ZooNation has been commissioned to perform a hip-hop dance piece to West Side Story accompanied by the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Olivier Awards 2011 on Sunday 13 March.

They are joined with ThickSkin Dance Company to create special choreography for the annual event at Theatre Royal Drury Lane where composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim is to be recognised for his contribution to theatre.

Update: Video –  ZooNation at Olivier Awards 2011 West Side Story

ZooNation was the dance company behind the hip hop musical Into the Hoods, loosely based on Sondheim’s musical Into the Woods. Presently the dance company is working on the follow up, Some Like It Hip Hop scheduled for autumn 2011 at the Peacock Theatre.

During the awards ceremony there will also be highlights from the nominated musicals including Into the Woods, Legally Blonde, Love Never Dies.

BBC Radio 2 will broadcast the event live on the evening with live coverage of the red carpet, ceremony and all the performances from the stage, via the BBC’s Red Button service.

BBC News will also cover the red carpet before and a full results and reaction programme after the ceremony, presented by Jane Hill and arts editor Will Gompertz.

The full line up and tickets for the Olivier Awards 2011 can be found at www.olivierawards.com.