Breakin’ Convention International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre

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A group of 13 hip hop dancers stand in a circle, cheering on a woman who freestyles in the centre. They are a mix of ethnicities, mainly black, and wear white trainers and white socks with yellow or black shorts and vests, combined with shirts and fringed skirts of African wax print fabric.

Curated and hosted by hip hop theatre pioneer, Jonzi D

Fri 29 April: Compagnie Niya, Gueules Noires
Sat 30 April – Sun 1 May: Breakin’ Convention 2022 Festival
Mon 2 May: Park Jam

Sadler’s Wells’ annual festival of hip hop dance theatre is back for its 19th year! Platforming cutting-edge street dance, rooted in the streets and represented on stage, from around the world and around the corner.

Expect astounding dancers, banging beats and an atmosphere unlike anything else in the theatre, with a friendly and inclusive vibe that will excite and entertain the whole family.

Breakin’ Convention is far more than just a show – arrive early for activities in the foyers, including live DJs, dance circles, have-a-go graffiti, popular improvisation-based warm-up show Freestyle Funk Forum, workshops with the artists and much more you can watch and try.

For more information on acts head to breakinconvention.com

Line up is subject to change

Part of Well Seasoned

Image description: A group of 13 hip hop dancers stand in a circle, cheering on a woman who freestyles in the centre. They are a mix of ethnicities, mainly black, and wear white trainers and white socks with yellow or black shorts and vests, combined with shirts and fringed skirts of African wax print fabric.

Header image © Belinda Lawley

Nearest tube is

Angel

Plan your visit

World and UK premieres

Freestyle Funk Forum

Lilian Baylis Studio, Saturday at 4.30pm

Freestyle Funk Forum is an hour of improvised theatre in hip hop’s answer to ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’

No two shows are ever the same in this spontaneous collection of skits brought to life through the elements of hip hop from dance and beatboxing to turntablism and rap.

Ticket Information
Freestyle Funk Forum will take place on Saturday and is scheduled around the main stage performances so they do not clash.

Add a Freestyle Funk Forum ticket to the same order as your Festival ticket and the Freestyle Funk Forum ticket will become free of charge at the checkout. Non-ticket holders can purchase tickets for Freestyle Funk Forum for £5.

Between Tiny Cities រវាងទីក្រុងតូច

Lilian Baylis Studio, Saturday at 7.30pm, Sunday at 4.30pm

In Between Tiny Cities រវាងទីក្រុងតូច, dancers Erak Mith, from Phnom Penh, and Aaron Lim, from Darwin, use the rituals, movement styles and language of their shared hip-hop culture to reveal the dramatically different worlds that surround them and uncover the choreographic links that unite them.

Choreographed by internationally-renowned Sydney hip hop dance artist Nick Power and accompanied by the beats and sound design of Jack Prest, the work blends the raw, wild energy of b*boy battles with skilful improvisation and choreography, offering a cross-cultural perspective on style, culture and locality.

Ticket Information
Between Tiny Cities will take place on Saturday and Sunday and is scheduled around the main stage performances so they do not clash.

Add a Between Tiny Cities ticket to the same order as your Festival ticket and the Between Tiny Cities ticket will become free of charge at the checkout. Non-ticket holders can purchase tickets for Between Tiny Cities for £5.

After 2 years of restrictions, I’m happy to say Breakin’ Convention is back with a full international program featuring premieres from Peru, Ukraine, and Czech Republic! Also proudly presenting a variety of award-winning UK acts. I look forward to the DJs, the dance cyphers, and all the immersive elements of Breakin’ Convention that we’ve missed so much.JONZI D, BREAKIN’ CONVENTION ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

It’s clear that the event’s reputation as an instrument for positive cultural engagement across class, gender, racial – as well as the geographical – lines is well earned; not just in relation to those on stage, but in regard to those who make-up the audience.AFRIDIZIAK