Breakin Convention Jane Sekonya-John

Jane Sekonya-John began her career training at the Johannesburg Dance Foundation in 1988 before gaining a scholarship at Ballet Rambert School of Dance in London during 1994. She will be performing her piece Spoti at Breakin' Convention 2010 on Sunday.

Interview with Jane Sekonya-John
By David Barros
 
Spotti: What is it about?
Spoti is a slang language for "fisherman's hat" in South Africa, so I took that and made it as a piece. The whole thing is about the story of a woman who was injured when she was young. Every time she puts on this hat it transforms her into her young self.
It not only transforms her into her young self, but it also brings back the memories of what she's been through, what she's done throughout her life until she had that injury, but she doesn't really want to remember or deal with it. Hence the reason why this spoti puts it over, she doesn't want to deal with it.

What is the message?
It can be anybody's story. As we know, people have different experiences when they have injuries in different ways, and whatever way they get through their pain or their healing or their story, its what makes a difference.

Where did the idea come from?
The idea was influenced by my injury, my personal injury. I was in The Lion King, I was one of the cast members and I was performing and I fell on stage - kapoop! - right onto my knee and I had to have major surgery on it.
Since then it took me a while to get through it and get back into performing, knowing, having to know my body and work around this knee. So that really encouraged me to do a piece about it.

Another thing I should say is the first time I performed it I actually swapped the legs! Meaning that the strong leg I used as the weak leg in the piece, and the weak leg I used as the strong one!
But as time goes on, and now it's what, 10 years down the line since I did the original performance? Now I feel that I had to swap it around and make it more real. 'This is the injured knee, so I am going to used the injured knee this time.'

What should people take away from it?
With this I'm hoping people will hear my story and experience what I experienced, and hopefully they will see it the way I portrayed it.

For more information on Breakin' Convention 2010, visit http://breakinconvention.com

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Breakin Convention video diary 4 - Chat with Leo (Via Grafik) and Suga Pop

Thursday's Breakin' Convention 2010 diary with Jonzi D features an quick chat with Leo from Via Grafik, who are responsible for transforming Sadler's Wells' back wall into an enormous canvas.

Jonzi also had a moment to catch up with Suga Pop and have a quick chat about the Greg Campbellok tribute, which takes place in Monday's show.

For more information on Breakin' Convention 2010, visit http://breakinconvention.com


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Breakin Convention video diary 3 - Future Elements

I wasn't about for the third part of the Breakin' Convention 2010 video diary, but for this video Jonzi was prepping the dancers for Future Elements (Thursday night).



Future Elements is where the kids get to 'run tings' as community groups get to perform ahead of the main festival in the Lilian Baylis theatre.

For more information on Breakin' Convention 2010, visit http://breakinconvention.com

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Breakin Convention Adiaspora Collective

The ADiaspora Collective is what you get when Vicki Igbokwe (Uchenna Dance) and Alesandra Seutin (Vocab Dance Company), collaborate creatively. Mixing Seutin's Afro-eclectic (African, contemporary, hip hop and Jazz dance, with spoken word and physical theatre) and Igbokwe's Urban Contemporary (House, Waacking, African, Contemporary and Vogueing) styles.

Frusted, their performance for Breakin' Convention 2010, was originally commissioned by East London Dance and Avant Garde, performed at Collabo as part of East London Dance's, season Dance Currents.

Interview with Vicki Igbokwe, choreographer for Uchenna Dance Company
By David Barros

Frusted: What's it about?
Frusted is about looking at the internal struggle that women face on a daily basis.

What's the message?
"Girl! I hear you and feel what your going though. Remember you are not alone." It is also a little bit of "I thought it was only me that went through that!"

Where did the idea come from?
The idea came from being in a studio full of women and realising we are all individual but go through similar emotions and scenario's in life. We (Alesandra Seutin and myself) wanted to create a piece that both us AND the dancers could own.

What you see is our life, our day to day struggles, our insecurities, us supporting each other, us feeling alone, us trying to hang on in there with life.

