Following the cancellation of all performances at Sadler’s Wells in support of the global effort to stop the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), Breakin’ Convention will present its 17th edition online, with a series of digital events across the next ten days culminating in a ‘virtual festival’, Lockdown Lock-in.
Lockdown Lock-in will be presented digitally on Saturday May 2, from 12noon – 9pm, the very weekend the live festival would have been taken place at Sadler’s Wells, and will feature recorded performance highlights from past festivals, with hosting from Breakin’ Convention artistic director and Sadler’s Wells associate artist, Jonzi D.
The line-up includes Bonetics, Godson, Pfect, SalesPlazaSocietas, Soweto Skeleton Movers, Geni Lou & PAX, Just Dance and Unity. There will also be a special collaboration with Jazz re:freshed, with a performance from The Jazz re:freshed Sonic Orchestra, presenting a special commission from the 2018 festival. Lockdown Lock-in will be available to watch live via the Breakin’ Convention Facebook Page.
One Dance UK will also host a series of workshops throughout the afternoon from 12noon – 4pm, continuing the inclusive and interactive feel that the live festival offers, and the workshop sessions that would usually be available across the weekend.
The night before the virtual festival, Sadler’s Wells Facebook Premieres will also share highlights from Breakin’ Convention and Jazz re:freshed’s memorable collaboration from the 2018 festival, screened live on the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page on Friday May 1 at 7.30pm.
Two further online events warm up audiences before the festival weekend. On Sunday April 26, Breakin’ Convention’s annual Park Jam, a day of outdoor hip-hop fun, would normally take place in Islington’s Spa Fields Park. This year, Breakin’ Convention will share content from previous Park Jams across its social media platforms and is conducting a callout for previous attendees to contribute filmed clips, creating a collage of collaboration and bringing this welcoming day into audiences’ homes.
On Wednesday April 29, International Dance Day, Breakin’ Convention partners with One Dance UK to offer a Hip hop Conditioning & Safe Practice workshop for dancers, led by Nefeli Tsiouti of Project Breakalign.
Jonzi D says, “Isolating but not isolated! We still connect, and we’re still creative. Social ‘diss’ dancing will attract attention. So let’s start Breakin’ Convention.”
For further details about each online event and the artists taking part, visit www.breakinconvention.com.