Sadler’s Wells is home to Breakin’ Convention, the award-winning and critically acclaimed organisation that represents the origins and evolution of hip hop culture from around the world and around the corner. 2016 has been particularly busy for the Breakin’ Convention Education Team. Shay Rafati, Breakin’ Convention’s Education Officer gave us an update:

Islington Giving Fund
We’re proud to announce that they have been granted the Islington Giving Award Funding to run Minor Surgery: Hip Hop Theatre for young people in Islington. This will begin October 2017 working with local youth organisations, residents and schools over weekend and half terms to work towards a professional Hip Hop theatre production and finish at Breakin Convention Festival 2018 where the production will be showcased. We have meetings for the new year to explore partnership with another project and the best way to recruit young people and to find a suitable space.

Islington Creative Schools Pilot
It is exciting for us to be on the Islington Creative Schools Pilot scheme to offer 3 projects to local primary schools. The projects range from a music video project, a class recorded rap mixtape and a mini Moving Rap project.

Thurrock Trailblazer – Royal Opera House
We have partnered with Royal Opera House Purfleet and are pleased to be featured in the Thurrock Trailblazer catalogue offered to all Thurrock schools. We are pleased to be in six schools and a PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) with a variety of workshops we are running from Rap to Breakdance from now until the spring term 2017.

Workshops General
There has been an increase in school bookings for our one-off rap and dance workshops around the UK partly due to the inclusion of Kenrick Sandy’s piece The Emancipation of Expressionism on the GCSE Dance syllabus.

Guerrilla Science
We are currently in talks to partner with Guerrilla Science to encourage young people to learn about science through art. This will most likely be part of the Breakin’ Convention Festival programme 2017 with an exciting fire organ and water sound projection. TBC.

Future Elements
Our yearly FREE music video project “Future Elements” returns in February 2017 with limited spaces open to all young people aged 13-16 years old. Share this link to anyone who may be interested, no previous experience is necessary and is based at Sadler’s Wells. Application link: http://bit.ly/2hNBHr2

Keep up-to-date with all Breakin’ Convention education news here: breakinconvention.com/get-involved/education