In 2023, Hip Hop celebrates its 50th anniversary and in 2024, breakdancing officially named ‘breaking’ is coming to the Olympics for the first time at the Summer Games in Paris.
To mark this moment, dance artist and Bboy Bobak Champion is bringing Bradford-based Muslim young men together to develop their breaking skills this summer. Professional Muslim dance artists, UK Champion Bboy (2022 and 2023) Faraz ‘Razzleroc’ Khan, with dancers/Bboys Iti ‘Iti Fresh’ Niaz and Shazad Latif will host workshops, a training lab and jams.
Exceptional and renowned Hip Hop dancers Amirah Sackett (USA), Kadir ‘Amigo’ Memis (Germany) and Flo Gonthier (France) are guest speakers at the workshops, where participants will learn about Hip Hop history and build their confidence rehearsing in a safe and friendly environment.
Three ‘jams’ will be held in Bradford, Salford and Birmingham, bringing Bboys, Bgirls, hip hop and breaking fans together.
At the heart of this project is the development of a proud, open, highly skilled, supportive and confident network of UK-based Muslim breakers. There are few openly Muslim breakers on the scene, working independently in different locations – this project aims to bring them together for the first time.
Bobak Champion: “Now is the perfect time to build a pathway for British Muslims to access and engage in the breaking scene. Bradford has a large population of British Muslims and we aim to represent this community and grow skills and confidence. We will take to the streets and communities of Bradford, Salford and Birmingham and offer live street performances, visits, workshops and dance activities for school groups, local estates, voluntary sector organisations and their communities.”
Professional Muslim dance artists will spend 2 weeks in the studio at Kala Sangam in Bradford with local emerging breakers invited into the process to focus on sharing best practices, developing skills and choreographic practices and building stamina and endurance on the floor.
The project aims to make a difference in the community and positively impact the young men’s lives and wellbeing so they return to their communities more confident, stronger and assured.
Cover image: Bobak Champion. Photograph by Karol Wyszynski.
Other photography: Alberto Bonardi.
