BREAKIN' CONVENTION SADLER'S WELLS 29.04.16-02.05.16

FLAWLESS Photo:  Paul Hampartsoumian

So 13 is meant to be unlucky in our culture, but not so in Italia, where the phrase fare tredici means 'hit the jackpot'. I personally felt very wealthy after seeing what Breakin' Convention managed to curate in their 13th year, as I was immersed once again in a currency that lifts me up and leaves me flying until Christmas. 

Breakin' Convention has grown to be THE biggest hip-hop event of the year in the dance, theatre and performance world. Workshops, cyphers, graffiti art and battles all help piece the puzzle together over the course of the weekend. The pleasure in seeing London's finest dance house transformed into a hip-hop habitat lights me up and I delight in bringing new people along with me each night to see their reactions. 

At risk of sounding like a fan-girl, I used my guests who were new to the experience as litmus test opinions against my own thoughts. 

After my catch up with Flawless who headlined Saturday night (see below) and our 'sweet shop' exchange, I have been inspired to present in this post, a sweet shop of conclusions. 

Before that, I present the performance device of 2016 from my good friend Wikipedia:

Vignette: In a novel, theatrical script, screenplay, sketch stories, and poetry, a vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or character and gives a trenchant impression about that character, an idea, setting, and/or object.

Vignettes appeared everywhere this year and functioned as an important way of helping to tell the story where dancers will usually get 10-15 minutes to convey a message. It seems to me that hip-hop dance is being pulled up by bold themes and narratives more than ever, and the intention to move away from just pulling off slick routines was made very clear. 

Let's begin the taste experience- a selection box of my favourites:

Boy Blue Entertainment (UK)
The one that is guaranteed to be good

BOY BLUE ENT Photo: Belinda Lawley

Candy equivalent- The Fried Egg

The fried egg (to me anyway) is a treat I always look forward to. 

If I've had a bad day, I know a few of these babies will deliver the sweet version of a close friend and flavour that you know will be of the standard your tastebuds desire. Consistently good, delightfully chewy, you're aware you could devour a whole bag. Much like the picture above, Boy Blue opened Sunday night with perfect formation, strength and togetherness. The spotlights snapped onto individual dancers who expressed themselves through a mixture of styles, with krumping being a strong feature. Highlights in this piece were the cascading patterns created when the dancers hit the floor, and the feeling they managed to convey through what I would describe as surges of energy. Kenrick 'H20' Sandy can sit firmly on the throne as a King of choreo. I remain a loyal worshipper along with the rest.

Daughters of the Dragon (UK)
The one that is visually pleasing

DAUGHTERS OF THE DRAGON Photo: Belinda Lawley

Candy equivalent: The rainbow lolly

Sharifa Tonkmoor and Maren Ellerman brought us their piece 'Kaleidoscope' which did exactly what it set out to do. The lighting and choreography were colourful, the relationship between the symmetrical movers seemed sister-like, sweet and they hit every beat intended. It was clean, and these girls could get this piece advert ready (does Gap need a new campaign?) 



Soweto Skeleton Movers (South Africa)
Keeping it real-Sweets from the Streets

Photo:  Paul Hampartsoumian

Candy equivalent: Pineapple Cubes

Hip-hop comes from the streets after all, so what better way to celebrate the convention than with a style that originated on the streets of Soweto. This charming and cheeky crew unleashed their new vocabulary on the audience, which provided humour, relief and sometimes a sense of traditional street clowning. 'Pantsula' is a style that developed from the movement of commuters jumping on and off trains in 1950's Soweto, which then merged with tap to create a new genre. Jonzi-D explained how he had seen the group performing in South Africa and had to bring them over. This performance brought some old school charm, and there was a real sense of gratitude from the audience in that we had experienced a sharing of their craft. This was less of a choreography showcase and more of a culture experience.


Bandidas (France)
 Big on Texture- develop the flavour

BANDIDAS Photo:  Paul Hampartsoumian

Candy equivalent- Jelly Buttons/Spogs

Much like spogs, the start of the experience looked exciting, full of expectation and wonder, but on biting down I didn't get what I expected. I'm big on supporting female dancers and performers, and I admire the boldness that this collective demonstrated in choosing to dance to dubstep music. I personally enjoy dubstep in certain serving sizes, and they chose a very large production serving to sync with. I did feel however that there were challenges with this piece, in that the music was too big for the dance. On the huge stage, I felt that it was tricky to fill, and may have come across better in a smaller setting, but the music itself was far too bolshy to deserve the visuals that these ladies were creating.  

