Breakin’ Convention has announced the line up for its second Back to the Lab choreographic intensive course in 2013.
Anthony Bayou of Limited Edition, Kendra Horsburgh of BirdGang, Robby Graham of Bad Taste Cru and Vicky Mantey of Boy Blue Entertainment are to be the four hip hop dance choreographers that will be mentored by acclaimed choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh and overseen by Breakin’ Convention’s artistic director Jonzi D to devise and create brand new hip hop dance theatre work that thinks outside the typical hip hop box.
The Back to the Lab course explores new ways of approaching choreography, direction and staging using experienced hip hop dancers and a director that is from a realm outside of hip hop. The course aims to give participants the means to approach work from fresh, new and interesting angles without losing the essence of what they do whilst elevating the profile of UK hip hop dance theatre.
Commenting on her appointment as a mentor Shobana Jeyasingh said: “Jonzi D is a remarkable artist and pioneer and I am very much looking forward to working with him in this project. Mentoring is a rewarding activity where one both gives and receives – a real leap into the unknown!”
Shobana Jeyasingh is trained in classical and traditional Indian dances such as Bharata Natyam and is acclaimed for her pioneering work in choreography which draws from her South Asian roots.
“As all dance styles have foundations, Back To The Lab develops participant’s foundations for hip hop theatre,” Jonzi D added: “Shobana’s experience of bringing a non-European form into the theatre and making it relevant to the contemporary dance idiom is extremely valuable to us. She has been creating work for more than 25 years with a career packed with awards and critical acclaim, she brings a real quality and depth of experience.”
At the end of the course each choreographer will premiere a short piece of their work at Sadler’s Wells on Saturday 16 February 2013 with tickets going on sale soon.
About Back to the Lab
The first Back to the Lab course took place in 2011 with choreographers Ashley Jack (Jackin The Box), Botis Seva (Far From The Norm), Ivan Blackstock (Birdgang), Simeon Qsyea (Birdgang), and Toby G (Street Factory) under the direction of contemporary choreographer Jasmin Vardiman. All went on to have work commissioned for the Breakin’ Convention festival and tour and develop their work further at other choreographic showcases.
