Breakin' Convention 07 - NEEDS STAR RATING
| 10 Jun 2007
The Festival Theatre in Edinburgh may not seem your typical backdrop for hip hop dance but then its original home Sadler's Wells isn't exactly Bed-Stuy station. In any case, this was the Breakin' Convention on tour and everything was up for (ankle) grabs. B-boys and girls from all over Scotland transformed the foyer into a hip hop arena, with DJs, grafitti and a dance floor for those brave enough to show their skills in front of the excited crowd. And all this before the actual show even started.
Breakin' Convention partnered the biggest names in hip hop theatre, and title winning breakdancers, with local talent. The first half saw Glasgow's Indie B Jewels and The Flyin' Jalapenos creation, A B-Bairns Story: a nod to Glasgow Burberry clad 'neds' and salvation through hip hop. Etch N Sketch proved hugely popular with the crowd, mainly because Wallace Sulley and Nico Major who make up the double act are stalwarts of the vibrant Edinburgh scene. Their piece, Altitude, didn't disappoint. An excellent video backdrop and one of the best song choices of the night ensured it easily ranked with the international acts on display.
After the local acts came the international hip hop heavy weights, The Electric Boogaloos. Famed for their popping and locking moves, The Electric Boogaloos paid tribute to former member Skeeter Rabbit who died last year.
Having said all this, the Convention saved the best until last. Brazil's Frank Ejara blew the crowd away with his fusion of dance and sound - the implication was that he could create the soundtrack with his body. The whole second act was dedicated to France's FranckIILouise, and deservedly so. Their piece Drop It! simply oozed with Gallic cool. With the crew in futuristic outfits dancing to a sublime soundtrack, the piece came across like an upmarket Daft Punk video shoot.
Breakin' Convention partnered the biggest names in hip hop theatre, and title winning breakdancers, with local talent. The first half saw Glasgow's Indie B Jewels and The Flyin' Jalapenos creation, A B-Bairns Story: a nod to Glasgow Burberry clad 'neds' and salvation through hip hop. Etch N Sketch proved hugely popular with the crowd, mainly because Wallace Sulley and Nico Major who make up the double act are stalwarts of the vibrant Edinburgh scene. Their piece, Altitude, didn't disappoint. An excellent video backdrop and one of the best song choices of the night ensured it easily ranked with the international acts on display.
After the local acts came the international hip hop heavy weights, The Electric Boogaloos. Famed for their popping and locking moves, The Electric Boogaloos paid tribute to former member Skeeter Rabbit who died last year.
Having said all this, the Convention saved the best until last. Brazil's Frank Ejara blew the crowd away with his fusion of dance and sound - the implication was that he could create the soundtrack with his body. The whole second act was dedicated to France's FranckIILouise, and deservedly so. Their piece Drop It! simply oozed with Gallic cool. With the crew in futuristic outfits dancing to a sublime soundtrack, the piece came across like an upmarket Daft Punk video shoot.
Sadler's Wells and Jonzi D present Breakin' Convention 07 àAn International festival of hip hop dance theatre. Friday 11 May and Saturday 12 May 2007.