Let’s hear from Matteo (@matteo.de.pace), one of the participants, as he shares his experience throughout Breaking The Walls. The project wants to combine mental training and breakdance to improve Gen Z’s well-being across different events in Europe.

Matteo talks about travelling to new places, taking part in major breaking events, and meeting and learning directly from some of the greatest breakers in the world.

We get to hear directly from the participants and discover what Breaking The Walls has meant to them, the experiences they lived, and the impact the project had on their journey.

---

I: Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your experience with Breaking the Walls?

M: Hi everyone, I’m Matteo, B-boy “Mini Power,” representing Be Street Crew and Albattle. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of the Breaking the Walls project. It was a very important experience for me, and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to be part of this journey.

I: What opportunities did the project give you?

M: The project gave me the opportunity to travel and visit places I had never seen before, such as Banská Bystrica, L’Aquila, and Porto. This journey also gave me the opportunity to participate in big events like Outbreak Europe, Check the Style, and World Battle.

Being able to attend these events meant seeing some of the greatest breakers in the world, including the winners of the 2024 Olympics. For me, having the opportunity to see these breakers and experience these events was a very important part of the journey.

I: How have you grown through the project from a psychological perspective?

M: From a psychological perspective, I’ve grown so much thanks to this project. Through dance, I learned to know myself better and found new ways to express myself.

M: This experience allowed me to develop this side of myself through breaking, and understanding myself better became an important part of my growth throughout the project.

I: How did the teachers contribute to your growth?

M: A huge part of this mental growth came from the fantastic teachers we had, who guided us along the way during their workshops. Their guidance was an important part of the experience.

They also pushed us to grow athletically. They gave us amazing advice on our workouts, helped us develop new skills, and suggested fresh ways to approach new movements. Through their workshops and advice, I had the opportunity to improve both my athletic abilities and the way I approached breaking.

I: What was your favorite part of the Breaking the Walls experience?

M: If I had to pick my absolute favourite part of the Breaking the Walls experience, it would definitely be spending time in close contact with these incredible professionals and learning directly from them.

Having the opportunity to be around them and learn directly from their experience was something very special for me. This direct contact with professionals and the possibility of learning from them was definitely the part of the project I appreciated the most.

I: What do you hope for the future of the project?

M: I hope that, in the future, this project will give other young people like me the opportunity to have this same kind of experience. I hope they can have the opportunity to grow and improve just as I did through this project.

I: Who would you like to thank for making this experience possible?

In the end, I just want to say big up to Enrico (Branx), MG, Snook, Max, and all their crews.

And also, a huge thank you to Paola, Will, Frost, San Andrea, and the entire staff and team who made all of this possible. Thank you for all these unforgettable experiences.