28 Students From 12 Local Schools To Perform With Professional Dance Company In Wolverhampton

On Wednesday 27 January, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre played host to twelve local schools and colleges in a dance showcase collaboration with internationally acclaimed Hip Hop company ZooNation. 28 students have been handpicked by professional dancers from the ZooNation Company to perform a curtain raiser before the opening performance of the UK tour of INTO THE HOODS: REMIXED which receives its touring premiere at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on Thursday 25 February. The students will also perform before the show on Saturday 27 February.
 
Over the past 4 months, the Grand Theatre and ZooNation offered a professional arts experience to local schools ahead of opening the national tour. With significant support from Arts Connect, the Grand Theatre and ZooNation have created an outreach scheme that provided opportunities for Key Stage 4 dance students in local schools and colleges to work with professional choreographers. In the showcase, each school presented a hip hop dance routine based around a traditional fairytale and twisted the narrative. 
 
The dancers chosen are from Coppice Performing Arts School, St. Matthias School, Highfields School, City Of Wolverhampton College, South Wolverhampton & Bilston Academy, The King’s CE School, Birmingham Ormiston Academy, Ormiston Shelfield Community Academy, Halesowen College, Moreton School, George Salter Academy and Our Lady & St Chad Catholic Academy.
 
The original production, INTO THE HOODS, first premiered at the Peacock Theatre in 2006, later opening at the Novello Theatre in 2008. It became both the first ever hip hop dance show to open in the West End and the longest running dance show in the West End’s history. The show won the Theatregoers’ Choice Award for Best Ensemble Performance, and founder of ZooNation, Kate Prince was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. She also choreographed So You Think You Can Dance for the BBC and the movie Streetdance3D.

Activity Supported by Arts Connect West Midlands as part of their Partnership Investment Programme.

INTO THE HOODS runs from 25 - 27 February. For more information and to book, click here.