breakin' convention: An International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre

breakin’ convention: An International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre.
Birmingham Hippodrome: 12, 13 May and touring
www.breakinconvention.com
Runs: approx 3hrs, one interval
Review: Alexander Ray, Birmngham Hippodrome, May 13 2009

Mind-blowing demonstration of great skill and artistry.

The Hippodrome in Birmingham, the West Midland’s biggest theatre, is home or host to Birmingham Royal Ballet, Rambert Dance, Welsh National Opera (and so on) as well as large scale musicals - coming up Quadrophenia and We Will Rock You (and so on). But last night as I enter the spacious foyers the place is jam-packed, heaving, full of Young People - and a sprinkling of oldies, I must, in fairness, add. And it’s loud - street dance, breaking, MCing - professionals and local young people mixing together and demonstrating their skills.

This is all a prelude to a most extraordinary and mind-blowing show growing out of Hip Hop culture. All is hosted by the energetic Jonzi D, Artistic Director of breakin’ convention who have produced the programme.

And back to the audience - for the audience, is, in a way, the major star. The large auditorium is full. But as the show progresses you realise these are more than the best of our young people out for a good time; these are highly informed and appreciative consumers of and participators in their art form. Skilled short sequences of movements and nuances of dance are recognised and warmly appreciated. The audience knows what it’s about and a thrilling bond is created between performers and audience.

In the first half, West Midland’s born and bred, world champion dancer Chaotic (Dale Martin) completely demonstrates in Journey Into Sound the harsh artistry of the form and the beautiful fluidity that can be created through it.

A French performer - Salah closes the first half with The Dream of Gluby. Salah’s astounding performance defies definition. He’s a stand-up comedian without words, clown, mime, contortionist, illusionist and dancer. He dreams he is a young child seeing himself in a dream; his performance is a surreal journey through a strange world where bodies are machines and the world is both funny and terrifying. And he communicates through the use of a swizzle. Extraordinary.

VII Gems Rock Dance Division appear in the second half. Here are the origins of Hip Hop dance. Offering us a set of loose knit scenes of city life, we see the muscular dancers demonstrating the basis for the form. Strength, power and large amounts of swagger, of attitude. But, too, like many of the acts, they present important messages for our times.

This spectacular evening closes with Myosung, a group from Korea. They are a dramatic contrast to VII Gems; these performers are slight, lithe. Showing great discipline they perform with an air of anarchy; this is break dancing the like of which you’ve probably never seen before, and animations that defy belief. Mood changes are swift and dynamic, their music an exciting fusion of Eastern and Western popular and classical. And in their rapid series of dances they truly seem to have found the answer to nullifying gravity.

2009-05-14 10:44:13