Breakin’ Convention brings self-improvement sessions from a core team of industry-innovating leaders
FREE - invite only – limited spaces – taking place online on Zoom
- this is a repeat of the same course that took place in Autumn 2020.
Open to ANY hip hop artist worldwide of any level involving theatre in their work!
Get your career back on track after these uncertain times.
Dates: Tuesdays 2, 16 & 30 March 2021
Times: 3pm GMT UK / 10pm Asia / 10am East Coast US / 7am West Coast US
What is Higher Learning?
Higher Learning is a hip hop theatre education and development programme committed to the development of the genre lead by a range of industry specialists through intensive workshops, courses and educational days. With each iteration focusing on a different aspect, they offer the chance for any artist or independent company to spend time reflecting on their practices, looking at practical self-improvement and building up a strong foundation to help take their work to the next level.
What will each session cover?
There will be three sessions hosted by the course leaders, with an optional fourth performance session to put what you’ve learned into practice in a live stream where the audience can react and give their feedback directly.
Tuesday 2 March
Do The Write Thing - Writing, Dramaturgy & Characters
With Jane Fallowfield and Philip Morris from The Royal Court
Many hip hop artists may wish to bring their vision to the stage, but aren’t quite sure how. Dancers may be masters of movement, but only starting to find their actual voice; Lyricists may have delivery on the mic, but might want to find new ways to flow.
We all have stories to tell – but how can we tell them best? How can we can we present words with... presence?
In this session Jane Fallowfield will guide you in finding good writing and finding responses to them, to bring out your signature styles and develop the literary skills you’ve always wanted, along with storytelling exercises.
When you’re trying to find the right words, there is no wrong – only write.
Tuesday 16 March
Page to the Stage
With Axelle Ebony Munezero
In the final session we will take everything learned in the previous sessions and apply it to making a performance piece.
Tuesday 30 March
Livestream of performances in progress
The final, optional, session will involve presenting your work live online via the Breakin’ Convention Facebook page. Everyone will have the opportunity to share a rough version of their work and hear feedback live from other participants and viewers. Hosted by Jonzi D.
Meet the Higher Learning course leaders
The course leaders for Higher Learning includes both new and familiar faces to our professional development activities.
This is the core team that will be helping you bring your vision to life!
Anthony Ekundayo Lennon
Anthony has been working as a professional theatre practitioner and educator for 36 years. He successfully completed his 18 month Artistic Director training at Talawa Theatre Company last year and is a guest director/teacher at St. Mary’s University where he has directed ‘Men are not Gods’ and ‘Welcome to Thebes’.
He is currently writing a film screenplay and a six-part comedy drama for television.
Julia Cheng
Julia Cheng is instantly recognisable to fans of BBC Young Dancer 2019 as the street dance judge and mentor. In 2014 she founded House of Absolute, an all-female powerhouse collective of dancers. A prolific creative director, choreographer, performer and teacher, Julia has extensive expertise in multidisciplinary dance and self-produced work. Her influences have led to cross-collaborative works with artists in contemporary dance, music, painting, visual art and poetry. Her reputation for creative excellence led to involvement in campaigns with Dr Martens, Vogue Italia, Wella, Kowtow New Zealand and BBC World Service Persia.
Plus, many more incredible session leaders to be announced
Jane Fallowfield
Jane is Literary Manager at the Royal Court. Previously she was Literary Associate at Talawa Theatre Company and director on attachment at Clean Break. She has directed plays including ‘Drip’ by Tom Wells, ‘Pow fucking Pow’ by Ross Willis (Audible/Lamda) ‘Red’ by Somalia Seaton (Company 3), ‘Bird’ By Laura Lomas and ‘Lagan’ by Stacey Gregg.
Philip Morris
Philip is currently Trainee Director at the Royal Court Theatre. He was previously Senior Youth Theatre Director at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP). He attended the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire where he studied Applied Theatre where he gained a passion to work closely with children and young. After graduating Philip began work as an intern at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Birmingham Hippodrome. Approximately halfway through his 6-month internship he was asked to deliver a pitch for Mind Charity for a pilot project named Up MY Street working closely with vulnerable young black men on behalf of the The REP. He was successful in the pitch which led to the creation of the company Lightpost Theatre Company. He has since gone on to direct and deliver work on behalf of the National Theatre and the Young VIC.
