Luminato 2017 Features Breakdance Convention June 23–25

Toronto groups Footnotes, JHHA Performance Company, Involuntary Movement, The Moon Runners Dance Crew, Tense Image, and The Surgeons will take the stage as part of Breakin’ Convention, joining international acts Just Dance (South Korea), Soweto Skeleton Movers (South Africa), and BirdGang Dance Company (UK).

Breakin’ Convention is the world’s biggest hip hop dance theatre festival and comes to Canada for the first time. This festival within a festival features three days of high octane performances by local and international companies, spilling off the stage into workshops, free-style sessions and more, culminating in a free Park Jam.

June 23-24: Performance at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
June 25: Park Jam at David Pecaut Square

In partnership with The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Luminato will present the Canadian premiere of this acclaimed Sadler’s Wells project, June 23–25.

Curated by UK hip hop pioneer Jonzi D, it will be an awe-inspiring weekend of exceptional performances from world champion b-boy and b-girl crews and cutting-edge street dance companies. There will also be graffiti exhibits, free-style dance jams, workshops and DJs in the lobbies and surrounding areas. Plus, enjoy a free Park Jam at David Pecaut Square on June 25 featuring DJs, beatboxers, graffiti artists, and more!

The world’s biggest festival of hip hop dance theatre, showcasing the very best from around the world and around the corner, is coming to Canada for the first time. Curated and hosted by UK hip hop pioneer Jonzi D, this awe inspiring weekend features exceptional performances from world champion b-boy and b-girl crews to cutting edge street dance companies. Headline programming includes two evening main stage performances featuring some of Canada’s best hip-hop companies – Juxtapose, LockUnity, and RoyaLazyness – and Toronto’s own Footnotes, JHHA Performance Company, Involuntary Movement, Tense Image, and The Surgeons performing alongside renowned international acts Just Dance (South Korea), Soweto Skeleton Movers (South Africa), and BirdGang Dance Company (UK) on the Sony Centre stage. Programming will continue to be updated.

Spilling off stage and taking over the whole building, the Sony Centre lobbies and surrounding areas will be transformed with DJs, Cypher Floors, graffiti, art exhibits, free-style sessions, and workshops from top international and local artists. It’s an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Breakin’ Convention creator Jonzi D, a dancer, spoken word artist and director, is the foremost advocate for hip hop, and has changed the profile and influenced the development of the UK hip hop dance and theatre scene over the last two decades. Supporting Jonzi D will be Toronto’s local hip hop rep Judi Lopez, founder and project director of KeepRockinYou. The two recently collaborated on Open Art Surgery at Toronto’s Harbourfront and are bringing their magic back to Toronto in June.

Check out these FREE workshops happening during the convention!