International hip hop dance artists from Brazil, Austria, Korea, Japan and France have been announced as part of the line-up in this year’s Breakin’ Convention weekend at Sadler’s Wells. The annual festival, which takes place this year from 3 to 5 May, showcases the best of hip hop and street dance from the UK and around the world through performances, workshops, screenings and exhibitions.
Brazilian company Membros makes its UK debut on Saturday 3 May with Febre (Fever), a powerful physical narrative portraying the damage from brutal social apartheid and corruption within inner-city Brazil. Fusing hip hop and physical theatre, the piece includes strong, hard-hitting images as the dancers’ movements purposefully depict the destruction brought about through violence and drugs. Febre contains nudity and parental discretion is advised.
Also on 3 May, Japan-based dancers Tony GoGo and the GoGo Brothers make their European debut at the festival. Originally from LA, Tony GoGo was one of the first people to perform locking, and danced on the 1970s American dance show Soul Train. Now Tony GoGo takes to the stage at Breakin’ Convention with his sons, the GoGo Brothers.
Sunday 4 May sees Austrian company Nobulus return to the festival with Out Of The Shadow, which was performed in part at last year’s Breakin’ Convention. The dance piece illustrates the evolution of man and weaves in a strong message about war.
Korean b-boy collective Project Soul closes the festival on Monday 5 May, presenting a new production by acclaimed dance troupe MyoSung.
Meanwhile, events in the Lilian Baylis theatre include French physical theatre group Farid’O, which makes its UK debut with Saleté (Dirt) on 3 and 4 May. Using spoken word, combined with dramatic physical theatre and aerial rope work, Saleté is the dark story of Sad, an Iranian refugee living in Germany.
The 20-strong line-up for Breakin’ Convention also includes many UK artists, including Company Decalage, Flawless, Flowfuzion, Hypnotick, Kendrick ‘H20’ Sandy, Plague, Sin Cru, Status and Surge. The festival is curated and directed by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Jonzi D.
For full details of the festival, visit www.breakinconvention.com
CB