Boy Blue, REDD | Photo: Carl Cox
Dance Umbrella’s Fairfield Takeover came to a close with internationally acclaimed company Boy Blue’s latest show REDD, fresh from its premiere at the Barbican. Following the international triumph of Blak Whyte Gray their newest dance theatre production is about those irreversible moments in life and how they can affect us in different ways.
All life is balance. With happiness and light must come darkness. Audiences are invited to take a leap into the void, as nine dancers begin an introspective journey exploring how, after trauma, we may find inner peace.
Intrigued by how the mind seeks to put things in order (from the Gaelic verb ‘redd’), Boy Blue contrast a lo-fi hip-hop score with powerful choreography in this new work. Founded by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, the company’s Blak Whyte Gray toured nationally and internationally, wowing audiences from New York to Taiwan.
DU: Fairfield Takeover is produced and presented by Dance Umbrella in partnership with Fairfield Halls and Croydon Council
“Exceptionally tight … a powerful piece of hip-hop theatre.”
Gallery +
Creative team and performers +
- Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE
Creator and Director - Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Creator and Director - Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE
Choreographer - Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante
Composer - Ryan Dawson Laight
Costumes - Charlie Morgan
Lighting
- Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, Nicey Belgrave, Tanaka Bingwa, Mikiel Donovan, Shannelle ‘Tali’ Fergus, Emma Houston, Ajani Johnson-Goffe, Kayla Lomas-Kirton, Kelsey Miller
Dancers
Awards & Nominations +
Black British Theatre Awards 2020
Best Choreographer (won)
Kenrick H20 Sandy, REDD
Best Dance Performance in a Dance Production (won)
Kenrick H20 Sandy, REDD
Best Dance Production (nominated)
Boy Blue, REDD
National Dance Awards 2020
Outstanding Male Modern Performance (nominated)
Kenrick H20 Sandy in REDD
Credits +
DU: Fairfield Takeover is produced and presented by Dance Umbrella in partnership with Fairfield Halls and Croydon Council.
Original production of REDD Commissioned by the Barbican, Produced by Boy Blue, Co-produced by Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival and HOME Manchester. Barbican performances presented in association with Dance Umbrella. With thanks to BA (Hons) Dance: Urban Practice programme – University of East London.
