Jonzi D
General Judge
Jonzi D is the founder and Artistic Director of Jonzi D Projects and Breakin’ Convention. A dancer, spoken word artist and director, he is the foremost advocate for hiphop theatre who has changed the profile and influenced the development of the UK British hip-hop dance and theatre scene over the lasttwo decades. He has been actively involved in British hip hop culture, rapping and b-boying since its genesis.
Since graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School, Jonzi has been committed to the development of hip hop theatre, performing and creating dance theatre pieces around the world. Early works include Lyrikal Fearta (1995)and Aeroplane Man (1999).
Jonzi D Productions was an Associate Company of Sadler’s Wells from 2004 -2010, through which Jonzi devised and directed TAG...just writing my name in 2006, IVAN in 2006 and Markus the Sadist, a rap theatre piece in 2009. In 2013, Jonzi created The Letter, a critically acclaimed solo responding to receiving a nomination for an MBE award in 2011, and Broken Lineage, in collaboration with Ivan Blackstock.
Since 2004 Jonzi D has been Artistic Director for Breakin’ Convention, the International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre, and has triumphed in raising the profile and giving a platform to hip hop disciplines. Breakin’ Convention has gained worldwide recognition as being at the vanguard of the development of the art form. To date there have been 15 London festivals, 7 national tours,and international festivals at the Apollo Theater, NYC (2013, 2015, 2017);Blumenthal Performing Arts, Charlotte NC (2015, 2016, 2017) and Les Theatresde la Ville du Luxembourg (2016, 2017); Miami (2017), Denver (2017, 2018) and Toronto Sony Centre (2017, 2018).
Through professional development projects Open Art Surgery and Back To The Lab, Jonzi has supported hundreds of hip hop dance and rap/poetry artists on their journey to creating theatre.
Jonzi's TV credits include Def Poetry Jam (HBO); Faking It (Channel 4); screening of his short films Silence da Bitchin and Aeroplane Man (Channel 4); creative consultant on LWT’s South Bank Show special documenting the art and culture of hip hop; One Man Walking (Channel 4); presenting 4Dance for Channel 4 television and was the performance mentor for Urban Classic at Hackney Empire.
Jonzi is a leading British artistic ambassador. He has toured his own work internationally and has been engaged by the British Council to work on several projects including East London, West Sydney which he directed for the Sydney Festival in 2010. He is regularly invited to judge international dance competitions. In 2015 he featured on TEDx Warwick and spoke at European Commission forum on creativity and diversity.
