Breakin' Convention at Birmingham Hippodrome Review

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Tue 13 Jun 2023 - Wed 14 Jun 2023

It's been 20 years since this hip-hop dance show emerged on the scene as a ground-breaking way of bringing breakdance into mainstream theatres. That's not so rare now but this anniversary tour shows how it still has the ability to be at the forefront of fresh, exciting contemporary dance.

Hosted by one of its founders and artistic director Jonzi D, Breakin' Convention has an uplifting atmosphere. I caught the UK tour, which is supported by Sadler's Wells, at Birmingham Hippodrome , where it stays for two nights until June 14 and coincides with the theatre's B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival.

Jonzi D is a vibrant master of ceremonies, passionate and sometimes even emotional about the acts he's helped select to share the stage. There's everything from hip hop to funk, beatbox and breakdance with more artistic storytelling and interpretation along the way. Every performance is completely different and enthralling. They come from near and far too. Birmingham to the Netherlands and South Korea.



The most astonishing of all is Dutch pole expert Yvonne Smink(pictured above), who Jonzi D introduces as a way that the show can "still manage to break convention" after two decades. She completely stuns with her interpretation of how breakdance would look underwater.

With a blue backdrop and just a pole as her scenery, Smink is mesmerising as she pops and locks, sometimes even horizontal to the pole and often in slow motion that really does feel like she's floating under the sea. It's astonishing and jawdropping, which is exactly what Breakin' Convention is all about.

She's not the only act that's a crowd-pleaser, they all are in their own fashion and there's an enthusiastic, youthful crowd that makes this show feel so life-affirming. Jonzi D's interludes - including a rap about the importance of people not being marginalised and coming together at difficult times - can't help but feel inspiring.


Entertaining on the first night were international headliners MOVER from South Korea, pictured at top of page, that added humour into their performance, plus the rather chic Ghetto Funk Collective from Holland, shown above, and their fellow Dutch performer Yvonne Smink, who performs on both days.

They were joined by some of the West Midland’s best hip-hop crews from the large and impressive Coady Crew dancing to Eminem to a conceptual performance by Company Apidae that wouldn't look out of place in an Alvin Ailey production.

There was also the energetic Gfunk Collective and carefully choreographed O’Driscoll Collective, seen below, that did a subtle, emotive piece focusing on themes of toxic masculinity and men's mental health. It was all very powerful stuff.



For those going on the second night, there's DanceNuvo, Marshon Dance Company, Nathan Lafayette and Laura Hague to enjoy.

Breakin' Convention can't help but put a smile on your face with its vibrant energy and surprising, impressive contemporary dance. You don't have to know about breakdancing to enjoy this entertaining show that still feels like a breath of fresh air in the theatre world.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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