SADLERS WELLS Associate Artist and founder of Breakin Convention, Jonzi D, said breaking down on stage at last year’s event was a great feeling.
The Hip-Hop theatre visionary was referring to a special moment during the 20th anniversary of Breakin’ Convention when The Legendary Twins took to the stage to present him with a legacy award for all of his contributions to HipHop dance.
Ahead of the 21st edition of the largest celebration of Hip-Hop theatre in the UK, kicking off next on May 3, he told the Voice Newspaper that he wasn’t one for getting emotional like that usually, but the recognition meant so much.
“Two brothers who have been to Breakin’ Convention before, they’re called the Legendary Twins.
“They were dancing in some of the very first Hip-Hop parties in the Bronx. They danced to the music of Kool Herc, who was spinning as a DJ, on Sedgwick Avenue, where this thing is alleged to have started.
“They felt that they should provide me with this acknowledgement as one of the international people outside of the Bronx who are promoting and maintaining a Hip-Hop culture.
“As you know, I’ve turned down MBEs, awards and stuff like that isn’t necessarily what I’m here for.
“But that one got to me. Because they came all the way out to London as part of Breakin’ Convention to deliver this to me on stage.
“I broke down as you saw. And I’m not that guy that just cries for everything. The last time I cried was because of a bereavement, funerals and stuff.
“But tears of joy is something that’s kind of rare for me. I usually just take it in my stride. But it was a very emotional moment. I feel really honoured to be acknowledged by the Hip-Hop community for this award, and not just any Hip-Hop community straight from New York. The originators of his ting.
“So yeah. It felt good to cry. It felt good to be able to release what has been inside me for many, many years. “This passion and love for HipHop, culture and all of the positive things it’s done for our community, to be acknowledged like that was huge.”
This year’s early May Bank Holiday festival showcases international acts from the USA, South Korea and France, as well as performances from local and national talents on Sadler’s Wells stages.
From 6pm across the two days audiences will be able to see performances from some of the world’s leading hip hop acts including Femme Fatale, Sons of Wind and Jinjo crew; CREATE4 and Ekleido; Ivan Michael Blackstock’s company TRAPLORD, Boy Blue, When Time Was New, Gully South Block (GSB), Company DHW, Sasha Mahfouz Shadid and ShaolinOrShao – plus a solo by Jamal Sterrett. During the interval, Cie Kilaï performs in the Lilian Baylis Studio. With 2024 a significant year for breaking as it becomes an official Olympic sport for the first time at the Paris Olympics this summer, Jonzi said he hoped the groundswell of eyes on the discipline will lead to an increase in participants from the grass roots.
“I am part of the board of Breaking GB and as a board, we’re trying to access funding and stuff for these dancers and I’m very excited about that.
“I’d love it if we could win a medal. I’m not necessarily putting all my hopes on that. But what I am putting my hopes on is that the culture of breaking is seen and engaged with, and people can hopefully change their minds about any preconceptions that they may have had about this culture.
“It’s clearly obvious that as a technique, it’s levels above I’d say any dance style to be honest with you. The way the whole body is involved. “A lot of people have shared fears that, ‘oh, no, breaking isn’t a sport.’
“But my thing is, it’s a competition. All breakers recognise that they’re in it to win something. And within our culture through events, our battle of the year, and the UK B-Boy championships and stuff, we’ve been doing this competition ting.
“These dancers travel the whole world, to be a part of these competitions.
“So it’s only a natural consequence of what we’ve been doing that now the Olympic community is looking into it.
“And also the Olympics, they’re about community. The five rings, they’re all connected. We’ve been doing that with Breaking. There’s crews all over the world that know each other. “All I have to do is make a call ‘be like, yo. I’m coming over,’ and the whole community will look after them, that’s what I’ve experienced.
“So I’d love to see that just increase via the Olympics. I’d love to see much more young children learning from early.
“Because in particular, Asia and Russia, those kids are in it, because there’s a provision for them as children. And you’ve got lots of under 16 battles and stuff where these kids are doing ridiculous techniques.
“So for me, I just hope that there are more dancers, because, fundamentally, that’s what we need to continue with things like Breakin’ Convention and stuff. So this can only be a good thing.”
Extra events around the Breakin’ Convention Festival 2024 include activities for families taking place in front of house. On the First Circle from 4.30pm and again during the interval, the Tiny Totts Workshops are dedicated to children who want to explore various hip hop dance foundations, hosted by two fully qualified facilitators.
Live DJ sessions take place in the foyer, featuring DJ Pogo, Cutmaster Swift and Yugson Hawks.
Audiences can also learn to tag in the Graff Zone on the First Circle, and in Sadler’s Wells outdoor space, the Yard – while children from all ages are invited to take part in drawing workshops.
The main wall in the foyer will be painted by Nean, a Belgian graffiti writer from the Kingdom crew. An hour of improvised theatre, the Freestyle Funk Forum is in the Lilian Baylis Studio. Tickets are not sold out, YET.
Jonzi enthused: “There are still tickets available. But we’re definitely selling out. There’s no doubt about it.”
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