Enfant Prodiges (France)
The new favourite

Enfant Prodiges

Candy equivalent: Reeses miniature peanut butter cups

There wasn't much I didn't love about this dance crew. They gave everything you could possibly want from a performance at Breakin' Convention and it's easy to see why. The group is made up of the finest hip-hop dancers in France who have all battled their way to victory in various competitions individually whilst working with major brands. They've mastered the craft of performing and audience pleasing, and showcased every style from top-rock, house, newstyle to krumping and breaking. They had the formations (though not as slick as Unity UK or Boy Blue) and the humour of Soweto for a winning combination. The stamp of approval for music choice goes to this crew too who danced to the beats of DJ Mofak.

SWNSNG by Ivan Blackstock
Dark, relevant, more to unravel

SWNSNG Photo: Belinda Lawley

Candy equivalent: Liqourice wheel

Ivan Blackstock brought us an extract Traplord of the Flyz from his new work and brand SWNSNG. Blackstock is hugely respected and looks set to be a thought leader in this area of hip-hop culture. We were presented with rhymes, aggressive lighting, and scenes which displayed uncomfortable shorts and abstract images. Described as reflecting on black masculinity in a crisis, violence and negative stereotyping of black men in contemporary British society, there is a huge story waiting to be told here, and I didn't quite get enough to feel like I was in the hands of this piece just yet, but there is no doubt that as it unravels, there will be a voice provided to a message that needs to be heard. Look out for this one.


  The Ruggeds (Netherlands)
The exciting one

THE RUGGEDS Photo: Belinda Lawley

Candy equivalent- Flying saucer

Having already swooned about this collective last year, they brought more of their excellence as headliners of the final night of Breakin' Convention. My main joy came from watching my guests face as all her perceptions of what a b-boy crew might be were expanded. It was great to see them bring back a little of the Swiss ball routine, but props go to them this year for my favourite entrance/opening (fast, instant, hyper and stylish)

Special Mentions:

House Of Absolute Exclusive Interview from Breakin' Convention

See my Q & A with Julia Cheng here 

HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE Photo:  Paul Hampartsoumian

I always admire the work of Kloe Dean and Myself UK. Check out the interview with some of the dancers filmed at the Lilian Baylis studio before the performance at Breakin' Convention.

MYSELF UK Photo:  Paul Hampartsoumian

Spoken Movement

Kwame Asofo-Adjei from SPOKEN MOVEMENT

We also caught up with Kwame Asafo-Adjei choreographer of Spoken Movement. He works on challenging perceptions through dance.

Until next time...

RISING UP-A Q & A WITH JULIA CHENG FROM HOUSE OF ABSOLUTE

Photo by Ellen Pengelly

After seeing House of Absolute perform their work at the Open Art Surgery earlier this year, I made it a priority to find out more about their work. I was overjoyed at their piece which made me feel proud to be a woman and I wanted to find out more about this dance collective who specialise in dance forms such as: Waacking, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip-Hop, House, locking, Hustle and Popping.

I talked to founder Julia Cheng about the company and what has fuelled her journey to this point. 


What is it about Waacking that you love?

I got into Waacking because my contemporary teacher at the time encouraged me to do it. I went to New York to learn, and was keen to find out more about the roots of the dance style and was lucky enough to be taught by a teacher there called Tyrone Proctor. I find it a very empowering dance style in which you get to be yourself. Waacking isn't just about the arms but its really about internal movements and the realness of yourself coming out. It's about embracing all sides of yourself and letting the different parts of your character and personality break through. You have to be really honest in the dance, because when you're not it can really show. That's what I love about it. 

How would you describe the ethos of House Of Absolute?

If I could describe what we are about, essentially it is to be the best that you can be, and to work really hard for it. I always encourage the girls to work and to be their best in the moment. We all have different styles and different backgrounds, and I try to encourage the culture of learning from each other and to keep evolving. The more we learn from each other, the better we can be. We can have a wider dance vocabulary and be stronger together. I try and share the idea in our workshops that you need to bring out your inner King and Queen, to dance to music that moves your soul and to always dance with love.

I love it! That's a great mission statement for how we should live our lives really isn't it?

Exactly! Life is reflected in movement and movement is reflected in life. It's also about Womanhood, pushing each other and having a stronger voice together. It's also about using that to be able to stand on your own too. We have a wide range of ages in our group, and I want the girls to embrace being a woman, it's about not apologising for it. Not apologising for being vulnerable, emotional, sensitive or for being who you are.

