Press Release: Breakin' Convention launches online video channel

[Jan McNulty]

Breakin’ Convention launches BCTV

 

Sadler’s Wells’ hip hop dance project Breakin' Convention launches online video channel BCTV to capture the full range of Breakin' Convention's work and the artists it works with, on Friday 2 May 2014.

 

Breakin' Convention is one of the world's leading hip hop dance organisations, delivering a dynamic programme of events, performances and projects and working with some of the world's finest hip hop artists. It presents Breakin’ Convention, a critically acclaimed annual festival of hip hop dance theatre, at Sadler’s Wells from 3 - 5 May 2014, ahead of a UK tour.

 

The hip hop community boasts many talented emerging film-makers, but opportunities to train, develop and receive mentorship are limited. Unpaid work and internships are financially unsustainable for most, which makes progression within the industry difficult.

 

Breakin’ Convention aims to plug this gap by offering training and mentorship coupled with paid, creative film-making briefs. Through providing access to quality equipment and mentors, tailored training programmes and bridging relationships with other film production companies, BCTV is not only a fantastic opportunity for film-makers to make dynamic content but a gateway to the larger industry.

 

In May and June 2014 Breakin’ Convention will tour to Doncaster, Kings Lynn, Inverness, Birmingham, Whitley Bay, Brighton, Bristol, Blackpool and Bournemouth, supported by Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Programme and Dance Consortium.

 

Emerging film makers from each town on the tour are working closely with Breakin’ Convention, film-maker and mentor Ben Dowden and their local theatres to tell unique stories and to create stylised, dynamic and original content for BCTV.

 

The project is part of Sadler’s Wells’ work with each regional partner in the tour to ensure a strong legacy beyond the tour. In addition to BCTV, this will include engaging local urban cultural ambassadors who will provide the link between the venue and the local hip hop dance, graffiti, rap and DJ communities.

 

Breakin’ Convention Project Manager Peter Maniam says: “Working with some of the UK’s emerging film makers in partnership with the Breakin’ Convention UK tour showcases the length and breadth of what we do as a hip hop organisation and will highlight some of our lesser-known projects to a much wider audience.”

 

BCTV features everything from live performances to interviews, short documentaries, video diaries and conceptual videos, and provides an insight into the world of hip hop dance culture.

 

Launch content for the channel include 16 Bars in A Bar, working with spoken word artists, poets and MCs performing exclusive verses to camera set in a pub location; Pro-files, featuring interviews with the originators of London’s emerging dance scene from the 70s to the present day; and a behind-the-scenes mini documentary exploring Breakin’ Convention’s artistic development course, Back to the Lab.

 

 

 

Notes to editors

 

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 world-renowned international festival, professional development, youth projects and educational programme, Breakin’ Convention seeks to position hip hop dance alongside more historically established artforms. Breakin’ Convention is based at and supported by Sadler’s Wells.

 

About Sadler’s Wells

Sadler's Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London audiences and to audiences around the world. 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 80 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world, including Sutra, zero degrees, and PUSH.In the last year alone, Sadler’s Wells has presented 140 performances of 12 productions in 51 international cities to audiences of over 130,000 at venues and festivals.

 

About Ben Dowden
Ben Dowden is a visual artist and film maker based in Bristol. He creates behind the scenes documentaries, working as cameraman, director and editor for each project. He has produced more than 125 films with performers including Dub FX, Reggie Watts and Storyboard P.

 

Breakin’ Convention 2014 UK Tour in association with Dance Consortium

 

Sadler’s Wells, London

Sat 3 - Mon 5 May

 

Doncaster CAST

Sat 10 May

 

Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

Tue 13 May

 

Inverness Eden Court

Fri 16 & Sat 17 May

 

Birmingham Hippodrome

Tue 20 & Wed 21 May

 

Whitley Bay Playhouse

Sat 24 May

 

Brighton Dome

Tue 27 & Wed 28 May

 

Bristol Colston Hall

Sat 31 May

 

Blackpool Grand

Tue 3 June

 

Bournemouth Pavilion

Sat 7 June