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A Night with Boy Blue

Dancers on stage with raised fists

Welcome to the Barbican and thank you for joining us for our 40th birthday! 2022 also marks Boy Blue’s 21st anniversary, and what better way to celebrate our significant milestones than with A Night with Boy Blue – the company’s exuberant biennial event, showcasing the talents of the entire Boy Blue family in our Theatre. We’re proud to have Boy Blue as our Artistic Associates and we were thrilled that co-founder Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante was recently recognised with an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. Together with co-founder Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, the pair continue to inspire generation after generation of young people. Today you’ll see the result of this on our stage as 130 dancers, the very youngest of whom is only six years old, share their incredible energy and joy with us all.

We hope you have a fantastic evening.

Toni Racklin,
Head of Theatre and Dance, Barbican

 

Award-winning hip hop dance theatre company Boy Blue was founded in east London in 2001 by choreographer Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE and composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE.

This year, Boy Blue turns 21 and is focussing on the essence of ‘Looking Back, Moving Forward’. This encourages the company and audiences to reflect on and recognise all the achievements and accolades of the past 21 years, whilst looking to the future and propelling the company further. A Night with Boy Blue 2022 is the perfect way to kick start these celebrations, with the next generation of Boy Blue dancers sharing the company's home stage with the dancers who have contributed to the legacy of Boy Blue.

Boy Blue

Programme

Anniversary Part 1 Vibes

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, with additional choreographic contributions by Nimmer ‘Nimmz’ Riaz. Assisted by Brendan ‘Syxx’ Isaac, Yolanda Newsome, Bruno Perrier, Nuna Sandy and Mary Weah.

Music remixed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.


Sky Blue

Choreographed by Jess Lewis. Assisted by Irena Cuturic and Anmol Kaur.

Music remixed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.

Company B&C: Dubbie/New World Order

Choreographed by Yolanda Newsome, Bruno Perrier and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy.

Original composition by Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante.

 

The Blueprint: Number 1 – Outliers version

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, assisted by Anmol Kaur.

Original composition by Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Prince Skit

Originally choreographed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, Bradley ‘Bradz’ Charles and Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe. Additional choreography by Nathaniel Impraim Jones assisted by Nadine Deschamps and Nimmer ‘Nimmz’ Riaz.

Music remixed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Guest Performance

New Movementz UK: Alpha House

Choreographed by Jordan JFunk Franklin.

Music remixed by Josh Franklin.


Uhuru (Freedom)

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy.

Original composition by Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Interval

Anniversary Part 2 Conceptual

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, assisted by Nicey Belgrave, Nathaniel Impraim Jones and Bruno Perrier.

Original composition by Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante.
 

Boy Blue Youth

Choreographed by Jimmy Allan, Nicey Belgrave, Malachi Lewis-Paul and Yolanda Newsome.

Music remixed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Unusual Force

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, with original choreographic contributions from Vicky ‘Skytilz’ Mantey.

Music remixed by Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante.
 

Pufferz

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy.

Original composition by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Company A: Gully Grey Set

Choreographed by Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy. Assisted by Lara Rose McCabe, with contribution from Company A.

Music remixed by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Finale

Choreographed by Jess Lewis, Poppydene Lingham, Bruno Perrier, and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, assisted by Tanaka Bingwa, Hanna Dimtsu and Nuna Sandy.

Original composition by Michael 'Mikey J’ Asante.

 

Running time: 2 hours plus interval

Performers

Sky Blue

Annabelle

Keyan

Okai

Sahara
Sh’Mya

Shaye

 

The Bluez

Chenai-Louise Camps

Jessice Deane

Tafari Cazembe Edwards

Maci Hughes

Shaylah Johnson

Sorayiah Morgan

Maggie Nash

James Paul Savellano Nisperos

Keira Perez
Indiah Sandy

Chloe Scannell

Sadie Thwaites

Teah Tournier Winchester

 

The Blueprint

Luke Acheampong

Aimee Butcher

Darcey Duala

Lucy Gray

Liberty Greig

Alison Mary Hassell

Ché La McKenzie Lewis

India Murray

Luca Murray

Emma Rowland

Kenyah Sandy

Evie Stocker

Sienna Walsh

 