The dancers are powerful and take no prisoners.

What should people take away from it?
Life! Everyone has a different response to the work and we are interested in hearing these. There is not a particular 'thing' we expect you to take away. Above all we want you to enjoy the work and feel like you have been on some sort journey.

Whether you understand that journey or not, you feel it.

Breakin' Convention video diary 2 - Graffiti with Via Grafik

It's day two in the lead up to Breakin' Convention 2010. The graffiti writers have arrived, and they're preparing to transform Sadler's Wells into an enormous canvas.



André Nossek aka SLAVE (left) and Leo Volland aka BOE (right), collectively known as Via Grafik, joined Jonzi D by the back wall of Sadler's Wells which will be transformed into an enormous graffiti mural.

The mezzanine has been altered significantly to fit in the rigging in order for the back wall to get painted, and will span from the mezzanine to the second circle.

For more information on Breakin' Convention 2010, visit http://breakinconvention.com

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Breakin Convention 2010 Goodfoot dance

Goodfoot are a group of dancers that specialise in popping. They've been together for four years, and were recently finalists in Sadler's Wells' Global Dance Contest.


You can see Goodfoot at Breakin' Convention 2010 on Monday 3 May. 


Interview with Shakeel "Shak" Meetooa, dancer in Goodfoot
By David Barros

The Box: What's it about?
It's about every person's imagination running wild when they were kids, playing with an empty box. That's all you needed to have fun, a box. It could contain anything and everything. This one contains music, objects, scenes, laughter and dance.

What's the message?
Ultimately, we want people to be entertained. Hopefully everyone will have something they can take home with them. Whether it reminds them of when they were young, whether we made them laugh, or maybe they just enjoyed watching us dance. Maybe even if they leave thinking "what the heck was that??" We hope they'll remember it.

Where did the idea come from?
It came from us thinking how could we possibly do all the random things we wanna do on stage, haha. What could be the source of all our madness that would allow people to understand what we're trying to do without spelling it out for them? A box is uncomplicated. But what's inside is significant. We've added dance and music to an object with limitless potential... And we think we might be onto something.

What should people take away from it? 
Like I said earlier, even if you just laughed once, or saw a single move you liked, that's enough. We wouldn't want people to leave not remembering something when they hear the name "Goodfoot."

To find out about Goodfoot and where to take their classes visit www.goodfootdance.com

For more information on Breakin' Convention 2010, visit http://breakinconvention.com

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Breakin Convention video diary 1 - Breakin' Convention starts here!

It's the Monday, the week of Breakin' Convention 2010 and already, just by standing outside Sadler's Wells, I can feel the energy emanating from the place...


Monday 26 April 2010
All it takes is the glances of a few passers by looking at the Breakin' Convention 2010 poster and it makes you realise the impact it has had over the years, particularly since So You Think You Can Dance, and the retrospective envy I feel because TooMuchFlavour hadn't been about to keep a record of things since its inception...

In Jonzi D's Breakin Convention Diary today its all about setting the scene. Over the weekend some of the newspapers picked up on it, so its like this episode continues from what you saw on Sunday...

For more information on Breakin' Convention 2010, visit http://breakinconvention.com

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Breakin' Convention 2010 Unity and Unity Youth

You'll probably remember Unity from Move Like Michael Jackson, and their youth division, Unity Youth, from Got To Dance, but beside the TV appearances there's a deeper side to Unity that you'll see during their performance of Venus Vs. Mars Part 2 at Breakin' Convention 2010.

Interview with Tashan Muir, choreographer for Unity and Unity Youth
By David Barros


Venus vs Mars Part 2: What's it about?

It's a follow up to part one which we did last year, an in depth piece to make the audience realise how the first one came about. The first, performed at Serious About Streetdance was about domestic violence, this one showed how it happened. This is a prequel (although it's named part 2).
What I've done this time is incorporate the youth group. There are two young people in the youth group and it shows how they met at the start and how the violence started happening over the years.

