Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, in association with Luminato, is very pleased to present the Canadian premiere of the acclaimed Sadler’s Wells project, Breakin’ Convention June 23-25, 2017. Today marks the highly anticipated announcement of the local acts participating in the festival.
Curated and hosted by UK hip hop pioneer Jonzi D, Breakin’ Convention is an awe-inspiring weekend of exceptional performances from world champion b-boy and b-girl crews to cutting edge street dance companies. Joining Jonzi D, will be Toronto’s local rep Judi Lopez. The two have most recently collaborated on Open Art Surgery at Toronto’s Harbourfront.
Headline programming includes two evening main stage performances featuring some of Canada’s best hip hop companies (listed below) performing alongside renowned international acts on the Sony Centre stage.
Local Acts:
Footnotes have been training in Toronto for the past three years. Specializing in different street and funk dance styles they are now ready to share their talent on stage.
JHHA Performance Company, is one of the most sought after Youth Performance Companies in Canada. This one of kind company helmed by award-winning choreographer Jade Jager Clark is composed of passionate young dancers ages 8-20 skilled in hip hop, popping, locking, breaking, house and krump. They perform for a variety of North America’s biggest companies, organizations and events including the NBA, WE Day, and the Pan Am/Para Pan Am Games. JHHA Performance Company has also been featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and continues to thrill audiences worldwide.
Involuntary Movement was formed with the interest in evolving the locking style and narrative dance. Lady C, Kosi and Pyro were all members of the Canadian Keep On Dancing street dance world cup finals team in 2016 for locking. In 2015 Lady C won the locking category at Bust-A-Move street dance battle in Montréal and Kosi recently won On Point Montréal - Canada’s biggest locking-only battle.
The Moon Runners Dance Crew who specialize in tutting and also have skills in animation, b-boying, popping, and robotics, have won numerous awards including 1st Place at the Beat Down Dance Competition (2011), People’s Choice at the Floor Awards (2013), and most recently were awarded 1st Place at Hip Hop International in Montréal (2015).
Tense Image is a street dance crew expressing movements through styles such as popping, boogaloo, and animation. Founded in 2008, the crew is a collective of trained individual dancers from Toronto and Japan. When united, their ambition is to strongly represent the funk styles of dance and to positively impact the viewer's eyes with the-state-of-the-art performances.
The Surgeons are an eclectic group of Canadian based hip hop artists trained in all styles of the dance including breaking, hip hop, popping, house, and locking. They came together after their participation in Open Art Surgery in Toronto, and through exploring the art of hip hop theatre. These artists have individually trained and have further manifested their talents through collaboration and performance. They look forward to working together again in preparation for Breakin’ Convention Toronto. In addition to the The Cypher performance that the entire crew will be performing, Gomo and Anyo of The Surgeons will also be performing a piece called Possibilities. Both The Cypher and Possibilities were developed during Open Art Surgery at Harbourfront in March 2017.
Previously announced international acts include award-winning b-boy squad Just Dance (South Korea) led by B-Boy Ducky, Soweto Skeleton Movers (South Africa) showcasing pantsula dance developed by Soweto Skeleton Mover pioneer Jabulani, and BirdGang Dance Company (UK) performing a powerful piece of filmic hip hop dance theatre from British choreographer and performer Ukweli Roach.
National acts include Juxtapose led by versatile choreographer Saxon Fraser, LockUnity a diverse collective of lockers who have opened for Arcade Fire, dance duo RoyaLazyness who are united through crutch-power, and Tentacle Tribe who recently wowed the crowds at Breakin’ Convention in London earlier this month.
Pre-show and during intermission on June 23rd and 24th, the Sony Centre lobbies and surrounding areas will be transformed with DJs, graffiti exhibits, free-style dance jams, and workshops from top international and local artists creating an atmosphere of celebration from the moment people arrive.
The third day of the festival takes things back to the roots of the culture with a free outdoor “Park Jam” at David Pecaut Square. This day of public activity (1pm-6pm) sees dance artists joined by DJs, beat boxers, and graffiti artists in a funk-filled, open-air dance, music and art extravaganza for the whole family. Confirmed programming includes the dynamic duo of DJ Riccachet and DJ Thera-P also known as Sweet Touch, popular neo-soul, funk, hip hop band re.verse, a forum discussion moderated by Jon Drops Reid, and a Freestyle Funk Forum hosted by Jonzi D in the famously beautiful Speigeltent.
There will be additional exciting announcements to follow regarding the lobby activations at the Sony Centre during the Breakin’ Convention performances as well as content of the Park Jam at David Pecaut Square.
