Global Festival
APOLLO THEATER PRESENTS
Breakin’ Convention
A Sadler’s Wells London project
An International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre
Curated and hosted by Jonzi D
Guest host MC Lyte
June 13-16, 2013
U.S. PREMIERE!
The Apollo Theater will launch its first global festival in June 2013 with the North American premiere of Breakin’ Convention –a hip-hop dance theatre festival produced annually by UK based, Sadler’s Wells. Hip Hop, which began as a distinctly American artform, in Bronx, NY, has extended its roots around the globe. This spring, the Apollo Theater and Sadler Wells celebrate the global hip hop dance theatre culture with this four-day festival.
Since its inception, Breakin’ Convention has been under the artistic direction of internationally acclaimed playwright and dancer, Jonzi D. Breakin’ Convention has expanded its activity to include tours across the UK. The Apollo festival will be its first outside England and the festival's 10th anniversary.
The Apollo’s four-day festival will include individual dance artists and companies from across the globe. Confirmed artists and projects include: Jonzi D as well as contemporary artists, such as Compagnie Sébastien Ramirez (Germany/France),ensemble Boy Blue Entertainment (UK), Rennie Harris Puremovement (Philadelphia/US), Decadancetheatre (NYC/US), FootworKINGz (Chicago/US), NextLevelSquad (NYC/US), soloists Frank Ejara (Brazil) and Jane Sekonya (South Africa/UK), the world’s best b-boys from Korea, Project Soul Collective, with local favorites: Ephrat Asherie Dance, Dynamic Rockers, In Da Clutch Dance Crew, and The Wondertwins.
THURSDAY, JUNE 13
Apollo Presents: Breakin’ Convention Panel Discussion
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
June 13, 2013 at 7PM
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Langston Hughes Auditorium
The Apollo in collaboration with the Schomburg Center will kick off the Breakin’ Convention festival with a panel discussion featuring hip hop dance legends and participating festival artists. The discussion, led by Breakin’ Convention’s artist director, Jonzi D and moderated by Kamilah Forbes, will explore the art form’s evolution from hip hop dance, originated in the Bronx in the late 1970s, to hip hop dance theatre’s development and global expansion.
Panelists include: Jonzi D, Michele Byrd-McPhee, Jorge "Fabel" Pabon, and Dr. Rennie Harris. Moderated by Kamilah Forbes.
Free to the public. Click here to learn more.
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Uptown Gets Down
June 14, 2013 at 5PM
Under the Apollo Marquee and throughout the Theater
The Apollo will come alive with hip hop dance beginning at 5pm! The Apollo in collaboration with Dancing in the Streets present a dance installation and choreographed by Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, Valerie “Ms. Vee” Ho, Yuko “Uko Snowbunny” Tanaka, and Gus Solomons jr. Come down to dance, check out special performances by renowned b-boy crew, the Dynamic Rockers, live graffiti art by PART ONE and SHAME 125 and jam to DJ Trauma.
Free to the public.* Grab your dance shoes and bring a friend!
*All outdoor activities are free and open to the public. Activities inside the Apollo Theater require tickets to that evening's Mainstage performance unless otherwise specified.
Breakin’ Convention: Opening Night
June 14, 2013 at 7PM
Apollo Mainstage
Host and Breakin' Convention Curator Jonzi D officially opens the festival weekend with a salute to iconic hip hop dancers during the Opening Night event.
The event will honor hip hop dancers Jorge "Fabel" Pabon, Ken Swift and Caleaf Sellers and features a screening of the compilation film "These Are The Breaks" produced by H20 films highlighting the history and evolution of hip hop dance.
Special performances also by Kenrick "H20" Sandy (UK) and a freestyle dance extravaganza led by b-boy crew, Dynamic Rockers.
Tickets: $15 / Youth Tickets: $10
(Ages 25+ under, must show ID and purchase at Box Office only).
Group Tickets and Two-Day Packages also available at discounted rates.
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Family Hip Hop Dance Workshop with Full Circle Soul
June 15, 2013 at 12 Noon
Apollo Soundstage
The Apollo Education Department presents this workshop for the entire family. Join New York’s own Full Circle Soul as they lead this dance workshop featuring such classic Hip Hop moves as popping, locking, uprock, and breakdancing.
This workshop is appropriate for ages 5 and over. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Space for this activity is limited and pre-registration is strongly suggested.
Free to the public. Space is limited; registration strongly recommended.
June 15, 2013 at 5PM
Under the Apollo Marquee and throughout the Theater
The Apollo will come alive with hip hop dance beginning at 5pm! The Apollo in collaboration with Dancing in the Streets present a dance installation and choreographed by Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, Valerie “Ms. Vee” Ho, Yuko “Uko Snowbunny” Tanaka, and Gus Solomons jr. Come down to dance, check out special performances by renowned b-boy crew, Dynamic Rockers, live graffiti art by PART ONE and SHAME 125 and jam to DJ Trauma.
