Celebrating 20 strong years of homegrown Hip Hop talent. breakin’ convention, Nottingham.
Celebrating 20 strong years of homegrown Hip Hop talent, right here in the UK. Thanks to the breakin’ convention, based at Sadler’s Wells London.
This Spring, breakin’ convention tours nationally with one of its hotspots landing in the East Midlands city of Nottingham. Ending its ground-breaking tour in Birmingham in June 2023.
What is most admirable about this tour is that it never fails to acknowledge local, youth dance groups and professional, independent dance artists to participate in the festival, in any shape or form. With legendary Jonzi D. Our Host & Artistic Director, founding the festival in 2004. As well as Gareth Woodward, Artistic Director of Xzibit Young Creatives. Sharing his contributions and passions in DJing.
Homegrown
Home to Nottingham, Artistic Director and choreographer Jasmine M Eccles for JME Dance Company, showcased her fearless, all-female dance group and choreography. Such an electric, emotionally-driven, group of young females. Sisterhood was their driving force on the stage of the Royal Concert Hall, reminding us of the popularised ‘Survivor’ music video by Destiny’s Child.
Furthermore, another Nottingham-based hip-hop powerhouse called, Take 1 Dance, also followed suit. Confidently representing their host city. Check out the full lineup for Nottingham here.
What’s in it for me?
So the question is, is Hip Hop theatre for me? Filled with all generations, literally! Both the wider community of families, grandparents, children and yes professional dance artists all together in one place. Every year breakin’ convention hijacks theatre foyers and completely turns the traditional theatre space around into an inviting, upbeat and communal space. This is where you can engage in such a rich culture. It goes to show how historically Hip Hop culture still highlights how it was birthed straight out of inner-city communities. It has always been and still is, for and by the community.
Yvonne Smink - Richard Budd (C)
Its roots stemmed from African American and Latino communities, 50 years on, where does Hip Hop stand in the UK? How much does the community need Hip Hop, right here on our doorsteps?
From graffiti to colourful T-shirt designing, beat-boxing along the corridors, dance rehearsals on level 2 and live music, it filled the atmosphere by creating an upbeat mood. How else could you best spend your time? Out of the office, perhaps a day/evening off, or simply somewhere to go and something to do?
On the other hand, it is often to see the blatant difference between how audiences respond to Hip Hop theatre vs Britain’s traditional theatre in Ballet and Contemporary. Sit back, take your seats with elegance and be punctual, is an interpretation of Britain’s contemporary theatre scene. Where Hip Hop theatre and from observation, has often shown quite a noisy crowd with little control. Who said we need to engage in dance theatre with elegance, in the auditorium?
International collaboration
With the breakin’ convention being ‘the world’s ground-breaking festival of hip hop dance theatre’, it invites international dance and multi-talented dance crews. Spanning from South Korea, MOVER. Who creatively presented a mix of b-boys and a b-girl, with beat-boxing. Oh and Ghetto Funk Collective, a European dance troupe from the Netherlands. Ideal for ones who love to get down and boogie. Inspired by James Brown, the 70s era and of course soaking up that funk vibe… What you see is what you get.
Mover (Credit BAKI) - South Korea
Ghetto Funk Collective (Credit Nath Martin) - Netherlands
Ultimately this tour kept it real, providing us with a 360-degree experience of the 5 elements of Hip Hop; MCing, DJing, Breakin, Graffiti and Knowledge. (For the folks at the back). Hosting a myriad of talents with the opportunity to connect.