What was your experience like at Open Art Surgery in March this year?

The experience was a challenge for us. We were lucky in that we were given our own space and time to develop our work by the other artists, but nothing comes without struggle. We had some problems with the mic on day two, and started to create the work on day three, but the whole process was important and reflecting back I can see that the challenges made the process what it was. It was great to hear the responses from the audience. My intention is to connect to the audience in some way, it's not always one set message but more a series of ideas that I explore. If someone connects with the piece in any way, it's a positive thing. One lady who was an artist described our work as a painting. I loved hearing that from a different artist who wasn't a mover and whose movement language was different to ours.

I understand you now have a younger member of the group. What are your thoughts on inspiring younger people into dance?

I've been mentoring and teaching for the last ten years now and I've worked on a lot of big projects with young people from different backgrounds. I've been able to see how movement has been an avenue for people to be able to express themselves, to express the things they're going through, and to channel it or speak about it without having to necessarily use words. Yes, I could teach choreography or a routine but the essence of the person in their soul is how they improvise naturally to something through spontaneity in that moment. So performance is important, but choreography is something we can take time to learn, and young people can be very good at creating, expressing and opening up that side of themselves. 

What does it mean for you to perform at Breakin' Convention this year?

It's always been on my horizon. I'm happy that Waacking is being included on the platform, although it's quite experimental. After having the space to rehearse it at Open Art Surgery, it gave us a good few days to start making a scene and developing the work, and it was great to be invited back to spread the word of House Of Absolute. It's always been a platform that I have been excited about, I love that's it's theatrical rather than just a showcase, and it has always been an experimental platform that has helped bring the essence of hip hop culture.

Who is your dance hero?

I've never really had a dance hero but I have people that inspire me. My mentor Stuart Thomas who took me on as a contemporary student at the age of 23 is one of those people. His career went against the conventions and his story is quite spectacular in how he has completed his journey in dance. He passed on his method of teaching to his students and he taught me a lot. He's a very generous person, he's very artistically giving without expecting anything back and that has been a great quality to learn.

Even other people who aren't dancers have inspired me, like Aung San Suu Kyi and her story of her incarceration and the strength she showed as a woman. Also Bruce Lee! I grew up watching him and reading books about him. He's someone who has changed the way that Chinese people were looked upon. To have respect and be seen as the equal when you're the minority is a great thing, and I learned a lot about celebrating your difference and your story through these people.

What future projects have you got coming up?
   
There will definitely be some development of 'Warrior Queens' which is our performance piece at Breakin' Convention. This has been inspired in a modern context by House Of Absolute's ethos, but also comes from a previous idea I worked on around the story of Mulan and how she disguises herself as a man to take on battles but has a strong female energy too. There's a strong element of fighting for yourself, for other people, and taking on that fighting spirit that you can't ignore. So in a modern context I've taken that myth and the ethics of the piece is imprinted in that and who we are. 

I've been commissioned to create a film with Chinese Arts Space that will be shown at the Southbank, I've got some other projects with filmmakers and I've been collaborating with some artists in France. I'm going to be choreographing a piece for Motus Festival in Milton Keynes which will be a collaborative piece with other artists too so there's lots to look forward to!

Look out for Julia Cheng and her dance collective House of Absolute at Breakin' Convention 16' on Saturday 30th April in the Lilian Baylis Studio.

@KoleskDance

www.houseofabsolute.com 

Breakin' Convention Saturday 30th April Schedule

FUTURE ELEMENTS: LILIAN BAYLIS STUDIO-12.03.16

It's that time of year again when Breakin' Convention pay homage to the future dancers of UK hip-hop, and I'm always keen to be there to cheer them on from the sidelines.

Head of the organisation and regular MC Jonzi-D handed the baton over to Tyrus to host the evening who performed a self-choreographed piece last year ( click link for post and video for future elements 2015) who did a great job, and wowed the audience with his rap 'Mr President' which he wrote and produced himself.

Dance crew 'Jack in the Box' kicked off the night with 5 young dancers who displayed a range of different hip-hop styles, with strong showmanship and energy.

'Elementz Youth' are a new youth collective who performed their latest work under the direction of Elementz Ent. founder Lindon Barr and Manny Tsakanika. This was a great display of team work and ensemble hip-hop dance. 

Lashelle serenaded with a raw vocal performance and a great display of her vocal range, passion and power. 

