Breakin' Convention Returns to Birmingham Hippodrome Tonight, 5/14

Breakin' Convention, the critically acclaimed international festival of hip hop dance theatre, returns to Birmingham Hippodrome with another line-up of jaw-dropping performances by companies from around the world.

International break-dance company, ILL-Abilities challenges the misconceptions about people with disabilities with a crew comprised of dancers with varying disabilities coming together in one outstanding performance. Direct from France and Korea, Clash 66 presents a sublime duet that challenges the conventions and preconceptions about hip hop dance theatre. Lastly, double bboy world champions, Vagabond Crew make their way across the channel from France to present their signature piece, Alien.

As well as artists from across the globe, audiences will have the chance to cheer on non-professional crews specially selected from auditions at the Hippodrome back in January. These crews, many of them coming from right here in the Midlands, will have the unique opportunity to tread the same boards as the internationally acclaimed artists.

Self taught all male crew, Antics were among the finalists in Sky’s Got to Dance. Humorous and exciting, Antics style of performance captured the nation and made them an instant hit with television audience. Home grown directly here in Birmingham, their performance on the Birmingham Hippodrome stage will certainly be on not to be missed!

Also based directly in the heart of Birmingham, Tru Street Academy have been dancing for 13 years in a dance studio in Digbeth. With their youngest dancers just four years of age, the crew are working hard on creating a dynamic performance based on the stories of well known fairytales presented in an exciting and totally unique way using hip-hop styling.

Dance Nuvo are company of 30 dancers aged between 11 and 30 years old; the Stafford based performers have now been established for 10 years and are veterans to Breakin’ Convention after taking part both in 2007 and 2009.

Hailing from Nottingham, NuProjeks are a mixed gender group of eight dancers with varying different talents including Breaking and Popping to Contemporary and Krump. The performance will also draw on multimedia, voice and acting disciplines.

Street Dance Academy’s Elite have created a piece especially for the performance that will incorporate different styles of street to portray the message that together we are stronger. The group of 15 dancers aged 12 – 25 have been meeting twice a week over a course of four years at their base in Cheshire.

Initially self-trained in Salsa and Samba, Ella Mesma began breaking in 2006. Having performed across the globe as part of many international ensembles, Ella will be presenting a new work for Breakin’ Convention 2012.

Breakin’ Convention runs at Birmingham Hippodrome today 14 & Tuesday 15 May 2011. Performance times: Foyer events from 5.30pm, show begins 7.30pm. Tickets: £9.50 (plus 50p transaction fee), £15 on the door (plus 5% transaction fee). Call 0844 338 5000 or visit www.birminghamhippodrome.com.

Breakin’ Convention is part of International Dance Festival Birmingham 2012. Founded in 2008 the Festival is co-produced by Birmingham Hippodrome and DanceXchange and brings a spectacular range of international dance company and performances to venues and outdoor sites across the region.

Photo: Ben Li