Sadler’s Wells Breakin’ Convention
Breakin’ Convention works at the forefront of the hip hop genre. Collaborating with some of the most respected, innovative and inspirational hip hop artists, we produce world-renowned festivals and international touring productions. We work with artists and young people, running youth projects as well as educational and professional development programmes.
Breakin’ Convention was founded by UK hip hop theatre pioneer Jonzi D. He suggested creating a hip hop dance theatre festival in 2000, when he met Alistair Spalding in his role as head of dance at the Southbank Centre. The first Breakin’ Convention festival took place in 2004, when Alistair be-came the Artistic Director at Sadler’s Wells. And, after rave reviews, the festival has been included in our annual programme ever since.
Over the years, Breakin’ Convention has evolved and expanded to play a major role in our artistic programme. In 2005, Jonzi was invited to become an Associate Artist and Jonzi D Projects was formed, kicking off professional development projects including Open Art Surgery. In 2009, Breakin’ Convention absorbed Jonzi D Projects’ activities and became the organisation we are now.
We’re proud to have played a part in kickstarting the careers of many UK crews includ-ing ZooNation, Boy Blue Entertainment and Flawless. We have also hosted some of the world’s most influential acts including Project Soul (South Korea), Clash 66 (France/Germany), ILL Abili-ties (International), Flying Steps (Germany), Salah (France) and The Electric Boogaloos (USA).
What’s next? As part of the new Sadler’s Wells East, Breakin’ Convention will launch a resident hip hop school.
For more information about Breakin’ Convention, head to our website.
Programmes and projects
We have a range of programmes and projects designed to open up the world of hip hop to people of all ages, backgrounds and dance experience.
Education and youth projects
We run programmes designed to give young people an authentic, practical experience of hip hop culture. They range from two-day workshops exploring songwriting and art through the lens of hip hop and graffiti, to a full four-month long performance project led by professional dancers, rappers and theatre makers. Aspiring artists learn how to DJ, emcee, dance and write graffiti with programmes like Future Elements and Starting from Scratch. We also create links with industry insiders though our Level Up Programme.
Professional hip hop artists
Opportunities and platforms for artists working in the world of hip hop to learn, experiment and develop.
Higher Learning
We run an educational programme designed to help artists and independent companies reflect and improve their practices. Led by a range of industry specialists, activities include lecture demonstrations, workshops and discussions focusing on different aspects of hip hop dance theatre practice.
Open Art Surgery
We run an intensive week-long course for hip hop artists and crews, particularly for those new to theatre. Experienced mentors guide participants in creating new work, which is performed live, and the audience is encouraged to give feedback for these short works-in-progress.
Back To The Lab
This is an extension of Open Art Surgery. This two-week intensive course is designed for experi-enced theatre-makers to explore fresh ways of approaching work. It includes sessions on lighting techniques, creating original music and promotional tips, and ends with a live performance of the new works and an audience feedback session.