Paul Ashford to share his skills in workshop for Belfast Boys

21st September 2026

This Saturday (26 September) will see Paul Ashford from 5th Element NI deliver the first of three guest-led workshops for our Belfast Boys.

The initiative, generously funded by Belfast City Council’s European City of Sport 2026 programme, brings different practitioners into the Belfast Boys autumn sessions at The MAC so they can gain invaluable access to new movement styles, skills and ways of working and make connections with the wider dance community.

Paul is a professional Bboy with over 20 years experience performing, teaching and competing both nationally and internationally, on stage, off stage, and everywhere in between and has a long professional association with DU Dance – most recently on the creative team behind November 2025’s live performance piece CLASH which integrated dance theatre, music and dialogue in the atmospheric setting of Carlisle Memorial Church.

He is the co-founder and managing director of 5th Element NI, a unique and vibrant HipHop charity that uses the arts to engage and empower the youth of Belfast. His workshops focus on rhythm, dynamic movement, strength and balance, with a strong emphasis on play, helping participants to move more, express more, finding flow and efficiency in movement.