far.
“I realised I was good at it and from there I got into more battles and more competitions.”
“I came top eight in the UK, so I imagined what I could do over the next couple of years and see how that goes.”
From break dancing in her parents’ living to performing in front of millions as a backing dancer to some of the biggest artists in the world, Melody discovered that she flourishes in the spotlight.
‘Reckless Lee’ continues to work with Melody to this day, helping to perfect her craft and create new and exciting routines, which helped her break her way to taking home the trophy at the Subway Breaking GB National Championships in September 2024.
“I balance it out with my other training that I do for my other work that I do professionally,” Melody said. “It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, but I just love doing it.
“I was absolutely buzzing [to win the competition]…I always go back to little me at 11 years old, I would never think that I would win a breaking competition like that.
“I never thought that would be me. Even a couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have been sure if I would ever be able to do that.
“I trained super hard and I ended up winning the event. It was so surreal to me.”
Olympic Dream
Shortly after Melody’s competitive breaking debut, it was announced that the sport would feature at the 2024 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Melody missed out on representing Great Britain at the Games, and it has since been confirmed that breaking will not return for the 2028 Olympic Games.
That, however, has not dampened her hopes of representing Team GB in some capacity at the 2032 Olympic Games, where she hopes breaking can make a return to the programme.
“I will be 30 in eight years,” she said. “I definitely want to be a part of something in regards to the breaking GB squad – whether that’s me competing personally or coaching our next generation.
“For now, I’m definitely wanting to go for it myself – I’ve got a long time to go.”
For now, Melody continues to juggle performing and competing at an elite level whatever the stage. With a long career still ahead of her, don’t be surprised to see Melody break the world.
By Aaron Gratton
