Inclusive Excellence
Creating Community at UW–Madison

Line Breaks Festival showcases artists and performers of First Wave’s past and present

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Performers dressed in black on stage catch one person as they fall backward with arms spread wide.

The 15th annual Line Breaks Hip Hop Theater Festival brought together First Wave scholars and alumni for an extraordinary series of free performances on April 1 and 2 at the Overture Center.

The showcase included performances by the First Wave 14th Cohort Ensemble, 12th cohort member Jackson Neal’s “Glitch,” the First Wave Touring Ensemble, and concluded with a debut staging of the choreo-poem “summer, somewhere” by First Wave alum Danez Smith (’12) and directed by Division of Arts director Chris Walker.

Since it was first conceived in 2007, the Line Breaks Festival has become one of the largest hip-hop-centered performance festivals in the Midwest. It continues to be a space for the cultivation and presentation of independent and collaborative work by First Wave artist-scholars. Learn about the First Wave program.

A man stands at the center of a circular stage surrounded by an audience in seats.
Chris Walker, director of the Division of the Arts, speaks to the crowd at the start of the Line Breaks Hip Hop Festival held at the Playhouse Theater inside the Overture Center on April 1. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
A performer dressed in black speaks into a microphone while behind him other performers dressed in black play a piano and watch.
First-year scholar Jason Hill performs with other members of the First Wave 14th Cohort Ensemble during the Line Breaks Festival. The performance was open to the public as a part of the 2022 Arts Crawl, a series of demonstrations, workshops, open classes, performances and exhibitions held from March 31 to April 2. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
A group of performers dressed in black perform choreography on stage.
First Wave scholars led by 2nd cohort alumnus James Gavins (’15), the program’s arts education outreach specialist, perform “summer, somewhere,” a choreo-poem by alum Danez Smith. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
A group of performers dressed in black on stage.
First Wave 1st cohort alum and widely acclaimed poet Danez Smith (center) performs with First Wave scholars during “summer, somewhere.” (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
Silhouette of a person dancing with arms raised with blue and yellow lights behind them.
First Wave scholars perform during “summer, somewhere.” (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
A group of performers in black pose in a group while recieving a standing ovation from an audience.
The performers of “summer, somewhere” receive a standing ovation as they conclude their performance. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)
A large group of performers wearing black hold hands and bow on stage.
Members of the First Wave 14th Cohort Ensemble receive applause at the Playhouse Theater in the Overture Center during the Line Breaks Hip Hop Festival on April 1. (Photo by Bryce Richter / UW-Madison)