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
Join Young Barbican
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 Cosby, Jill Shelley, Angie Smith Producers
Anna Dominian, Bridget 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 Maisey, Lee Tasker Production Managers
Tony Brand, Steve Daly, Jane Dickerson, Martin Morgan, Stevie Porter Technical Managers
Lucinda Hamlin, Charlotte Oliver Stage Managers
John Gilroy, Nik Kennedy, Jamie Massey, Adam Parrott, Tom Salmon, John Seston, Chris Wilby Technical Supervisors
David Green PA to Head of Theatre
Caroline Hall Production Administrator
Andrew Pellett Production Assistant
Kendell Foster, Burcham Johnson, Christian Lyons, Charlie Mann, Josh Massey, Matt Nelson, Lawrence Sills, Neil Sowerby Technicians
Heather Readdy Systems and Maintenance Technician
Fiona Badgery, Gary Hunt, Nicola Lake Venue Managers
Rebecca Oliver Access and Licensing Manager
Harriet Davis, Rob Norris, Elizabeth Wilks Centre Managers (Delivery)
Pheona Kidd Centre Manager (Planning)
Mo Reideman Centre Manager (Health & Safety)
Julian Fox, aLbi 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.
