Academy Breakin’ Convention

Hip Hop Education at Sadler's Wells East

Academy Breakin’ Convention (ABC) is the UK’s first free Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performance and Production Arts specific to Hip Hop Theatre for 16 – 19 year olds. The course fills a gap in professional pathways for new artists who have a passion for hip hop culture, want to work in the creative industries and gain a formal qualification. 

ABC offers young people of all backgrounds an exciting and inclusive approach to education which centres the values of hip hop culture; peace, love, unity and having fun. The full-time course provides young creatives with the opportunity to have high-quality training in all areas of hip hop culture through a theatrical lens as well as develop as emerging professionals. Students will train intensively in performance elements (Hip Hop Social Dance, Popping, Breaking and Emceeing) and production elements (DJing, Graffiti and Music Production), developing transferable skills and networks for a lifelong career.  

Inspired by Breakin' Convention, ABC is one of the major initiatives at  Sadler’s Wells East, located at Sadler’s Wells recently developed fourth venue in East London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. The new space is part of East Bank, alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A. The site forms a new cultural hub for young creatives, presenting opportunities for collaboration and innovation between organisations and communities.  

FOR UPDATES ON ACADEMY BREAKIN’ CONVENTION, SIGN UP TO OUR EMAIL LIST BELOW

Why Academy Breakin’ Convention?

By Jonzi D, Artistic Director and Founder of Academy Breakin’ Convention

Hip hop culture has produced the fastest growing artistic movement on earth. Every country around the world with access to a TV has been part of this global shift since it was immortalised in celluloid. Films like Wildstyle, Beat Street and Breakdance the movie presented the cultures original artistic elements of DJing, breaking, popping, rapping and graffiti.

From the concrete battlefields of the Bronx, the spirit of conflict resolution gave birth to this movement. Gang violence was taking the lives of many young people in the late 60s early 70s. Cindy Campbell’s purpose was to organise parties with her brother DJ Kool Hercules for the youngsters in the neighbourhood, to save them from the threat of gang initiation.

Young people would battle with their skills instead of battling with knifes. The DJ would cut with his turntables. Dance became weaponised. Graffiti became a competitive way of showing creativity and bravery. Emcees would dissect an opponent with clever rhyming schemes. And as iron sharpens iron, the technical level of hip hops artistry has risen to superhuman levels.

Over the decades, hip hop has spread across the world and has influenced culture everywhere. From its humble beginnings in apartheid America, where black and brown communities developed the artistic ethos of the form, hip hop has become a major part of the artistic establishment.

In the UK, mainstream TV dance competitions have seen the likes of Flawless and Diversity become household names. BRIT winners Stormzy and Dave have headlined Glastonbury, and collaborated with classical orchestras. Many actors have roots in emceeing, from Will Smith, Mark Wahlberg and Queen Latifah, to Kano, Lady Leshurr and Ashley Thomas. Breaking, popping and Krump technique is shaping the future of contemporary dance. Award winning companies like Far from the Norm and Boy Blue Entertainment claim hip hop as their root. Graffiti art from UK based Banksy and Temper has been featured in galleries around the world. Hip hop music and rap is featured in advertising campaigns, TV idents and anything that requires targeting young people. Breaking is now officially part of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Hip hop is clearly an integral part of culture in society today. 

‘Each one, teach one’. Hip hop has thrived within a peer to peer teaching structure. It’s not quite self taught, although originality is one of the most important qualities of the culture. Once the foundation of the technique is shared, each artist must find their own pathway to greatness.

“We need to adapt our institutions to accommodate the everchanging artistic environment. We need to find new ways to embrace new forms. We need to redefine excellence. We need a Hip Hop Theatre Academy” – Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director