Boy Blue, Blak Whyte Gray, Barbican Theatre

Since the premiere of Blak Whyte Gray at the Barbican in the winter of 2017, the hip hop company formerly known as Boy Blue Entertainment has changed its name to Boy Blue. Otherwise, this extraordinary hip hop triple bill remains unchanged.

Blak Whyte Gray is the first full length abstract work by company founders Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, but to say it’s abstract doesn't mean it carries no emotional content.

Rooted in the hip hop dance phenomenon, which Asante and Sandy have done so much to promote as a mainstream format, Blak Whyte Gray is their stylised response to their own experiences and a celebration of culture.

Part 1, Whyte, has three dancers drawing on robotics and body popping; it is noticeable for its sparse style.

Part 2, Gray, involves the full company of eight dancers and is rooted in krumping, the dancing style characterised by free, expansive – exaggerated even – movements of arms and legs, which evolved to release anger and frustration in a non-violent way.

The final section, Blak, is the most personal and internalised, and centers on a mesmerising solo for a male performer.

Danced to a sound score by DJ Asante, strikingly lit by Lee Curran with costumes by Ryan Dawson Laight, Black Whyte Gray is a fierce and affecting hip hop show, and the recipient of an Olivier nomination. It is part of the Barbican’s The Art of Change season.

Age Guidance: 12+