Returning for another year this bank holiday weekend, the UK’s biggest celebration of hip hop culture returns with a fresh line up of inventive, creative and innovative dance works. On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May, dance collectives from across the globe will continue on with the Breakin’ Convention tradition of igniting imaginations whilst pushing the culture forward. Talented South London originated collective Gully South Block forms part of Saturday’s roster at Sadler’s Wells, this performance marking their second appearance at the festival – a testament to their skillset and determination, especially in their pursuit to highlight the powerful dance style of krump. Ahead of their performance, Chaquille tells us more about the concepts explored within their dance work, utilising the collectives skillsets to choreograph works and what the audience can expect!

Hi Chaquille, you’ll be taking part in this year’s Breakin’ Convention on Saturday 4th May, taking place at Sadler’s Wells, How are you feeling ahead of the event?

Hi, I am feeling very excited ahead of the event as this will be our second time performing at Breakin’ Convention. Myself and the team are grateful to be given the opportunity to showcase our art for the second time at a major festival.

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Rewind to 2004 and the likes of Kanye West, Terror Squad, and T.I were dominating the airwaves. A once disregarded musical form, hip hop was now at the pinnacle of global success; it’s  a crucial component of popular culture. Hip hop’s influence is no doubt evident within the fields of music and dance, however the movement continues to fuel multiple facets such as art and fashion. 2004 would also be the year that Jonzi D, a key figure in the movement of Hip Hop Theatre within the UK, would curate a weekend packed full of workshops and performances that 15 years later would still inspire many.

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What is meant by the term Hip Hop Theatre? The genre can be described as telling a contemporary story via one or more of the 5 Hip Hop elements. These are: Rap, Djing, B-boying, MCing and Graffiti art. A music movement brought to life by the legendary Kool Herc in the 70s, the genre has recently enjoyed mainstream success and is vastly becoming a theatrical genre to be reckoned with. From Lin Manuel Miranda‘s record breaking Hamilton, to Kate Prince‘s award winning Hip Hop theatre company Zoonation, read on to see how this Bronx based genre became a worldwide movement.

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What is meant by the term Hip Hop? I’m sure many will attribute the term to a style of music, and that in part would be correct. However, Hip Hop embodies so much more than that. Born in the late 70s in the Bronx, Hip Hop gripped the imaginations of many, spawning a culture that would initially begin underground, but would grip the world decades later. Consisting of 4 strands which are: B-boying, Dj-ing, Graffiti artistry and Mc-ing, the art form synonymous with the states has taken over the world, with Hip Hop references 2nd nature in many a music video!

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This is a true story, a verbatim piece if you like. A story through the eyes of Jonzi D, that detects the conflict arising from an important letter that comes through the post, this letter can effectively change Jonzi D’s life; could it potentially be a possibility for growth? Or a label that dooms a change for the worst?

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If you switch over to any of the numerous amount of music channels we find ourselves spoilt for choice with, what styles of dance are you most likely to see? Tutting? Whacking? Popping? Locking? Culturally we’ve shifted from the Jazz and balletic routines of the 60s, 70s and 80s and have embraced ‘street dance’ culture, an umbrella term for a range of dances inspired by the emergence of Hip Hop in the late 70s.

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