Adult Company A

Jimmy Allan

Jonathan Baron

Tanaka Bingwa

Gabija Cepelyte

Irena Cuturic

Hanna Dimtsu

Luca Fracasso

Laura Anne Harrison

Ellie Kinsey

Penelope Klamert

Niquelle LaTouche

Jess Lewis

Poppydene Lingham
Lara Rose McCabe

Jenai Mason

Axsle Neil

Shiantayé Northover-Neita

Amalia Triana Quintana

Masaiya Thomas

Aisha Webber

 

Adult Company B

Laura Jade Cleary

Alicia Cox

Susie Doyle

Sonnie Girl

Wiktoria Grzes

Chloe Lester

Ivona Orlovic

DHK Pandi

Caitlin Parrott

Aga Pokorska

Chiara Seghezzi

Sarah Smith

Martha Mars Vale

Adult Company C

Daniella Abrahams-Atitebi

Yassmine Akesbi

Ibukunoluwa Alamutu

Temisis Conway

Donte George Gayle-Dwyer

Lily-Rose Hope

Kishon Roberts

Francesco Tranchina

 

Alumni and veterans

Karen A

John Mathew Aben

Kurtis Agyekum

Bismark Anobah

Nicey Belgrave

Chantelle Capstick

Bradley ‘Bradz’ Charles

Kloe Dean

Nadine Deschamps

George ‘Unkle TC’ Duker

Olivia Francis

Jordan JFunk Franklin

Nadia ‘Trubz’ Gardner-Charles

Vanessa Green

Jade Hackett

Dominic Hamilton

Brendan 'Syxx' Isaac

Sir Ashley J

Mira Jebari

Sabrina 'LMS' Johnson
Nathaniel Impraim Jones

Anmol Kaur

Oliver Kludjeson

Akwasi Kwarteng

Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe

Malachi Lewis-Paul

Francesca Miles

Kelsey ‘Hydro’ Miller

Ellie Tay Morgan

Yolanda Newsome

Angela Nurse

Francesca Passera-Hughes

Bruno Perrier

Serina Raymond

Nimmer ‘Nimmz’ Riaz

Nuna Sandy

Eloise Sheldon

Olivia Shouler

Elaine Simpson

Nadia Sohawon

Mary Weah

Miki Witney

 

New Movementz

Aaliyah Aaron

Lauren Ball

Mo'nique Collins

Aiesha Fontaine

Jordan JFunk Franklin

Josh Franklin

Tilly Geddes

Joelle Matondo

Masaiya Thomas

Alfie Williams

£5 Young Barbican exhibition tickets

Aged 14-25? Sign up for free and unlock £5 exhibition tickets for you and a mate

Creative team

Boy Blue

Composer and Co-Artistic Director Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Choreographer and Co-Artistic Director Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy

Production Manager Andy Downie
Company Stage Manager Carly Hook
Assistant Stage Manager Zoe Gledhill
Assistant Stage Manager Andrew Pellett
AV Manager Jon Beattie
Creative Lighting Programmer Hector Murray

Executive Director Jo Stendall
General Manager Neena Shea
Creative Learning Producer Kathleen Murphy

Photographer Ruby Ldn
Marketing footage Dennis George Zimmerman
Archive filming Simon Chue

Head Chaperone Elaine Franklin
Chaperones Erick Basly, Zak Maguire, Renée Ocran, Kathleen Outen, Jacqueline Pearson, Yiannis Savva

Boy Blue Board

Niki Cornwell
Kieran Jay
Sanjivan Kohli
Gurd Lidder
Dawn Prentice
Andrea Sasu
Nicholas Triantafyllou
Sarah Wall

Boy Blue thanks:

Angie Smith, Bridget Thornborrow, Kyle Bradshaw, Lee Tasker and the Barbican technical team; Hannah Bruce and Arts Council England; Zahra Maalow and Forest Gate Youth Zone; Studio X7even; Chaperones4Kidz; and Steph Duala.

Everyone who has danced in Boy Blue past and present.

Family and friends who have dropped off, waited around and collected our young artists over the years.

Boy Blue dancers who are no longer with us. We miss you.

