This May bank holiday London sees Sadler’s Wells presenting its 13th international festival of hip hop dance theatre, Breakin’ Convention, featuring performances from UK and international companies and crews, hosted and curated by Associate Artist Jonzi D, followed by a tour to eight venues across the UK.
Work-in-progress Vicycle by Birdgang Dance Company in the Lilian Baylis Studio follows one man’s pursuit of an ‘ideal’ and the compromises he is willing to make to reach it. The first incarnation of the piece appeared at Breakin’ Convention in 2013.
Returning international acts that featured at last year’s festival include: France’s Antoinette Gomis, who presents Images, a solo inspired by the music of Nina Simone and Civil Rights; Spain’s Iron Skulls Co with the surreal Sinestesia, where the dancers morph into post-apocalyptic survivors; b-boy crew The Ruggeds from Holland with Adrenaline.
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Flawless returns to Sadler’s Wells, joined by hip hop dance crew Myself UK Dance Company, an all-female ensemble formed by Kloe Dean to promote empowerment, ambition and individuality through hip hop dance.
Kwame Asafo-Adjei's company Spoken Movement, which uses elements of street dance and abstract choreography, is joined by Pro-Motion, a supergroup featuring members of Flawless and Plague.
On Monday 2 May, there's Park Jam, an outdoor party suitable for all the family in Spa Fields Park.