05-05-2025
Breakin' Convention review — a window on the world of hip-hop dance theatre
Once a year Sadler's Wells goes hip-hop mad. For more than 20 years the London venue's Breakin' Convention festival — the world's largest showcase of hip-hop dance-theatre — has highlighted the transformation of street dance into one of the most important influences on our dance stages.
Over three days the Wells was bursting with performances, workshops, live DJ sets and audience participation in the foyers. I went along to check out the Saturday night line-up, which brought together talent from the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. If nothing else, the programme showed how varied and innovative the art form has become. No longer is it just about head spinning and heavy beats.
The evening began with Jonzi D, the festival's indefatigable artistic director, whipping
