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Education

Raising the awareness of real hip hop

Whether you are an aspiring young artist, seasoned professional, school teacher or choreographer we have opportunities for you to get involved with. Breakin’ Convention offers year-round opportunities to engage in Hip Hop. This is the place for you to see what we’ve got for you! From professional development to workshops, youth projects, educational packages and outreach, we are committed to celebrating, creating and cultivating Hip Hop culture.

For booking and enquiries

Email

education@breakinconvention.com

Phone

0207 863 8214

Free Youth Projects

 
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Inspiring a new generation

Breakin' Convention has a range of youth projects for young people to engage with.

To learn more or to arrange a course contact:

shay@breakinconvention.com

Breakin’ Convention also offers a range of activities in schools and PRUs. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch.

Current projects

Future Elements

A four day long workshop bringing together young people aged 11-14 to learn new skills and explore their talents. These aspiring dancers, MCs, graffiti artists and music producers work intensively with professional hip hop artists to write lyrics, produce music, choreograph routines, create artwork and shoot a music video, before its shown to the public at their very own film night. 

Dance Classes

In the lead-up to opening Academy Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells East, Breakin’ Convention is offering opportunities for beginner to intermediate dancers 12 - 19 years old, starting 26 April 2024. Develop your skills, perform and train up your foundations while learning choreography.

Bring the Drama

Bring the Drama is a free weekly project for young people interested in learning how to create a hip hop theatre show.

Led by Debris Stevenson and Steve Macaulay, participants will create a performance that will be performed at Spotlight Youth Hub in Langdon Park

Back to Basics

A four week introductory course to music and audio production for 16-19 year olds at Pirate Studios.

The course is for beginners who want to learn how to start and develop their skills in podcasting and radio show production, music production, DJing and rap.

Check out our past projects:

Out The Box

A creative producers course over 12 weeks, Out The Box is an opportunity for 15 young people to collaborate to produce anything they want, whether a film, festival or fashion show. Everyone’s ideas are brought together in the first session, after which everyone’s roles are decided, from who produces to who provides the props in what could end up being a blockbusting film or a revolutionary concept album - it’s up to the participants to dream, decide, and collaborate!

Back in the Booth

A two-day challenge for aspiring rappers and vocalists: Lay down a track with active industry lyricists and producers and see it made into a professionally mastered song.

 
 

Starting from Scratch

Young people take part in a four month long hip hop youth theatre project to create their own work. Guided by professional dancers, rappers and theatre creators they develop a whole production. Their work will then be showcased at Breakin' Convention's international festival of hip hop theatre.

Graffical

A two day workshop exploring lyrics, song writing and art through hip hop and graffiti. Participants share their favourite lyrics, exploring their meanings and learning the lasting social effects of music, before creating their own to uplift the local community. They then work with graffiti artists to create giant murals showcasing their work for the public.

Future Elements

A four day-long workshop bringing together young people aged 11-14 to learn new skills and explore their talents culminating in the creation of a music video they devise - no previous experience required!

Young aspiring dancers, MCs, graffiti artists and music producers work intensively with professional hip hop artists to write lyrics, produce music, choreograph routines, create artwork and shoot their very own music video, before it’s shown to the public at their very own film night. 

 

Essential info

When does it take place?

Each February, 11am-5pm. The creation of the video takes place during the February half-term, where the video is planned, dances choreographed, lyrics written, beats made, and filmed. The Future Elements performance night takes place after.

What else do I get?

A free ticket to the premiere of the music video at Future Elements Night at Sadler’s Wells. You also get a free ticket to the international festival of hip hop theatre, Breakin’ Convention, in May.

How much does it cost?

Participation is FREE.

What’s the catch?

There is no catch – but you must be able to commit to all dates of the project. Spaces are limited, so sign up early to avoid disappointment. Future Elements is open to UK applicants only.

 
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Professional Development

 
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The evolution of hip hop theatre

One of Breakin’ Convention’s key priorities is supporting professional hip hop artists.  We are extremely passionate about providing opportunities and platforms for artists to learn, experiment and develop from.  We have several initiatives that you can engage in to progress as a dancer, performer, choreographer or theatre maker.

To learn more or to arrange a course contact:

michelle@breakinconvention.com

 

Open Art Surgery

Open Art Surgery is a one week development course for hip hop theatre artists and companies. Working alongside cutting edge mentors to create new work to be performed in front of a live audience.

