Boy Blue North: Calling North West Hip Hop Dancers / Groups

Are you a hip hop dancer or group in the North West?  Want to  develop your skills, network, jam and experiment with ideas?

After coming to HOME last year with their Olivier nominated production Blak Whyte Gray, Boy Blue’s Artistic Directors, Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy MBE and Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, are back this summer and in partnership with HOME will work with the next generation of emerging hip hop artists in the North West.

During this time, you will develop your skills, network, jam and experiment with ideas. You will learn different Boy Blue pieces and more about our ethos. The project will culminate in a professional showcase on HOME’s T1 stage in August, platforming the best hip hop talent in the region.

This opportunity is open to any individual or group who is dancing regularly in the hip hop scene in the North West region. You must be over 18.

Dates to note

  • Fri 15 June, 12noon: Deadline for expression of interest
  • Sat 7 & Sun 8 July, all day: selection weekend (intensive workshops and routines)

Additionally, if selected you need to be available

  • Sat 21 & Sun 22 July, all day: workshops
  • Mon 30 July – Sat 4 Aug: performances.

For more information and to book your place

Please email sarah.sharp@homemcr.org   telling us a bit about your experience and why you would like to take part by Friday 29 June, 12noon. A member of the HOME team will then contact you with further information.

FAQs

  •  Can you tell me a bit more about Boy Blue? 

Award-winning dance company Boy Blue was founded in London in 2001 by choreographer Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy MBE and composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante. The company is an Artistic Associate at the Barbican.

Boy Blue’s work is immediate, vital and responsive and its education work is at the heart of this.  We create and nurture creative communities; BB NORTH is our way of doing this in the North West.

Boy Blue’s credits include; Blak Whyte Gray (2017), nominated for Best New Dance Production at the 2017 Olivier Awards and Best Modern Choreography at the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards, the film Emancipation of Expressionism (2017) (Dir. Danny Boyle) which is on the AQA GCSE Dance Syllabus, A Night with Boy Blue (2016, 2015, 2013), The Five & The Prophecy of Prana (2013), the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, Unleashed (2012) Touch (2011) and Pied Piper: A hip-hop dance revolution (2007) which won the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre (Theatre Royal Stratford East).

Why are Boy Blue focusing on this region?

We want to contribute to the existing training and professional development for hip hop artists here. In partnership with HOME, we want to develop this by creating a hub of activity as well as providing an opportunity for you to perform in a professional capacity.

How old do I have to be to take part?

You must be 18 or over.   

What level do I have to be at to take part?

At this stage, we want to hear from anyone who is dancing regularly in the hip hop scene in the North West region.

When do I have to be available to take part in BB NORTH?

We ask that you are available all day on:

  • Sat 7 and Sun 8 July 2018: these two days will be the selection process for the project. You will take part in intensive workshops and routines. At the end, Boy Blue will select the artists for the project.

If you are selected, we ask that you are available on:

  • Sat 21 and Sun 22 July 2018
  • Mon 30 July – Sat 4 August 2018 (performance day).

Do I have to pay to take part?

We will ask for a contribution of £5 per day on the following dates

Sat 7 and Sun 8 July 2018

Sat 21 and Sun 22 July 2018 

There will be no charge for any of the other dates.

Are there any bursaries available?

HOME can provide support to individuals who feel they may not be able to afford the contribution. For more information, please contact jennie.mccusker@homemcr.org

How do I register interest?

For more information and to book your place, please email jennie.mccusker@homemcr.org  telling us a bit about your experience and why you would like to take part. A member of the HOME team will then contact you with further information.

When is the deadline?

You must apply by Friday 29 June at 12noon.

Who do I contact for more information?

For further information or if you have any questions please contact jennie.mccusker@homemcr.org