LEON BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Dwyer is driving growth of energetic form of dance

- MARK McCADDEN

LEON DWYER can often be found training in the studio behind his home in Newcastle, Co Dublin, well into the early hours of the morning.

Ireland's top breakdancer, his body heavily inked with tattoos that reveal an obsession with all things extraterrestrial, is leading the discipline’s revival here, with a focus not only on his own career, but on bringing through the next generation of B-Boys and B-Girls.

Dwyer, who goes by the name Bboyaleon, could have been Ireland's first Olympic breakdancer, were it not for a lack of funding.

But he still gets to compete internationally on a regular basis. In 2023 he took part in over 30 international events, and last year he travelled to 26 tournaments abroad.

Already this year his calendar is filling up with competitions, classes and corporate events.

So how did this Dubliner find his way into the world of breakdancing?

“My journey started when I was three years old," he told Fitter Happier. “My mam was a dance teacher so I was around dance from a very young age.”

Dwyer’s mum taught ballet, so that was his introduction into the world of dance. But he was looking for something a little more energetic.