Calling all B-Boys and B-Girls! The largest Hip-Hop festival, Breakin’ Convention, lands at Norwich Theatre Royal on Sat 27 May and will feature jaw-dropping performances from international acts and local crews from around our region.
On the day of the festival, there will be a host of free events and activities that the whole family can enjoy. Experience graffiti artistry with the Showcase Painting Session outside the Norwich Theatre Royal building. Watch the graffiti wall explode with colour and energy as the design evolves throughout the day.
Be inspired by street artists with the Stencil Workshop with your own two-layer stencil. At the Design Station, add your flair to custom design graffiti. All materials are provided for these sessions. All you need to bring inspiration.
Don’t miss the Localism exhibition exploring Norwich’s relationship with Hip-Hop culture, presenting snapshots from the subcultures of Hip Hop and Graffiti Writing in Norwich.
With a live hip-hop DJ pumping the tunes, you may be tempted to bust a move and then head to the Cypher! A cypher is when B-boys and B-girls form a circle and, one after another, enter into the middle and dance. Feeling brave? Step into our very own Cypher, or stand back and admire the skills of talented local breakers.
If that’s got your appetite up, head outside and join the party at Norwich Theatre’s BBQ! Our Prelude restaurant Head Chef will be serving burgers and sausages as well as his favourite Cubanos.
Sam Beal, Creative Engagement Officer at Norwich Theatre, said: “Expect an event like no other! Breakin Convention is a celebration of hip hop culture at Norwich Theatre. The festival is an exciting, high-octane display of hip-hop dance from local and international acts alongside some amazing free activities including live graffiti and street dance demonstrations and workshops to immerse yourself in the culture.”
Local crews include: Fly No Filter, a Cambridge-based crew who are extending the boundaries of B-boyin as an art form; LEGACY Dance Company, an all-male youth dance troupe; and Norwich’s own Garage Friday Crew, and Parallel Dance Studios will all also be taking part.
Join the local acts. Norwich Theatre Royal will host three exceptional international acts, Ghetto Funk Collective, Yvonne Smink and MOVER, who have all been chosen by Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D.
Ghetto Funk will perform It’s on the One, with the dancers taking the audience on a journey that pays homage to funk’s rich cultural heritage while infusing it with a fresh modern take. Yvonne Smink will bring her breathtaking, gravity-defying signature style to Norwich Theatre Royal. MOVER from South Korea will perform a piece titled Merry-Go-Round, referring to a DJing technique in hip-hop that repeats the interlude or break of a song.
Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D said: “20 years strong! We started big. We grew. 20 years later, we’ve become the most globally recognised brand in hip-hop dance theatre. We will spread the flava across the UK with our national tour! We’ll present world-class crews from the Netherlands and Korea and local dance crews.”
Book now!