ABOUT
What is Academy Breakin’ Convention?
Academy Breakin’ Convention (ABC) is the UK’s first free Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performance and Production Arts specific to Hip Hop Theatre for 16 – 19 year olds. The course fills a gap in professional pathways for new artists who have a passion for hip hop culture, want to work in the creative industries and gain a formal qualification.
ABC offers young people of all backgrounds an exciting and inclusive approach to education which centres the values of hip hop culture; peace, love, unity and having fun. The full-time course provides young creatives with the opportunity to have high-quality training in all areas of hip hop culture through a theatrical lens as well as develop as emerging professionals. Students will train intensively in our performance elements (Hip Hop Social Dance, Popping, Breaking and Emceeing) and production elements (DJing, Graffiti and Music Production), developing transferable skills and networks for a lifelong career.
Hip hop is a part of our creative future and Academy Breakin’ Convention will nurture the contributions of the future creatives. As a student of Academy Breakin’ Convention you will also be a Big Creative Training Student.
Where is ABC based?
ABC is one of the major initiatives at Sadler’s Wells East, located at Sadler’s Wells recently developed fourth venue in East London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford. The new space is part of East Bank, alongside the BBC, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL and the V&A. The site forms a new cultural hub for young creatives, presenting opportunities for collaboration and innovation between organisations and communities.
Who are the creators of ABC?
Academy Breakin’ Convention is inspired by Breakin’ Convention, a ground-breaking festival of hip hop theatre which has played a fundamental part in the growth of the genre in the UK and internationally since 2004. The festival is the brainchild of Jonzi D and supported by Sadler’s Wells, celebrating all disciplines and aspects of hip hop culture. Breakin’ Convention supports the development of hip hop artists through it’s youth projects and professional development programmes, providing opportunities and platforms for artists to learn, experiment and develop. Academy Breakin’ Convention fills the gap for people with a hip hop passion to earn a qualification and develop as a professional artist. There is a village of people involved in the creation of the ABC curriculum and we thank all of the course contributors, conversations, artists, and educators whose experience, passion and understanding of hip hop has come together in this course.
The 7 ABC Elements
