The Company
The Hip Hop Collective is an innovative and dynamic fusion of the best British, French and American b - boys and b - girls who have joined forces to create and perform original Hip Hop dance on this side of the Atlantic. The company's work is an eclectic and electric mix of Breaking, Locking, Popping, House & Hip Hop.
2004
In May 2004, following their success in Kompany Malakhi's 2003 tour of A Hip Hop Story, Philadelphia based B'boys Marcus Tucker, Husain Zahir and Amra Ricketts returned to the UK with Andrew Ramsey to teach, choreograph and perform with UK based Sunanda Biswas and Normann Charlemoine. The Hip Hop Collective had their world-wide premiere at Sadler's Wells Theatre as part of Breakin' Convention – an International Festival of Hip Hop Dance Theatre where they received wide acclaim:
"…Hip Hop Collective offered knock-out bravura…" Clement Crisp FT Magazine, 22 May 2004
"The Hip Hop Collective, a group of British, American and French dancers, frame the show-off sequences with a group stomp. It's a short, bright, highly focused performance, danced with verve." Zoe Anderson, The Independent, 19 May 2004
"…highlights were the multi-national Hip Hop Collective…" Louis Levene, Sunday Telegraph, 23 May 2004
"…the event soared, with four ace acts that showed how hip hop might work in the theatre rather than in clubs and streets where it began… …part of the bill were the Hip Hop Collective, good athletic movers (head spins, shoulder spins, one-handed handstand spins)…" Sarah Frater, The Evening Standard, 17 May 2004
Following their debut they toured across the UK over the summer with 'Raw & Real', a performance and education programme. "Heroes" was performed in theatres as well as outdoors at festivals and was a huge hit with audiences everywhere, from toddlers to teenagers and even pensioners. Alongside performing the dancers undertook an extensive training programme, teaching workshops and week-long summer schools as well as touring their school performance programme in London and Leicestershire. The company received overwhelmingly positive responses to all their performances and teaching and created quite a following during their tour. Not only are the dancers' skills extraordinary but also their attitude and philosophy of inclusive Hip Hop is a great example, and role model, for young people today.