Breakin’ Convention continued it’s US tour with a weekend long festival at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, NYC. It was a very special night for Breakin’ Convention and there was an electric atmosphere in the air with Breakin’ Convention’s artists stepping on a stage that has birthed so much African-American talent from jazz to soul to funk through to hip hop, including Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Marvin Gaye – to name a few.

The evening was a huge success and New York Times published a very complimentary review. This review spoke of the ‘blasting energy’, ‘electrifying footwork’, ‘daredevil plunges’, ‘terrific synchronicity’, as well as many other facets that makes Breakin’ Convention. The review ends by hoping that Breakin’ Convention becomes as established as it is in London in New York, and therefore able to showcase all the different types of hip-hop that occur internationally.

As Life in Progress progresses with its Asian tour the company have travelled from Taiwan to Beijing and Singapore performing to enraptured and sold out audiences before their final show in Shanghai this weekend. And it’s clear to see Shanghai are excited to have them, with their Time Out picking ‘Life in Progress’ as the critics’ choice for the upcoming Shanghai China Arts Festival. You can read the full article here. And why wouldn’t they be? When you read reviews like this and this from Singapore it’s clear that Life in Progress it’s a totally unmissable success.

Pictured above are the three technicians, Zeynep Kepekli, Nick Rundall, and John Maddox at The Great Wall of China.

Breakin’ Convention has made its debut in Charlotte, North Carolina as part of its international tour. It was the first time the festival had been there but the team was immediately made to feel super welcome by the Americans who embraced the show completely, which included performances from both local and international stars, lino outside the theatre for the audience to break on, cyphers in the foyer, food-trucks, spray paint for graf, and a whole lot of hip hop.

You can read some very positive reviews here and here. Next stop: The Apollo in Harlem.

Pictured above is Breakin’ Convention’s Host and Artistic Director Jonzi D posing for pictures with fans. Photo credit: Lucy White

Life in Progress began its Asia tour at the weekend with two performances in Taipei National Theatre.

In the run up to the performance Sylvie appeared on Taiwanese television. Both here, and in interviews she spoke about her connection to Taipei: despite first visiting it late in her career it only felt right to Sylvie to visit Taipei on her farewell tour to say goodbye to the Taiwanese people. You can watch an excerpt of Sylvie on Taiwanese TV here, where she receives a painting by Taiwan’s famous painter Kiran, which depicts a little girl dancing.