"Breakin'" Convention" at Sadlers Wells

“Breakin'” Convention” at Sadlers Wells

Peter Anderson
May 3, 2025

Founded, created and programmed by hip hop innovator Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention is the world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance theatre, held annually at Sadler’s Wells since 2004. Over its twenty-one years, it has become a global platform celebrating hip hop culture through dance, performance, and artistic expression. Featuring both UK and international artists, the festival honours hip hop’s roots while pushing creative boundaries, proving that the culture remains as relevant and multi-faceted as ever.

Across the weekend, Breakin’ Convention showcases an extensive range of UK hip hop talent throughout the festival, as well as international acts from France, The Netherlands, and beyond. Taking over the entirety of Sadler’s Wells in Angel, audiences are encouraged to join from 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. As always, there will be live DJ sessions from award winning mix masters, dance workshops, live graffiti, cyphers, freestyle sessions, and soul food to enjoy, as well as the performances in the theatre.

Alongside The Ruggeds, performing on the Saturday and Sunday of Breakin’ Convention is French choreographer Saïdo Lehlouh. Lehlouh is known for his work throughout the 2000s with the breaking group Bad Trip Crew, and now brings a bold, defiant piece to Breakin’ Convention. Danced as a collection of solos by a group of breakers who never leave the space, but also never dance in unison, the piece highlights individuality and solitude, and the importance of community.

Movement architects and leaders in UK hip hop Birdgang (pictured above) also join the line up at this year’s Breakin’ Convention. A dance company as well as an education hub, Birdgang was created in 2005 with a mission to rewrite stereotypes and the status quo. Birdgang was co-founded by Ivan Michael Blackstock, Ukweli Roach, and Simeon Qsyea.

Speaking of Birdgang, Simeon ‘Kardinal’ Campbell brings his work SADBOI (below) to Breakin’ Convention. Sim is a CODA (child of deaf adults) and SADBOI features embedded BSL, to welcome and speak directly to D/deaf audiences, celebrating the movement at the heart of D/deaf expression. Sim is a longstanding member of Birdgang, and SADBOI was developed through the company’s unique HATCHWORK residency scheme in 2022 and 2024. SADBOI will be performed during the hour interval in the Lilian Baylis Studio.

Returning to Breakin’ Convention is Chandenie Gobardhan. Born and raised in The Hague, The Netherlands, Chandenie began training in Indian dance at a young age and has performed works by artists such as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Blenard Azizaj and Ryan Djojokarso. In a dance style that spans Bharatnatyam, buhto and popping, Gobardhan has an innovative approach to movement which uses traditions from the East and from the West.

Also returning is the UK’s Keron Proverbs. Keron started his journey as a dancer in 2008, in a south London youth club in Clapham Junction. Known as a creator of dance collectives including Emotionz, Collective Ent and weGrowTogether, Keron has also worked with the likes of Stormzy, Kanye West, FKA Twigs, Misha B, and Chaka Khan. For full information on what’s on over the weekend, please check out the website.