The first one I had all the ideas, but it was rushed to get the routine out. We got a really good response to it. It's good that happened as we've been able to go in depth with it and explore it, hopefully it can grow into something bigger and better in the future.

What's the message?The message that we're tying to put across is domestic violence is something that happens. It's a thing where you hear about on the news. Loads of stuff happens in news every day, domestic violence is a thing that seems like it's not spoken about. A lot of women and men lose their lives for it, kids have to go into adoption and lose their welfare because of it. That's something we have to take. It's something I've gone through, and something others I didn't know others had too.

Finally, someone's speaking about it in a way that's positive because its a dance piece.

1) Women and men need to speak up

2) Let's tackle the problem.

Where did the idea come from?
My past. Going through it as a kid. It wasn't just about physical abuse, it was mental abuse. Just listening to people talk about it, that's where it comes from.

What should people take away from it?

The awareness. If you go through situations like that in your life and turn it to a positive, it's a good thing, also for the dance community. A lot of the dance community dance because they love it and coz they express themselves. If there are happy and sad issues, put it into your dance and see what can come out of it.

A lot of people say UK hip hop dance theatre isn't as good as the rest of the world. Breakin' Convention is the platform dance groups can use to express themselves. Hopefully we can push that along and others can express themselves and think about where you can take your dance: that's the message we want to put across.

Hopefully when people see it they will say "UK hip hop theatre can make it."

Bootsy Collins' Funk University is recruiting students of the funk!

Baby bubba! I just came across this tweet from the legendary funk guitarist Bootsy Collins announcing his online funk university, aptly titled FU, which goes live on 1 June 2010.

The site says:

"Because a groove is a terrible thing to waste, this sonic learning institution will be unlike anything before, as Professor Collins and the finest bassists in music will unleash an intense curriculum, on the web, for intermediate to advanced funk disciples within the program."

Check out the Funk University trailer:


Heeeeeeee got da fonk! They're enrolling now, although it says spaces are limited. How it will work I haven't asked, but it looks like there will be legions of funkateers ready to stage an assualt on our eardrums when the final semester is out.

To sign up for updates visit www.thefunkuniversity.com. Yabba dabba doo!

Guru passes away - Writes letter to fans detailing his legacy

Guru 17 July 1966 - 19 April 2010
Guru, known throughout the hip hop community as the other half of acclaimed rap duo Gangstarr, passed away today last night (UK time).

The news was posted earlier today on DJ Premier's blog. The site is currently suspended, although you can view a cached version of the post here.
Update 12:43pm: The link now works.

Despite being posted on Premier's blog, Premier and Guru discontinued Gangstarr for personal reasons several years ago. Guru detailed below that he did not want to be affiliated in name or in passing with his former DJ.

The letter quotes:
"I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this."

Bitter politics aside, I was lucky enough to meet Guru briefly when he came to England to promote his latest mixtape at King Apparel. I also recall being a few pence short of buying a copy, but he said it was okay "paying with laundry money."
From the way he got the crowd amped, there was no way of telling he was ill, as he kept the news to only his closest friends and family.

As a fan of the oldschool and in recognition of one of the realest emcees, who both spat clever lyrics and influenced a generation of sample-fused hip hop, RIP Guru.

Statement from Solar, Guru's DJ:

The world has lost one of the best MCs and hip-hop icons of all time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru! Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it but tragically this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius. For the fans that reached out with love and support, I can’t tell you how much that meant to Guru and myself. Guru prepared this letter while he was in the hospital for the fans. I hope now that Guru has moved on to a better place! Guru is a great black American hero and should always be remembered as such and he is much more that just a Hip-Hop icon — he has changed the world for the better. I salute my fallen brother Guru! He will be missed tremendously! 

Guru's letter to his fans:

“I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options. I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.
“My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun (sic) KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.
“I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of hip-hop/jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the hip-hop/jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential hip-hop/jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now.
"The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world.

"The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.”

Did you ever meet Guru, or see him perform live? Feel free to share by posting your comments below.