Photo Coverage: World Premiere of BLAK WHYTE GRAY
The world in flux, a mood for change: the artists of Boy Blue give expression to experiences of contemporary life. Fuelled by an emotional energy, Blak Whyte Gray pairs the concentrated physicality of select hip-hop dance styles with the rhythmical groove of music and moves evoking Africa. Progressing from story-driven hits such as The Five & the Prophecy of Prana, Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy and Michael 'Mikey J' Asante inject this compelling dance production with an unexpected abstract quality, revealing a different side to the company's personality, with lighting by Olivier Award-nominated Lee Curran and costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight.
Check out exclusive photos below!
The dancers are Ricardo Da Silva, Idney De'Almeida, Natasha Gooden, Dan-I Harris-Walters, Gemma Kay Hoddy, Dickson Mbi, Nicole McDowall, and Theo 'Godson' Oloyade.
Following the Barbican run, Blak Whyte Gray tours to HOME in Manchester (Thu 9 - Sat 11 Feb 2017).
Asante said: "Whilst our work has always responded in some way to the issues that young people face today, this is the first time we express these thoughts artistically on such a large scale. It feels like an important time to be talking about these things: Black Lives Matter; the socio-political climate post-referendum; inequality in our society and the role of social media."
Boy Blue co-founder Michael 'Mikey J' Asante is a producer, composer, singer, dancer and DJ who is at the forefront of the UK urban music. Asante has produced music for TV, theatre and film including Boy Blue Entertainment's Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution and The Five & the Prophecy of Prana, Touch and Legacy and the UK box office hits Street Dance 3D and All Stars. Asante collaborated with Kano on his MOBO Award-winning and Mercury Prize-nominated Made in the Manor and the artist's gold selling album Home Sweet Home. He produced Delilah's Inside My Love which featured on her debut album From the Roots Up, which went to no.5 in the UK charts. Alongside Sandy, he contributed creatively to the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony. Mikey is currently in the studio with George The Poet, New Plan B signing Ryan De La Cruz and Roxxan.
Lee Curran has designed lighting for numerous dance productions including Sun and Political Mother (Hofesh Shechter), Untouchable (Royal Ballet), Clowns (Nederlands Dans Theater), and Tomorrow (Rambert). His theatre credits include Constellations (New York, West End, Royal Court) for which he was nominated for Best Lighting Design at the Oliver Awards, Jesus Christ Superstar (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre) and X and Linda (Royal Court). In 2016, he was nominated for a Knight of Illumination Award for Orpheé et Eurydice (Royal Opera House).
Photo credit: Roy Tan
BLAK WHYTE GRAY
BLAK WHYTE GRAY
BLAK WHYTE GRAY
BLAK WHYTE GRAY
BLAK WHYTE GRAY
BLAK WHYTE GRAY
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