A hip-hop theatre show exploring one boy’s intimate journey of gender transition, directed by an award-winning choreographer who has worked with the likes of Lady Gaga and Coldplay, is heading to Hull.
After a sell-out international tour of their production Smother, 201 Dance Company’s contemporary hip-hop style returns with SKIN a journey of self-discovery as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017’s Back to Ours festival.
Blending urban and contemporary styles and original music, SKIN is a fast paced, emotionally driven story of identity and belonging.
Crafting the choreography is the founder of 201 Andrea Walker, who recently choreographed and danced Ebony Bones’ tour and opened Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation Show in Miami.
Andrea – who has also worked with Coldplay, Aggro Santos, Kimberly Walsh (Girls Aloud), Impact Dance (Peacock Theatre), Xbox, T-Mobile, Martini and D&G – directs a cast of seven dancers, whose credits include Britain’s Got Talent, MTV and N Dubz.
Andrea said:
“SKIN follows a trans boy’s journey of belonging and acceptance that many of us will find familiar. We see his battles with anxiety, family and ideologies imposed by today’s society. It’s become something very emotional that anyone who has ever felt out of place will be able to relate to.
“LGBTQ themes are not usually tackled through urban dance, so it’s a boundary I purposely set out to break. I like to tell stories that expose issues in an accessible way. Hip-hop makes this possible, and I believe LGBTQ stories now need to be told more than ever.”
He added: “The show is a real rollercoaster of emotions, with some powerful choreography and genuine performances.
“If you didn’t think hip-hop could make you cry, you might be in for a surprise.”
SKIN will be performed from Tuesday 31 October (7.30pm) to Wednesday 1 November (2pm & 7.30pm) at Winifred Holtby Academy. Tickets, which cost £2.50 for children and £5 for adults, are available from www.hull2017.co.uk/backtoours
