Breakin’ Convention is a hip hop dance theatre festival, conceived by the genius Jonzi D and happens at the renown home of dance, Sadler’s Wells. Now Hip Hop isn’t really my thing. As shocking as this may seem when I love walking around in trainers, joggers and my frizzy hair i.e. I can easily pull the look off. However, I decided to volunteer (my favourite pass time, now favourite main time) for Breakin’ Convention .
For one weekend Sadler’s Wells is transformed. Forget the white walls and the politeness of lots of people standing musing over what they just saw. Now, the walls are covered in graffiti and there is music blasting through the levels. The energy is amazing. Everywhere you look people are forming circles and watching people busting a move and then there are the people jamming to the music even though no one is watching.
Inside the theatre the front rows had been removed and instead people stood. It brought that touch of musical festival feel and just made you feel engaged and engaged people were. Now coming from a ‘dance theatre’ background where you politely watch and clap to show your appreciation I absolutely LOVED the audiences’ responses. If there was a move you liked you would react there and then with claps, gasps, woops and taking your hat off.
Breakin’ Convention may seem artificial. Some feel hip hop is for the streets or the dance floor. Breakin’ Convention is hip hop dance theatre with some of the acts really pushing the dance theatre boundary. However, from freestyle circles, the music, the main stage and the after party there was something for everyone. The standard was amazing with international act as well as UK acts showing how its done. My favourite act was the closing act of the festival Pro-Phenomen from France who were phenomenal. Now I am looking forward to the challenge of learning my breakin’, poppin’ and lockin’ and rocking up to Breakin’ Convention 2011 in my Nike ID’s and ready to show my skills.
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