Barbican Theatre Department

Toni Racklin Head of Theatre and Dance 
Simon Bourne Senior Production Manager 
Leanne CosbyJill Shelley, Angie Smith Producers 
Anna DominianBridget Thornborrow Assistant Producers 
Kyle Bradshaw Marketing Manager
Rebecca Moore Marketing Assistant
Angela Dias Senior Communications Manager
Ella Gold Communications Intern
Freddie Todd Fordham Communications Officer
Lauren Brown Creative Learning Producer (Theatre, Dance, Poetry)
Jamie MaiseyLee Tasker Production Managers  
Tony BrandSteve Daly, Jane DickersonMartin MorganStevie Porter Technical Managers  
Lucinda HamlinCharlotte Oliver Stage Managers 
John Gilroy, Nik KennedyJamie MasseyAdam ParrottTom SalmonJohn SestonChris Wilby Technical Supervisors 
David Green PA to Head of Theatre 
Caroline Hall Production Administrator 
Andrew Pellett Production Assistant 
Kendell FosterBurcham Johnson, Christian LyonsCharlie MannJosh MasseyMatt Nelson, Lawrence SillsNeil Sowerby Technicians 
Heather Readdy Systems and Maintenance Technician 
Fiona BadgeryGary HuntNicola Lake Venue Managers 
Rebecca Oliver Access and Licensing Manager 
Harriet DavisRob NorrisElizabeth Wilks Centre Managers (Delivery) 
Pheona Kidd Centre Manager (Planning) 
Mo Reideman Centre Manager (Health & Safety) 
Julian FoxaLbi Gravener Stage Door

Biographies

Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE
Co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue

Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE is the co-founder and co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue, an Artistic Associate of the Barbican, and a renowned choreographer and performer. His credits are extensive: as choreographer he’s responsible for the film R.E.B.E.L (2018), the dance theatre shows REDD (2019), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), A Night With Boy Blue (2018, 2016, 2015, 2013) and Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2007). He collaborated with director Danny Boyle for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, winning the Evening Standard’s Beyond Theatre award. Sandy and Boyle reunited in 2017 to film Boy Blue’s Emancipation of Expressionism, a set work on the GCSE Dance syllabus. On-screen work includes choreography for the BAFTA Awards, All Stars and T2 Trainspotting, plus appearances on Street Dance 3D and the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance. He has also created choreography for artists FKA twigs and Rita Ora, and brands Nike, adidas and ASOS. In 2017, Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy was awarded an MBE for Services to Dance and the Community, and a Companionship from LIPA and an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS) from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2018.

 

Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE
Co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue

Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE is a renowned producer, composer and DJ, whose 20-year career history is firmly etched in the UK black music industry. As co-artistic director of hip hop dance theatre company Boy Blue, founded in 2001 with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, he is credited with the direction and composition of REDD (2019),

the film R.E.B.E.L (2018), Outliers (2018), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), Touch (2011), Legacy (2011) and Pied Piper (2007).

As a producer, he has worked with major label artists including Delilah, Raleigh Ritchie, Estelle and George the Poet. Notably Asante has worked extensively with Kano, including engineering and production on the critically acclaimed album Made in the Manor and the albums Home Sweet Home, London Town and 140 Grime Street. Recent TV and theatre work include: composing for Tree, a Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba creation for Manchester International Festival; composing for Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship, a National Geographic documentary special; the BBC documentary The Three Lives of Michael X; and a collaboration with Brian Eno on two series of Netflix’s Top Boy. Outside the studio, Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante mentors and delivers master classes in directing, choreography and music and is also a Professor of electronic music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s faculty, from which, in 2018, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS). In the 2022 New Year’s Honours, Asante received an MBE for Services to Hip Hop Dance and Music.

About Boy Blue

Founded in London in 2001, Boy Blue is the award-winning brainchild of composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE and choreographer Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE.

Weaving frontline stage and screen work around the elevation of hip-hop culture, Boy Blue have created works that include Pied Piper (2007), The Five & The Prophecy of Prana (2013), Blak Whyte Gray (2017), Outliers (2018) and REDD (2019). Film work includes R.E.B.E.L, and Emancipation of Expressionism, a set work of the GCSE Dance syllabus. Boy Blue run a highly respected dance training programme in east London and teach, train and mentor throughout the UK and internationally.

Barbican Theatre