As a child in the 1980s, the closest experience I had of hip-hop dance theatre was watching the classic breakdancing film musical Breakin’ from 1984 with my brother on repeat, but it was also where my lifelong love of hip-hop culture began.
Fast forward to 2025, and I was offered the unique opportunity to review Saturday’s performance of Breakin’ Convention, the world’s biggest festival of hip-hop dance theatre in London, featuring performers and artists from both the UK and internationally, showcasing their diverse and innovative talents through a full range of hip-hop dance styles on stage, including breaking, popping, waacking, krumping, funk and threading.
ACT ONE – from 6pm to approx. 7.30pm:
Main Auditorium
The auditorium had been split into two with a standing area at the stage-front, like a golden circle for hardcore dance fans with raked seats behind, and as I found my way to my seat in the stalls, I was immediately struck by the anticipatory atmosphere from the crowd around me and the range of ages eagerly awaiting the start.
Curated by Jonzi D himself alongside BSL Interpreter Vanessa, together they enthusiastically introduced each act before they took to the stage and kept the flow and feel of the evening moving at pace and the audience under control!
First to perform was BIRDGANG (UK) – BirdGang was created in 2005 as a dance company and source of education for emerging talent. Their masked style and identical dress present unison and togetherness, and this moving group piece ‘Constellation’ represented their evolution from a three-man dance group to the present day, opening the first act beautifully with such fluidity and quiet movement, the audience were on the edge of their seats. A fantastic start!
LAUREN SCOTT (UK) – Lauren and her dance partner, Omni, developed ‘My Old Friend and I’ since completing an Open-Heart Surgery Workshop as part of the Breakin’ Convention Education Programme, mentoring emerging artists at the start of their career. Beginning with Lauren striding the perimeter of the stage in slow-motion, her popping movements were then duplicated by her partner, his face hidden, but the lyrical choreography the same. A sombre work.
IIIi WILD (BELGIUM) – performing his solo piece ‘BeZarbi’, this international krumper artist entered with a heavy foot to a heavy beat emphasising a tortured soul. With chest pops, arm swings and stomping feet, as his touch became lighter, his leaps higher, his speed bolder, but his internal struggle felt real. He was truly mesmerising.
CHANDENIE PRODUCTIONS (NETHERLANDS) – This foursome from The Netherlands, including their namesake Chandenie Gobardhan, made a welcome return to Breakin’ Convention to bring ‘Caught Again in the Net of Rebirth’ – fusing the South Asian dance style of Bharatnatyam and Japanese Butoh theatre to offer a writhing, contorting, intricate piece. But hip-hop? No.
THE RUGGEDS (NETHERLANDS) – Also from the Netherlands, there was an expectant feeling in the air before these six headliner performers exploded onto the stage. Engaging the audience with their swagger and humour, these acrobatic showmen performed the most traditional but crowd-pleasing hip-hop street dance – endless body rolls, hand spins, windmills, to a thunderous hip-hop beat and an even louder rapturous applause. Outstanding!
One Hour Break – from 7.30pm to 8.30pm
A break of an hour at first thought seemed overly generous, but if you were quick enough to get a spot upstairs at the Lilian Baylis Studio, you could catch the highly anticipated Simeon ‘Kardinal’ Campbell (UK) perform. I made my way down to the first-floor foyer to enjoy a succession of Cyphers rapping alongside freestyling dancers showcasing their individual dance styles. But the main draw (and my personal favourite) was the ludicrously innovative DJ Pogo relentlessly beatboxing to the packed (but open-mouthed) crowd, the majority of which were, surprisingly, children. Children are welcome at Breakin’ Convention aged 12+ (although younger audiences are allowed with parental discretion), and this is where you would find them – quietly sitting on the floor around the stage, enraptured by their very own private talent show right in front of them for the hour breaktime. Genius.
ACT TWO – from 8.30pm – approx. 10pm
Main Auditorium
SAIDO LEHLOUH
The brainchild of French hip-hop choreographer Saido Lehlouh, Act Two gave us a very different approach to Act One, where we enjoyed five short (10-20 minutes each) showcasing performances in quick succession. ‘Timon’ was described as depicting solitude and individuality, which felt at odds as the whole piece (a hypnotic hour and a half long) involved 18 independent performers, running, popping, breaking and somersaulting over the stage at the same time. The concept was confusing, but each artist was absolutely exceptional.
I spoke to Chandenie Gobardhan during the break and asked her how she came to perform at Breakin’ Convention and why it was important for her to do so. She explained:
“I’ve known and collaborated with hip hop innovator Jonzi D for some time, and he asked me to perform at Breakin’ Convention previously, which I really enjoyed, and so I had to return here to the UK once again this year with my work from Chandenie Productions. Breakin Convention is very important to me to be able to showcase my dancing style as an International artist from the Netherlands and to see all the other performers, who I’ll also be watching as a spectator in Act Two!”
As the event came to a noisy close, with the audience on their feet, I realised that Breakin’ Convention is more than a dance show or a festival of hip-hop dance. It is a takeover, a movement, and a celebration. Of hip-hop culture of course, but also of individuality, talent, collaboration and community.
It was also an evening of pure joy!
Review by Miss Woo
Now celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, Breakin’ Convention Festival is held at Sadler’s Wells Theatre annually each May as a key part of the theatre’s artistic programme since 2004. Created by its founder and hip-hop pioneer Jonzi D to celebrate hip-hop culture with an emphasis on dance, and in addition to the highly anticipated festival each May, Breakin’ Convention also focuses on education and professional development courses for UK based hip-hop artists and choreographers, touring throughout the UK and promoting Academy Breakin’ Convention, a full-time further education programme for 16-19yr olds offering training in all areas of hip-hop.
Due to the global popularity of hip-hop dance that ‘Breakin’ or ‘Breakdancing’ was recognised as a competitive sport in 2024 at the Paris Summer Olympics, such is the increasing popularity of this event and this year the festival was held throughout the whole May Bank Holiday weekend: –
Friday 2 May – Fierce Friday and Opening Night at Sadler’s Wells
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May – Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells
Monday 5 May – Park Jam – a free family event for future poppers and breakers at the new theatre Sadlers Wells East, Stratford.
BREAKIN’ CONVENTION
Sadler’s Wells
2 to 5 May 2025
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