Free to the public.* Grab your dance shoes and bring a friend!
*All outdoor activities are free and open to the public. Activities inside the Theater require tickets to that evening's Mainstage performance unless otherwise specified.
Freestyle Funk Forum
June 15, 2013 at 5PM
Apollo Soundstage
The spirit behind hip hop dance is one of rhythmic talent and improvisational skill. Audiences will experience that spirit each day on the Apollo Soundstage during the Freestyle Funk Forum. Featuring improvised performances by James “Cricket” Colter, founding member of Rennie Harris Puremovement, Soweto Kinch and DJ DP One. No two performances will be the same. It’s freestyling at its finest! Each show will last 15 minutes after which the audience will be led out of the space and a new audience will be led in.
Admission is free for those with a ticket to the June 15th Mainstage performance.
Breakin’ Convention: Mainstage Performance (Day 1)
June 15, 2013 at 7PM
Apollo Mainstage
Hosted by Jonzi D and MC Lyte
Featuring performances by Jonzi D (UK), Storyboard P (Brooklyn/US), Compagnie Sébastien Ramirez (Germany/France), ensemble Boy Blue Entertainment (UK) , Rennie Harris Puremovement (Philadelphia/US), Ephrat Asherie Dance (NY/US), FootworKINGz (Chicago/US), soloists Frank Ejara (Brazil), the world’s best b-boys from Korea, Project Soul Collective.
Tickets: $15, $25, $38 / Youth Tickets: $10
(Ages 25+ under, must show ID and purchase at Box Office only).
Group Tickets and Two-Day Packages also available at discounted rates.
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Family Hip Hop Dance Workshop with Full Circle Soul
June 16, 2013 at 12 Noon
Apollo Soundstage
The Apollo Education Department presents this workshop for the entire family. Join New York’s own Full Circle Soul as they lead this workshop for families featuring such classic Hip Hop moves as popping, locking, uprock, and breakdancing.
This workshop is appropriate for ages 5 and over. Children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Space for this activity is limited and pre-registration is strongly suggested.
Free to the public. Space is limited; registration strongly recommended.
Uptown Gets Down
June 16, 2013 at 5PM
Under the Apollo Marquee
The Apollo will come alive with hip hop dance beginning at 5pm! The Apollo in collaboration with Dancing in the Streets present a dance installation and choreographed by Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie, Valerie “Ms. Vee” Ho, Yuko “Uko Snowbunny” Tanaka, and Gus Solomons jr. Come down to dance, check out special performances by renowned b-boy crew, Dynamic Rockers, live graffiti art by PART ONE and SHAME 125 and jam to DJ Trauma.
Free to the public.* Grab your dance shoes and bring a friend!
*All outdoor activities are free and open to the public. Activities inside the Theater require tickets for that evening's Mainstage performance unless otherwise specified.
Freestyle Funk Forum
June 16, 2013 at 5PM
Apollo Soundstage
The spirit behind hip hop dance is one of rhythmic talent and improvisational skill. Audiences will experience that spirit each day on the Apollo Soundstage during the Freestyle Funk Forum. Featuring improvised performances by James “Cricket” Colter, founding member of Rennie Harris Puremovement, Soweto Kinch and DJ DP One. No two performances will be the same. It’s freestyling at its finest! Each show will last 15 minutes after which the audience will be led out of the space and a new audience will be led in.
Admission is free for those with a ticket to the June 16th Mainstage performance.
Breakin’ Convention: Mainstage Performance (Day 2)
June 16, 2013 at 7PM
Apollo Mainstage
Hosted by Jonzi D and MC Lyte
Scheduled to appear:
Featuring performances by Jane Sekonya (South Africa/UK) , Decadancetheatre (NY/US), NextLevelSquad (NY/US), Compagnie Sébastien Ramirez (Germany/France), ensemble Boy Blue Entertainment (UK) , In Da Clutch Crew (NJ/US), The Wondertwins (MA/US) soloists Frank Ejara (Brazil) and and the world’s best b-boys from Korea, Project Soul Collective.
Tickets: $15, $25, $38 / Youth Tickets: $10
(Ages 25+ under, must show ID and purchase at Box Office only).
Group Tickets and Two-Day Packages also available at discounted rates.
Tickets
Breakin' Convention is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Breakin’ Convention is sponsored by Time Warner Inc. and EmblemHealth.
Generous support also provided by the Ford Foundation Fund for Global Programs.
Aloft Harlem is the Apollo's preferred hotel for Breakin' Convention.