Impressed is an understatement when it comes to describing 'Maverick and Malachi.' The duo, who took the Wandsworth 'Young Performer of the Year' award in 2014 have been performing together ever since, and use their combined lyrical and beat-boxing talent to deliver bars about issues that matter.

They are currently working on a documentary about the importance of creativity within the National Curriculum- a topic that is very close to my heart. A huge well done and dose of encouragement are being sent from me to you boys! Keep using your abilities and talents to move people and spread the word.

Unity Youth took the final performance slot of the evening. Did a tornado enter the room? Did a volcano erupt? Yes! Both at the same time. Known for their clean lines, tour de force energy, stamina, intensity and...my favourite...choreography to grime music, they came unapologetically and conquered. I'll always champion their work as a true demonstration of hip-hop excellence. 

The Future Elements music video project always has a heart and a message worth reflecting upon, and this time it was Karma. see the music video below:

To be involved in the Future Elements Music video project next year, you can email:

education@breakinconvention.com


To the Hip-Hop young performers of the future...keep doing what you are doing because you are already making waves.

Myself with Natasha Gooden-Future Elements Mentor and Breakin' Convention artist

INTO THE HOODS REMIXED- PEACOCK THEATRE: 24.10.15

I'd have to agree with Emma Thompson on this one...yes THE Emma Thompson who said that 'they (ZooNation) are one of my favourite things about this city'. 

This show pretty much encompassed everything I love, not only about London, but also my teenage years, my fondness for dance and generally everything that I think is important. 

I have decided that this post will take the form of a list, otherwise I am in danger of dramatically hero-worshipping for the whole post and I've already done that before.

Please see below for a list of things that this production included that were important to me, and will hopefully resonate with you when you go and see it (oh you must!):

1. A well chosen selection of hip-hop music, edited neatly, including big favourites of mine such as (oh wow I'm having to put a sub-section in the sub-section here):

a) Outkast-Ghettomusick
b) Teardrop-Massive Attack
c) Heard em' Say- Kanye West ft Adam Levine
d) Witness the Fitness- Roots Manuva
e) Overnight Celebrity- Twista

AND MORE (or I'll be here all night)

2. Thoughtful, fast-paced, slick choreography that showcased the dancers skills, the neat editing of the music, and just generally they were (to quote the great Ashley Banjo) ON POINT!

3. A witty narrative- just when you think it will get predictable (which is part of the charm of a fairytale right?) The story 'nips it in the bud' before your brain has to, so you get a feeling of being in-tune with the show. Clever or what!

4. That lighting tho'! ZooNation always get me with this one. Well done Jenny Kershaw (lighting programmer) for those colourful spots and areas that get lit up when the rest of the cast are in darkness...I liked it...I liked it a lot.

5. Animation- A huge 'big-up' here to the animation team. A stand out section had to be in Scene 3 when we were touring 'Beanstalk Towers' and being led up and down the building. That gave me a definite idea of overall style and looked effective. It reminded me a little of the animation used in 'The Animals and Children took to the Streets' by 1927 who are renowned for their stunning animation. However it still had it's own identity, and my personal favourite sections were Spindarella's character entering the ball, and simple moments like the spinning Vinyl's and Jaxx's timer appearing on the wall. It all added huge effect.

6. High levels of creativity- There aren't many shows that can execute what ZooNation manage to achieve here. Firstly the 'spin' on the characters themselves is clever and hilarious. 'Rap-on-Zel' particularly got a huge laugh at the announcement of her name. Jaxx (who get's a little rendition of a Basement Jaxx song every time he appears) as a take on Jack at the basement of 'beanstalk towers'. 'Big Teef' records in which Wolf is the Boss. 

This is why I feel so strongly that we should take our kids to see this. In schools that are working creatively, this way of thinking and adapting will very much compliment their sense of invention and adaptation for their story-writing. We know and teach 'Magpie-ing' so that children know they can take ideas and add it to their nest of creativity. Adapting is something they are very familiar with and can use more and more to improve their work. The creativity in this show is inspiring and ingenious and it left a mark with many in the audience of varying ages. 

Stand-out performances were given by Natasha Gooden who played Lil' Red. I was blown away when I saw her at the Freestyle Funk Forum earlier this year (see the post about it here) because her musicality and strength are off the scale. She hits every movement and beat so sharply that it's like watching a solo optical illusion! Corey Culverwell who I recognised from previous shows and of course from BoyBand on Britain's Got Talent this year also deserves a mention for very similar reasons. He has mastered his craft well and it shows. 

