"Hip hop doesn't have to be 'your thing' for you to enjoy Breakin’ Convenion," says pioneering artist Jonzi D.  | | Hip Hop b-boy |
The show which is a first for the Hippodrome takes place on 15 & 16 May. Breakin' Convention originated in London it’s now touring the UK and gives local hip hop artists the chance to show off their skills, alongside international and national artists. Jonzi D, the Artistic Director of Breakin' Convention came to Birmingham and auditioned some of the local groups who’ll be taking part in the show. He told us a bit about b-boys, the festival and what he thinks about the hip hop talent here in Birmingham. We also talked to Birmingham Hip Hop dance group CRC and graffiti artist Darren Brown. B-boys | | Don't try this at home! |
Jonzi D, what do you think of the hip hop dance talent in Birmingham? "The standard of Birmingham b-boys since the mid 80’s has been really high. If you break then you’re a b-boy, that’s all it means. Girls can be b-boys too – they’re not called b-girls. B-boying is just the act of breaking. "In Breakin' Convention there’s something for everyone, it doesn't have to be 'your thing'. If you’re into contemporary dance, you’ll see that going on. If you love theatre you’ll see very theatrical applications of hip hop dance forms, if you just like to see a good show, you’ll see that – you don't have to be ‘into it’." CRC are a group of Birmingham girls who were chosen to take part in the show. What does Jonzi D think of them? "They did an audition and just tore it up. They’ve got so much energy and personality. "Over the last 20 years, b-boying has gone to another level. You’ve just got to see it." Doin' it for the girls | | CRC show girls can do it too |
CRC’s are Cherrelle, Rochelle, Chantel, Anne and Marie (but they’ve got a team of 15 girls training at the moment). They started out in Winston Green in a local community centre, about 2 or 3 years ago and are all aged between 17 and 20. We asked them a bit about the group and what it’s going to be like performing at the Hippodrome. What does CRC stand for? "CRC was originally the core members initials, but now it stands for Creating Real Change – that’s what we do, we create change in the community." The girls have attitude, but it’s not offensive. They just know what they want. "We’ve got bright personalities and when we started out we were sort of like The Power Puff girls, because of our bright colours - like animated characters. "It’s often said it’s a man’s world. But this group is for the ladies, so young girls can see they can do it too. We can do everything the guys can do. We keep it professional and we keep it real. That’s why we don’t see the need to wear anything different from the boys." The girls have all got different training backgrounds.  | | Hip Hop pioneer Jonzi D |
"Some of us have done ballet, tap, jazz, and even African. In hip hop you merge everything you’ve learnt. "It’s really disciplined. You have to be so precise and really fit. It’s all set routines and we all contribute to the ideas." The girls are thrilled at the prospect of performing on the Hippodrome’s stage. "When we get on the stage, it’s going to be really scary. Over the last couple of years we’ve had some bad stages, now this is THE opportunity, performing on a great stage, in front of so many people – it’s so exciting." At the promotional event the girls were performing on paving slabs. Isn’t that dangerous? They girls had an enthusiastic reply: "That’s real hip hop, on the street, it isn’t glossy or glam like in the music videos now – it was real hard core. Hip hop is freedom of speech, freedom to be who you are, to express yourself on the streets." After the curtain falls?The girls are not just into hip hop - they're all keen to study: "Some of us are already studying, so we’re all sorting ourselves out career-wise. "We’re always going to be a group – we’re a sisterhood. We’ve managed ourselves so far, but we’ve got the potential to take it further. But at the moment, it's the show that's important, we're just concentrating on that and rehearsing, rehearsing, rehearsing!" Graffiti and hip hop hand-in-hand | | Darren Brown, graffiti artist |
Over the two days of the show, graffiti artist Darren Brown has been commissioned to do graffiti art and workshops. "We can’t do spray paint for safety reasons, but we can do some pretty cool caps and graffiti on paper that we can laminate," he told us. Darren started doing graffiti when he was about 12 – he’s been doing it now for 20 odd years. Eight years ago he set up his own business in Hall Green, through the Princes Trust, doing what he loves best – graffiti art. So why did he start doing graffiti? "Because I can’t break dance," he replied with a smile.  | | Crowds & press love the demonstration |
"When hip hop first came over in the 80’s, I couldn’t do body pops etc, and I didn’t have decks – so I was the one who did the graffiti art." He originally failed his art exam at school because they didn’t recognise graffiti art at the time, even though his art teacher loved his work. Originally Darren’s artwork wasn’t always in ‘official places’. "When I was younger I was caught doing it illegally and I was taken home by the police – my mum wasn’t too chuffed about that. But now I don’t do anything like that. There is a legal spot a ‘hall of fame’ in Selly Oak so you can go there, and I do lots of ‘proper’ commissioned work. "Now I work with people from all different backgrounds doing workshops, from primary kids to OAPs, young offenders to special needs – it’s different every day. And I’m looking forward to doing the workshop at the Hippodrome." THE eventThe Hippodrome foyers will be transformed into the world of Hip Hop with b-boys battling, poppers, lockers and jazz funkdancers, turntables and DJs on 15th and 16th May from 6pm. The main stage event starts at 8pm. For details of the Breakin' Convention show, see the Hippodrome website. Hear interviews with CRC and Jonzi DListen to Jenny Jones from BBC WM chat to CRC and Jonzi D. | 
