Meet The Breakin’ Convention Team
Breakin' Convention's work is made possible thanks to a unique and dedicated team of talented people whose backgrounds and expertise continue to push frontiers and further the future of hip hop theatre in the UK and beyond. We might be a small team, but we are mighty!
Jonzi D
Artistic Director
Artistic Director Jonzi D is the founder, ambassador, mentor, host and driving force behind Breakin' Convention.
He shapes every aspect of our work with his creative input, from curating our festival and events to steering our education and professional development programmes.
Michelle Norton
Director of Breakin’ Convention
Michelle’s career at Breakin’ Convention began at the very first edition in 2004. With a background in performance and arts management, Michelle progressed from Festival Volunteer to Projects Coordinator, to her current role as Director - leading the organisation. Michelle is the embodiment of Breakin’ Convention, having worked the festival inside and out from its genesis.
michelle@breakinconvention.com
Contact Michelle for:
Productions
Collaborations
London festival
Artist performance enquiries
Emma Ponsford
Producer
Another stalwart of Breakin’ Convention, Emma has been here since the beginnings of Breakin’ Convention, working as General Manager until 2015. Since then, she has worked remotely from Northumberland and is responsible for Breakin’ Convention’s ever expanding programme of national and international projects, from festivals to localised artist support, bringing this incredible festival to a city near you.
Contact Emma for:
National and international festival enquiries
Emily Labhart
Programme Manager
Emily Labhart is a freelance Creative Producer who has worked in the cultural sector, commissioning & co-producing creative work across the UK, for 10+ years.
Emily has a strong network & credibility within the industry. From producing large-scale outdoor festivals, to international Hip Hop events, right through to bespoke projects with artists specialising in Dance of the African Diaspora – Emily works collaboratively with artists to take great projects to the next level.
Developing relationships based on genuine care and shared beliefs, Emily’s portfolio includes: Birmingham International Dance Festival, Fiya House, Julia Cheng / House of Absolute, O’Driscoll Collective, Brooke Milliner / When Time Was New, Immediate Live and Dancehall Origins.
Kim Chi Le
Assistant Producer
Kim Chi trained in hip hop styles in Finland and contemporary dance at Trinity Laban as well as a background in arts management who is passionate about supporting artists and the community. She has over a decade of experience in teaching dance and have coached Finnish hip hop crews for Finnish National Championships and played a pivotal role in bringing Open Your Mind Festival to the UK (world’s leading experimental festival), as part of the London team as an Assistant Producer.
Beyond Breakin’ Convention, Kim Chi has an interest in photography and film-making, performing and teaching dance, and recently, computer programming.
Niquelle LaTouche
Head of Academy Breakin’ Convention
Niquelle is an artist-educator invested in creating spaces of creative collaboration and togetherness. She is the founder of Niquelle LaTouche Arts (2014) and It Takes a Village Collective (2020) which are hubs for empathy building, challenging normative ideas and encouraging proactive social change.
Niquelle is a trained fine artist, experienced poet and choreographer and an English specialist spanning supplementary, language schools and mainstream secondary education. She is an advocate for cross-disciplinary practice and champions the development of pedagogy, curriculum, and more inclusive and equitable resources which empowers, raises attainment and shifts cultures. As the Head of Academy Breakin’ Convention, Niquelle is excited to guide a new generation of polymaths to understand the importance of care, equip them with skills to make undeniable art and make students aware of their responsibility as future leaders. academy@breakinconvention.com
Shay Rafati
Learning Projects Manager
Shay D is a rapper, poet and event promoter who has been providing a platform for artist for over a decade. Working with the leading practitioners in the field of hip hop education, Shay is at the forefront of Breakin’ Convention’s push for developing the confidence and skills of young people and accrediting hip hop theatre as a recognised qualification, working towards our hip hop academy.
As an artist, Shay D champions women in music and works actively in balancing out the female voice in rap music.
Mareih Belocura
Breakin' Convention Trainee
Mareih is a recent graduate of the University of East London, where she earned a BA in Urban Dance. With a passion for hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet, she thrives on the energy of performance and the joy of teaching. Mareih has showcased her skills in various productions, where she loves to blend styles and tell stories through movement.
Outside the stage, she enjoys working with youth groups in London and Brighton, sharing her knowledge of dance and inspiring the next generation of artists. As a Breakin' Convention Trainee, Mareih is eager to dive deeper into dance production and explore creative ways to connect with audiences. She believes that dance is not just a form of expression but a powerful tool for community building and personal growth.