Sadler’s Wells’ annual festival of hip hop dance theatre Breakin’ Convention is back for its 19^th year, platforming innovative, authentic dance rooted in the streets and presented live on stage from Friday 29 April – Sunday 1 May 2022.

This year’s festival features UK and international artists in an exciting line up of talent hosted by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and Breakin’ Convention founder and Artistic Director, Jonzi D. In true Breakin’ Convention tradition, audiences are encouraged to arrive early for activities in the foyers including live DJ sets from award-winning mixmasters, panel discussions, impromptu dance circles, graffiti art, plus dance workshops with artists.

Compagnie Niya arrives at Breakin’ Convention with Gueules Noire. Choreographed by Rachid Hedli, the work pays a heartfelt tribute to the migrant workers of the Nord-Pas de Calais Mining Basin, including his father. Retracing life in the mines, Compagnie Niya’s razor-sharp breaking and popping skills create evocative images of solidarity, struggle and fraternity. Hedli’s powerful and poetic staging is amplified by original music by Romual Houziaux.

The Writing is on the wall – this is who will be painting on the walls at Sadler’s Wells this year! Catch their murals in the foyers, on the walls and in the yard.

Mr Cenz is a London-based graffiti artist who has been scribbling on surfaces since 1988. Working from portrait photographs, he creates futuristic and mysterious compositions which portray strong and spiritual women.

Juan2 is a graffiti artist from Spain and based in London since 2012. He has been active since 1996, with abstractions being the main characteristic of his work using a very personal style. His pieces are born from the original idea of graffiti, the letters, but transforming and distorting them to the limit, providing the unique characters of his compositions

BAPS is a graffiti artist originally from London. Starting in the late 80s, his work is still relevant today where his pieces can be seen, holding on to that original graffiti-style grit.

Ukrainian contortionist and dancer Kate Luzan makes her Breakin’ Convention debut with her striking take on hip hop, adding her signature moves in high heels into the mix. Luzan has performed across fashion campaigns and commercials, as well as on multiple dance television shows including So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine. 

London based dance artist and performance maker Amanda Pefkou performed in Breakin’ Convention’s Open Art Surgery in 2021 and presents a passionate krump piece inspired by her Cypriot lineage as well as her mother. Full line up to be announced.

Breakin’ Convention 2022 features internationally renowned Australian choreographer and b-boy Nick Power, who presents his piece Between Tiny Cities in the Lilian Baylis Studio. Dancers Aaron Lim and Erak Mith perform the duet in the round, blending the raw, wild energy of b-boy battles with skilful improvisation and choreography, offering a cross-cultural perspective on style, culture and locality. Between Tiny Cities is performed as part of a UK tour.

About Breakin’ Convention

Through its international festivals and tours and professional development programme, Breakin’ Convention is at the vanguard of the global development of hip hop theatre artists.

Supporting the artistic vison, hip hop theatre pioneer Jonzi D founded Breakin’ Convention, supported by Sadler’s Wells in 2004. Breakin’ Convention is now part of Sadler’s Wells and produces its annual festival there. Since its inception, Breakin’ Convention has been pivotal to the development of the global hip hop theatre scene, touring nationally since 2007 and internationally since 2013. Breakin’ Convention has now reached live audiences of over 100,000.

Breakin’ Convention is committed to the development of hip hop theatre artists by providing a variety of participatory opportunities. These include professional development programmes for choreographers, dancers and emcees, projects for young people and educational activities in schools as well as bespoke special events.

About Sadler’s Wells

Sadler’s Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue in Clerkenwell, London, England located on Rosebery Avenue next to New River Head. The present-day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500-seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio. Sadler’s Wells is renowned as one of the World’s leading dance venues, As well as a stage for visiting companies, the theatre is also a producing house, with a number of associated artists and companies that produce original works for the theatre.