Breakin’ Convention

Breakin’ Convention | Sadler’s Wells, Hip Hop Haven…

Hip hop heads, mark your diaries. Breakin’ Convention is returning to Sadler’s Wells Theatre for the 20th time.

Which isn’t exactly breakin’ convention…

However the rest of the premise, and the performances, certainly live up to the name… The annual hip hop dancing festival is approaching its 20th anniversary soon (from April 28th-1st May) with another predictably strong lineup dappled with international stars who currently rule the world of hip hop theatre, as well as the next generation. Roll back the tape to 2003, when festival director JonZi D’s vision was to make some noise, boost the scene’s profile, and bring together the genre’s biggest names under the same roof, sharing the same stage (at the time a groundbreaking idea…)  – and you could say he’s done quite well…

Though every promoter says ‘this year’s festival is set to be the biggest yet’, Breakin’ Convention’s 2023 edition really is telling the truth. Expect two days of breathless dance choreography and commendable footwork, with the line up reading Les Twins, Rubix and Laura Nala from Criminalz Crew (repping France); Mover (repping South Korea); Ghetto Funk Collective and Justin de Jager (repping the Netherlands); and Far From Norm, Boy Blue and Lauren Scott among the acts repping our neck of the woods. There’s many more acts on the bill and as you can see, the roster mixes it up nicely between global crews and homegrown talent. 

Outside of the headline performances, you’ve got DJs, graffiti artists and freestyle sessions, which will happen all over Sadler’s Wells. The whole thing is capped off with an outdoor park jam, in Islington‘s Spa Fields Park. Then for those looking to work up an extra sweat or actually master some of the moves, there’s also going to be workshops and demos. And the atmosphere isn’t like your usual trip to the theatre, or Sadler Wells for that matter – there’s no sign of stuffiness, and the crowds are known to be youthful and diverse. There’s even a wall you’re encouraged to graffiti on (cans provided). If you love to cut loose and you’re into hip hop…

… then you should get a kick out of this.

NOTE: Breakin’ Convention 2023 takes place from April 28th-1st May. Tickets start at £15, purchase those here. For further info on the festival, click here.

Sadler’s Wells Theatre | Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN

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