Mark Hammond, CEO and Director of Programming Sony Centre for the Performing Arts is excited that the time has finally come for Breakin’ Convention to touch down in Toronto. “I think it is an ideal hip hop dance festival for Toronto because the scene here is so big and vibrant. It is perfect for the Sony Centre as we are constantly trying to break down social walls, and engage our artists and audiences. The theatre is very proud to present Breakin’ Convention in association with Luminato – three partners collaborating in the presentation of great art for great audiences.”
“An inspirational event that brings together international and local artists to perform, exchange ideas and to entertain their audiences, Breakin’ Convention is a festival within a festival. I am delighted that the partnership between Luminato and the Sony Centre makes it possible to bring this phenomenally successful international dance event to Toronto for the first time,” said Josephine Ridge, Luminato’s Artistic Director.
ABOUT BREAKIN’ CONVENTION
Breakin’ Convention is committed to celebrating, elevating and supporting hip hop dance theatre. Spearheaded by Jonzi D, the company works with the most respected, innovative and inspirational hip hop artists in the industry. Through its eponymous world-renowned annual international festival, professional development, youth projects and educational programme, Breakin’ Convention seeks to position hip hop dance alongside more historically established art forms. Breakin’ Convention is a Sadler’s Wells Project and Jonzi D, an Associate Artist, is based at the theatre.
ABOUT SADLER’S WELLS
Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance house, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best international and UK dance to London and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding, the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 130 new dance works to the stage and its award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour internationally. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies, an Associate Company and three International Associate Companies. It also nurtures the next generation of talent through research and development, running the National Youth Dance Company and a range of programmes including Wild Card, New Wave Associates, Open Art Surgery and Summer University.
Located in Islington, north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England.
ABOUT JONZI D
Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Jonzi D is the founder and Artistic Director of Jonzi D Projects and Breakin’ Convention. A dancer, spoken word artist and director, he is an advocate for hip hop and has changed the profile and influenced the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene over the last two decades. Jonzi D is a graduate from the London Contemporary Dance School and a former Associate Artist at The Place. He has toured his own work internationally and is regularly invited to judge international dance competitions.
Jonzi D devised and directed TAG... Just Writing My Name in 2006, IVAN in 2006 and Markus the Sadist, a rap theatre piece in 2009. All pieces successfully toured the UK to critical acclaim. He has also devised, choreographed and featured in various hip hop inspired fashion shows.
Jonzi D performed The Letter at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe and also featured on TEDx Warwick and spoke at the European Commission forum on creativity and diversity. In 2016 Jonzi D performed at Breakin’ Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
ABOUT JUDI LOPEZ
Judi Lopez is the founder and Project director of KeepRockinYou. She has actively been involved in the Hip Hop Culture and dancing since the early 2000's. Since returning to Toronto from South Korea and the UK, Judi has been committed to the development of the B-girl community by starting the project The Toronto B-girl Movement in 2012. Judi has danced for Rihanna and was a featured character in the “Lost Girl” Canadian series. Although still a student to the craft, Judi is grateful for all the lessons learned, thankful for all the opportunities given, and blessed to have the opportunity to teach others not only the art but also the knowledge.
About the Presenters:
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto’s first Performing Arts Centre, has played a defining role in the cultural life of Toronto for more than 50 years. Today, the Sony Centre is home to a roster of national and international artists that reflect the diversity and sophistication of 21st century Toronto. In addition, the Sony Centre is dedicated to developing Toronto’s younger audiences through family programming, workshops targeted towards school-aged audiences, an under-30 membership program, and other community initiatives. www.sonycentre.ca.
Luminato is Toronto’s international multi-arts, multi-platform festival dedicated to performance, visual art, music, theatre, dance, and programming that cuts across traditional art form boundaries. The 2017 festival runs June 14 to 25, launching Luminato’s second decade. In its first decade, Luminato has become one of the preeminent international arts festivals in North America, having commissioned close to 100 new works of art, with more than 3,000 performances featuring 11,000 artists from over 40 countries.
Curated by Artistic Director Josephine Ridge and led by CEO Anthony Sargent CBE, Luminato is a charitable, not-for-profit, globally connected cultural organization proudly based in Toronto. www.luminato.com
Special thanks:
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada with special funding and support from the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and Celebrate Ontario.
The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in association with Luminato present
Breakin’ Convention
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts – 1 Front Street East
Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 – doors open at 5pm and show begins at 7:30pm
Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. Additional service charges may apply.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Sony Centre Box Office,
Over the phone at 1-855-872-SONY (7669) or online at www.sonycentre.ca
Breakin’ Convention Park Jam
Sunday, June 25, 1pm – 6pm – David Pecaut Square
Tickets not required – this is a free event!
2017-05-12
Toronto: Local acts announced for "Breakin' Convention" June 23-25