ZooNation Dance Company’s acclaimed show is set to return. Into the Hoods: Remixed, the newly revamped version of the award-winning production that stormed the West End in 2008, returns to The Peacock from 23 October–14 November, before embarking on a national tour in 2016.
The company uses its trademark narrative hip hop dance theatre style to tell the story of two school children, lost in the Ruff Endz Estate. They have been tasked by the Landlord to find an iPod touch as white as milk, trainers as pure as gold, a hoodie as red as blood and some weave as yellow as corn. Along the way, they meet DJ Spinderella, wannabe singer Lil Red, vivacious rapper Rap On Zel and budding music producer Jaxx. Together they embark upon a storybook adventure, set to music from James Brown, Queen Latifah, Jay Z, Jennifer Hudson, Kool + The Gang, Salt n Pepa, Chemical Brothers and MC Hammer.
The original Into The Hoods received universal praise at two Edinburgh Fringe runs and during its West End run in 2008, winning the What’s On Stage Award for Best Ensemble Performance. Its success has had a huge impact on the profile of hip hop dance in the UK; the production became the first ever hip hop dance show to open in the West End and one of the longest running dance shows in the West End’s history. The much-loved show returns to the stage with a cast featuring Corey Culverwell and Mikey Ureta, former members of ZooNation Youth Company and finalists on Britain’s Got Talent with their crew BoyBand.
Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Kate Prince founded ZooNation Dance Company in 2002. In 2008 Kate choreographed the West End cast of Into the Hoods for a special performance for Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Concert in Hyde Park. Following many other successes, Kate’s most recent work includes writing, directing and co-choreographing ZooNation’s productions Groove On Down The Road for the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, and The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which was the first hip hop dance piece to be commissioned by the Royal Opera House.