Jonzi D is Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention, the UK based organisation at the vanguard of the global development of hip hop theatre, through its world-renowned festivals, international touring, professional development, youth projects and educational short courses.
I have been on the board of Breaking GB since its inception. My role is focused on maintaining the values of Hip Hop culture when making decisions about our activities.
I originally hoped that the Olympics would usher in a new, global appreciation of breaking and Hip Hop culture. By sharing the skills and ambitions of some of our greatest dancer/athletes performing in our global community.
Attending the event was brilliant. To connect with performers, coaches and event promoters from around the world for this historic moment was exciting for all of us. Watching the competitors all hanging out together in the spirit of peace, unity and love was expected and we were definitely having fun!
The La Concorde space was designed for urban sports. Skateboarding, BMX freestyle and breaking. I believe the auditorium for the breaking event sold out very early, but people still bought tickets to be in La Concorde for the many musical and immersive shows programmed outside of the main competition. The battles were screened via large monitors around space.
The practice space was packed with punters getting exclusive views of the dancers/athletes training. It was a very transparent environment that we were all invited into. I managed to connect with bboy Munir, part of the official coaching team for the Chinese athletes, Johnjay Chon, who organises Redbull events in Korea and the US,
ILL-ABILITIES™ (disabled dancers have long, long had a presence in hip hop) and Salah, who performed during the breaks in the competition. Antoinette Gomis was working closely with a French TV channel. The Hip Hop community were truly represented.
Social media the next day was shocking. None of us who were at the event even remembered Raygun. We were focused on the participants who were competing at the highest levels. We were following the winners, talking about the successes as opposed to the failures. The International Olympic Commitee had decided last October to not have breaking in Los Angeles 2028 and this year’s competition was only watchable by the public via a paid subscription, which was a shame as it meant it wasn't as accessible as the artform should be. Fortunately, I was there to witness it firsthand and it was excellent.
The governance by the World DanceSport Federation was not good enough. The institution that is the Olympics should’ve done better. I personally believe they failed us, our practice and ultimately Hip Hop culture. We as a community need to reflect and refocus our energies. We need to stop seeking acceptance from these institutions that ultimately exploit us, then discard us. Breakin’ Convention has been championing Hip Hop culture for over twenty years and we’re looking forward to sharing our plans for 2025 soon.
Jonzi D - Moving Beyond Convention at the 2024 Olympics
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Jonzi D is the founder and Artistic Director of Breakin' Convention and an Associate Artist at Sadler's Wells. An MC, dancer, spoken word artist and director, he is the foremost advocate for hip hop who has changed the profile, and influenced the development of the UK British hip hop dance and theatre scene over the last two decades.
September 2025 sees the launch, of Breakin’ Convention’s sister department
Academy Breakin' Convention (ABC). This course is the UK’s first Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performance and Production Arts specific to Hip Hop Theatre which will be a home to a more sustained educational programme building on BC's 21 years and Counting.
The course fills a gap in professional pathways for new artists and entrepreneurs who want to work in the creative industries and focus on hip hop culture. There is an Open Day for interested students on 18 Jan 2025 and applications close on 31 Jan 2025.
Tickets are now on sale from Sadler’s Wells Theatre for Breakin’ Convention 2025 London Festival Friday 2 May- Monday 5 May 2025. Contact the box office here.
Top image: Jonzi D. Photo credit: Jay Kasitz.