‘I never dreamed that we’d be here when we started’
Hip hop theatrical extravaganza, Breakin’ Convention will be back in the North East this month to celebrate a landmark anniversary in suitably stylish fashion. SAM WONFOR talks to inspirational founder Jonzi D
IT’S been 20 years since the first Breakin’ Convention festival windmilled its way onto theatre stages and celebrated the broad church of hip hop culture all over the UK.
The brainchild of MC, dancer, film-maker and passionate hip hop advocate Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention introduced itself from the stage at Sadler’s Wells – one of the world’s leading dance venues – and spent the next two decades spreading the joy which comes built in with hip hop.
“It does feel like a big achievement to be marking 20 years,” says Jonzi, who kindly kept our telephone interview appointment despite having his bike nicked half an hour before my call.
“I have taken the unusual step of taking stock – I tend not to look back because there’s always something to work towards… but as a result of the 20th anniversary, there has been quite a lot of reflection.
“I never would have dreamed we’d be here when we started – at that time I was thinking that if we did it once at Sadler’s Wells theatre, which plays host to the best dance from around the world, I would have been really happy.
“But the reality is that once the secret was out, you couldn’t put it back in the box... and here we are – the most globally recognised brand in hip hop theatre.”
Jonzi says he was motivated to create Breakin’ Convention after attending Les Danse Urbaines – a hip hop festival in France.
“I had been making what I called hip hop theatre since 1994, but as a performing artist, I felt lonely on the theatre scene in that there wasn’t anyone else doing what I was doing.
“So, as well as being a black man, doing hip hop theatre meant that I was othered.
“Seeing what I saw in France, I realised that this is what we needed in London and across the UK to give the whole generation of people who were involved in hip hop something to hook into – something to bring everyone together and showcase what we were doing.
“Lots of young people have had their first experience of theatre via Breakin’ Convention, which is a really beautiful thing.”
Having just picked up a raft of fivestar reviews for its Sadler’s Wells event in April, the Breakin’ Convention 2023 tour is well under way.
North East venues have played a big part in the history of the festival with Newcastle Theatre Royal, Whitley Bay Playhouse and The Customs House among those which have welcomed the event over the years.
For 2023, The Customs House is once again stepping up to be home for the North East leg of the tour, which brings showstopping international acts to stages all over the UK while also offering a prestigious platform to local acts and crews – meaning no two tour dates are ever the same.
“Taking the festival out to the regions and offering that stage to local acts was always a big part of what we wanted to do with Breakin’ Convention,” says Jonzi, who will be hosting – and “probably dancing at some point” at The Customs House on June 7.
“The last one in South Shields was such a buzz and we’re really looking forward to coming back.”
It’s fair to say the feeling will be mutual for any North Easterners with even a passing interest in hip hop culture, thanks to a world-class line-up of acts who have signed up to perform.
First up is Ghetto Funk Collective from the Netherlands, who Jonzi says, “bring a real 70s energy” to proceedings, adding “there’s a bit of period costume going on there” – presumably to make me feel around 100 years old.
Also from the Netherlands is solo performer, Yvonne Smink, who will be bringing her innovative hip hop take on the art of pole dancing.
“I suppose you could say this is very much ‘breaking convention’ for us. Pole dancing wouldn’t be the first thing you’d associate with hip hop, but I can’t wait for everyone to see what she does – she’s absolutely incredible,” he promises.
Completing the headliners is creative crew, Mover from South Korea who will perform a piece entitled, Merry-Go-Round, which references a DJing technique that repeats the interlude of a song by using twin turntables.
“We’ve built a really strong relationship with Korea – right from the first Breakin’ Convention,” says Jonzi, “and it’s great to have such a fantastic act as part of the 2023 tour.”
So that’s the big visiting acts… but what about the homegrown B-boys, B-girls, lockers and poppers?
To ensure the best of the region’s talents are on show, Jonzi and the festival team enlist the expert help of regional reps. For the North East, it’s the founders of the long-established Bad Taste Cru, Paul Martin and Conor O’Kane.
“It’s great to have the festival coming back to The Customs House,” says Paul. “It’s a venue which has wholeheartedly supported hip hop culture over many years and is a big part of the Breakin’ Convention legacy.
“The brilliant thing about the festival is that it really does bring all elements of hip hop culture together – and that’s reflected in the range of acts from the North East who will be performing.”
Seems like this would be a good time to round them up.
Hartlepool’s Ruff Diamond will be familiar to viewers of Sky’s Got To Dance talent search and are known for their polished and explosive moves.
Vitamin Noir are a Newcastlebased group of dancers, rappers, artists, photographers and all-around creatives – audiences at Alphabetti Theatre may have seen their 2022 piece, Brotherhood. They will serve up a mixed style dance performance.
Ground Breakers crew are a hip hop dance group made up of 11 to
25-year-olds who have learning difficulties. Based at Lawnmowers Arts Centre in Gateshead, the group meet weekly to develop their dance skills explore Hip hop culture.
The members of Dance Jam – aged nine to 14 – will be embracing all manner of street dance styles including lockin, poppin, hip hop, breakin, waccking, vogue, dancehall and krump in their piece, Luminous.
Lastly, Dimensions Dance, led by Darlington-based choreographer Anna Reed, will present a piece exploring the idea of the different identities we adopt from behind the screens which pepper our lives.
As well as the on-stage performances, Breakin’ Convention makes it its business to take over every venue it visits, so those attending at The Customs House will also be treated to graffiti artists, DJ sessions and freestyle dancing in the foyer.
“It really is an inclusive celebration of everything that is great about hip hop,” says Paul, “and it’s really rewarding for us to see people we’ve taught over the years taking to the stage.”
While the 20th anniversary of Breakin’ Convention has sparked a wave of reflection, there’s also a sense that things are just getting started.
Jonzi explains: “We’re opening an Academy next year at the new Sadler’s Wells space, so as well as the 20th anniversary being something that we reflect on, it also finds us at the very beginning of a massive enterprise – the first hip hop theatre academy.”
Offering accredited qualifications across dance, music production, DJing and rap, the Academy has been in the works for the past five years and although it will be based in London, Jonzi has plans to build on the Breakin’ Convention regional tour model.
“Hip hop theatre deserves to be recognised as a high level art form and anyone who wants to get involved should have that opportunity wherever they are in the UK.”
Sounds like the next 20 years are going to be pretty busy.
Breakin’ Convention takes place at The Customs House, South Shields on June 7.
Sam Wonfor is the editor of Cultured. North East, a website spreading the word about North East culture from www.culturednortheast. co.uk @samwonfor @culturemag