Back To The Lab

Back To The Lab is a two week intensive course for experienced choreographers to explore new ways of approaching the creation of new work culminating in the development of a new piece performed in front of a live audience.

Higher Learning

Higher Learning is a hip hop theatre education and development programme committed to the development of the genre. Lead by a range of industry specialists through intensive workshops, courses and educational days.

 

Higher Learning

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Higher Learning is a hip hop theatre education and development programme committed to the development of the genre. Lead by a range of industry specialists through intensive workshops, courses and educational days. With each iteration focusing on a different aspect, they offer the chance for any artist or independent company to spend time reflecting on their practices, looking at practical self-improvement and building up a strong foundation to help take their work to the next level.

Some of the aspects they've previously focused on have included:

Getting Technical: Look at how to approach working with a technical team, prepare for technical rehearsals and create lighting plans. Learn essential terminology, how to deal with technical limitations and explore the possibilities of lighting to enhance your work.

Self-Reflection and Empowerment: Take a look inside and gain a deeper sense of self-awareness, looking towards future goals and room for growth. Take part in a unique blend of thought provoking exercises fusing drama and movement with discussion and listening exercises.

What's Your Story: Take an in depth look at dramatic composition as you learn how dramaturgy can help you question and analyse your work. Learn approaches to help step outside the work to examine story, characters and theatricality to help shape your productions.

Handling Your Business: Learn the basics of turning your craft into a business from registering a company, seeking funding, planning marketing, approaching branding and developing relationships through networking.
 

If you would like to learn more about Higher Learning or how we can create a bespoke workshop or course for your company please email michelle@breakinconvention.com

 

Open Art Surgery

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Hip hop theatre dissected, examined and put under the microscope

If you're interested in taking part or running an Open Art Surgery at your venue please contact michelle@breakinconvention.com

Open Art Surgery is about breaking down the fourth wall and showcasing raw talent and new work.

It offers hip hop theatre companies and performers, from dancers and musicians to emcees and visual artists, the opportunity to develop and experiment with new ideas, share new work publicly and receive mentorship from experienced hip hop theatre creators like Jonzi D.

Participants spend one week workshopping and devising with mentors on hand to inspire, advise and offer support. With no pressure on an end product, Open Art Surgery allows artists to take creative risks, try something different or to test ideas.

At the end of the week, participants share and discuss their work with a live performance hosted by Jonzi D. Taking place in an intimate theatre space, Jonzi invites the audience to question and critique the brand new work shown, giving audience members the opportunity to get inside the minds of the artists, and giving artists themselves the unique opportunity to question their audience.

Work that has appeared at Open Art Surgery has gone on to be performed at The Place, Just Jam, Edinburgh Fringe and Breakin' Convention's international touring.

Spaces for Open Art Surgery are ongoing, with two taking place at Sadler’s Wells in London in March and September. If you’re interested in taking part in one to develop your craft, get in touch with us. Supplementary regional Open Art Surgery make take place throughout the year.

 
 

Back To The Lab

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Back To The Lab offers established hip hop choreographers the chance to learn and create under the mentorship of hip hop theatre heavyweights over two exciting weeks of workshops, experimentation and devising, culminating in a live performance and discussion.

Aimed at experienced choreographers, the course is designed at exploring new ways of approaching choreography, direction and staging. Providing the means to approach your work from fresh and new angles without losing the essence of what you do.

Split over two weeks, participants spend the first week workshopping a variety of choreographic methods, through both practical and discussion-based lessons. They'll be challenged to try and work in different ways and gain new choreographic tools. During the second week they will put into practise their new-found knowledge and devise a new work before presenting and discussing their work with a live audience.

As part of the course participants will also attend various dance productions and discuss the merits of each show.

Back To The Lab aims to give a high quality training opportunity for hip hop choreographers who are keen to expand their choreographic skill base.
 

If you'd like to know when Back To The Lab is taking place sign up to our newsletter below and if you're interested in running Back To The Lab at your venue please contact michelle@breakinconvention.com

 
 
 
 

Partner Projects

 
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Creating unique experiences

We create events and courses to meet any partners needs from hip hop workshops for the elderly, courses for SEN schools or combining hip hop skills with science to engage young people.

To learn more about the projects we've created and how our expertise and support could help your project please contact:
education@breakinconvention.com