I hope my list gives you an idea of how nuts I am about this kind of theatre, but also the reasons why. If you want something that will make you proud of our city, that will entertain you, that will challenge your children and make you laugh , and that will remind you that dancers aren't there to perform behind someone on a festival stage, but are there because they truly deserve it...get down to see this, before it sells out!

Tickets can be booked by following this link:

Into the Hoods: 23.10.15-14.11.15

@zoonation

@jendubble

INTO THE HOODS-REMIXED: IT'S BACK! 23.10.15-14.11.15 PEACOCK THEATRE

IT'S THE HIP-HOP STORYTELLING EVENT OF THE YEAR!

This is NOT a show to be missed.

The twisted Hip-hop fairytale which originally hit London's West End in 2008 has been refreshed, revamped, re-jigged, re-buffed, re-whateveryouwannacall it! It's been given a makeover and brought right up to date. 

It's set to have the humour, wit and pace of the first show under the direction of Sadler's Wells associate Kate Prince who is, quite frankly, a NARRATIVE WIZARD if you ask me. 

What's more, if you're not based in London, it doesn't have to matter this time, because it's going on a national TOUR.

YES!

This is a big deal for ZooNation as the Peacock Theatre is usually the only spot to catch them doing their thang when they work on a large scale.

Tour Information:

London, Peacock Theatre

23 October – 14 November 2015

Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Grand 

25 – 27 February 2016 

Blackpool, The Grand Theatre

1 – 2 March 2016 

Dartford, The Orchard Theatre 

8 – 9 March 2016 

Leicester, Curve

14 – 15 March 2016

Truro, Hall for Cornwall

18 – 19 March 2016

Sheffield, The Lyceum

22 – 23 March 2016 

Brighton, Brighton Dome

25 – 26 March 2016 

Southampton, Mayflower Theatre 

28 – 29 March 2016 

Canterbury, Marlowe Theatre

1 – 2 April 2016 

Manchester, Manchester HOME 

5 – 9 April 2016 

Show outline

Set in the ‘Ruff Endz Estate’, the story follows two lost school children who have been tasked to find an iPhone as white as milk, trainers as pure as gold, a hoodie as red as blood and some weave as yellow as corn. Along the way, they meet DJ Spinderella, wannabe singer Lil Red, vivacious rapper Rap On Zel, budding music producer Jaxx and embark upon a storybook adventure into the heart of a pulsating community!

If there are any Teachers out there looking for some twisted Fairytale inspiration for your classes (I know it pops up in the curriculum a lot!) this show would be IDEAL. 

Sure we can all take our kids to the pantomime, and sure pantomimes have their place in the theatre world (a very important place as well) but trust me, take your kids to be inspired by a show like 'Into the Hoods-Remixed' and they will thank you for the cool choreography, the massive music, and for being on their level. 

Children's story writing and creativity in the classroom is on a higher level than ever before, and finally there is a production to match the imagination we require from our kids. 

To find out more and to book tickets, click on the link below:

Tickets for: Into the Hoods- Remixed 2015 Tour

PREVIEW: Interview with BOTIS SEVA: In No Form 24.09.15-25.09.15

I got myself down to the Lilian Baylis studio yesterday to speak to Botis Seva, another man in Hip-Hop theatre who is trying to make a change.

It was a pleasure to meet him and have a chat about his company Far From the Norm and what is to be expected in his upcoming Wild Card performance at the Lilian Baylis studio next week.

It looks like we can expect the unexpected and to get prepared to actively participate.

It's Urban Immersive Theatre season for me- I'm liking it! 

Seriously looking forward to seeing this one, and if you haven't got your ticket, check back for returns, because he's so good, he's SOLD OUT!

Jonzi-D Edinburgh show 5.08.15-31.08.15: The Box 6.15pm

 The Letter: To Be Or To MBE

Assembly, George Square, The Box

Jonzi D, the UK’s best known exponent of Hip Hop theatre, presents his acclaimed solo show The Letter. This true and topical tale of one man’s dilemma regarding a proposed MBE honour is told via Jonzi’s sharp and often hilarious portrayal of his friends, colleagues and family. 

Showcasing his signature verbal and physical skills, Jonzi D utilises movement, political observation and humour to explore the concept and prospect of this unexpected accolade. As an authentic East Londoner of Afro-Caribbean descent, his own feelings are as diverse as the various characters he brings to the stage. 

The MBE letter requires a response and just to complicate matters, everyone has an opinion. From the impressionable, husband-seeking house guest to the East London rhyme-spitting weed dealer, Jonzi is confronted by opposing views and gut reactions. His childhood neighbour thinks one thing, a militant friend uncomfortable with an Empire-related honour another. Should Jonzi be swayed and what does an MBE represent anyway? What will his esteemed supporters in the arts think if he rejects it? More to the point, what will his family say? Whilst his eldest sister might not reside in Buckingham Palace she does after all, reign supreme within Jonzi’s family. 

Colourful & warm yet outspoken and at times subversive, The Letter paints a highly personal picture of the ultimate predicament: To be or to MBE? 

Jonzi D is a renowned MC, performer, choreographer and director. He’s been actively involved in British Hip Hop culture and performance since the 1980s and is artistic director of Breakin’ Convention, Sadler’s Wells’s international festival of Hip Hop dance. Breakin’ Convention has been a runaway success since starting in 2004, travelling as far afield as Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theatre. Jonzi’s own devised work includes Aeroplane Man, Tag and Markus The Sadist. The Letter successfully toured the UK in 2013-14. 

As an MC and poet, Jonzi has worked with The Roots, Steve Williamson and Lenny Henry and toured with Gangstarr. He has appeared on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, Channel 4’s Faking It and his pieces Silence da Bitchin’ and Aeroplane Man have been screened by Channel 4. Recently Jonzi presented his inaugural Ted Talk: Recognition Without Permission. Jonzi D is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist. 

“This is a great piece of theatre about the struggle of keeping it real. There is nothing like it. Check it. Jonzi is brilliant. I hate him”. Benjamin Zephaniah 

“The name Jonzi D shouts respect in circles of hip hop dance theatre” The Independent 

“Treads a fine and funny balance between personal and political' The Guardian on The Letter 

Web: assemblyfestival.com Twitter: @jonzid Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonzid 

Venue: Assembly George Square Theatre, Box, EH8 9JZ 

Time: 18.10 Running Time: 50 minutes 

Dates: 5 – 31 August. No shows August 12 and 24 

Tickets: August £6 (August 5,6,7) £10 Mondays £12 All other dates. 2 for one tickets available on August 10, 11. 

Bookings: assemblyfestival.com, 0131 623 3030 or Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square and Assembly Checkpoint 

Post provided by Anna Goodman from Abstrakt Publicity.

KATE PRINCE

When people ask me who I admire most in my life (this doesn't happen all that often actually, but if you imagine Morgan Freeman saying that first line it feels like you are at the beginning of a delightful film doesn't it?) my answer would be Kate Prince. Being a lover of  hip-hop music and rich narratives that strongly connect me to the characters and action (take a breath Jenny!), it's not a surprise that Prince's creation 'ZooNation' became a favourite. When anyone asks me about a ZooNation production, I truly sound like a groupie-a MASSIVE fan.

ZooNation was set up by Kate Prince in 2002, and within eight years became a resident company at Sadler's Wells. The first big production that was commissioned 'Into the Hoods' was a huge hit, marrying traditional fairytales (Lil' Red and the Wolf for example) with modern tracks by artists such as Kanye West, Janet Jackson and Stevie Wonder to name a few.

The ZooNation company has now gone on to produce shows such as 'Some like it Hip Hop' an adaptation of  'Some like it Hot', 'Groove on Down the Road' an adaptation of 'the Wizard of Oz' by ZYC, the youth company, and 'The Mad Hatters tea Party', an original take on the characters from 'Alice in Wonderland'.

The amazing energy and humour from the shows ensure that you leave on a high. The music is always well chosen, and the skill of the dancers showcased is mind-blowing. The strength agility and even acting skills of the performers is of high quality, and more importantly, can appeal to people of all ages.

Prince's vision to put together Hip Hop and narrative that appeals to a huge audience has taken bravery and creativity. A white woman leading the way in hip hop is not so controversial any more, but unusual, and her ethos has been clear from the beginning.

The creative vision in each show will always make your heart smile. Dance battles instead of  job interviews, a white rabbit that has OCD (that's why he's always so late!) and a sensitive boy named Lionel at school who is encouraged to be brave (We all have a bit of a Lion day sometimes?).

I would encourage everyone to go and see anything produced by this lady, as you are guaranteed to enjoy the creative spin put on EVERYTHING that she does (there's that groupie voice again!)

I'd like to thank Kate Prince for being a role-model for risk taking, for making stories fun, modern and relatable, and for having great taste in music!

To keep up to date with ZooNation performances and news on further productions, you can subscribe to the newsletter at the link below.

http://www.zoonation.co.uk

http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/oct/09/kate-prince-choreographer-portrait

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