What a year it’s been!
We wanted to take some time to thank you all for supporting us through this very busy year.
We’ve gained 145 followers on Facebook, meaning 2,580 of you have been strong believers in the work we’ve done and continue to do.
Over 500 people have attended our events! That’s enough to fully pack Pegasus Theatre four times! We’re nearly at 1900 followers on Instagram; and 1800 of you seem to think we’re doing okay on Twitter.
With the festive season still in full swing, we’re taking this chance to look back at an eventful year and highlight things that defined our growth!
End of theFoundation
Many of you would have known us for the Hip Hop dance foundation classes we ran for years in London. The Bank Side Health Club in Southwark was our home for the last time, from Sunday 8 January- Sunday 12 February 2017.
The last term focused on helping movers improve their choreography pickup and understanding of foundations. Taught by Jack MacKenzie, Bly Richards, Sasha Shadid, Brooke Milliner, Hazel Culliney, Clara Banjado, Glenn Hudson, Jasmin Saulo, Joshua Nash, Viki Cercek, Leroy Curwood and Chris Arias, be sure to know we closed off this chapter in style!
Reflections Triple Bill at Pegasus Theatre, 6 March 2017
After learning our ACE funding application for ‘Reflections’ was successful, we decided to take the plunge and become a hip hop theatre making company focused on raising awareness about mental health in young people.
We created our first full-length show, a triple bill, that was performed to a sold-out audience at Pegasus Theatre, Oxford. Reflections – containing Me, Myself, and I; Father Figurine; and Reflections – was well received, with feedback we’ve been proud of since.
“I have never seen anything quite like it, and it was an experience that will stay with me for a long time. The performance was beautiful, moving and a phenomenal way to raise awareness of mental health. I only wish every young person in England could watch this performance, as I think it was would be an innovative and powerful way to reduce the stigma of mental health before it fully develops.” – Annie Sillence, Active Body Healthy Mind Coordinator, Oxfordshire Mind
Kinjaz 2017
Who could forget these superstars returning to London!
Anthony Lee, Pat Cruz, and Vinh Nguyen loved us so much when we hosted them in 2015 that they couldn’t wait to come back!
We enjoyed over 9hrs of intense, top notch training and insight over two days. Capped off with a unique and hilarious Q/A session.
The M Word
We teamed up with Dancin’ Oxford to launch the ‘M Word’ project in September. A series of classes that focused on working with young people to explore mental health through street dance.
We worked in the local community centres of Blackbird Leys, Wood Farm and Rose Hill to create bespoke classes for young people aged 12-16yrs. The term ended with a performance by the young people at the Oxford Christmas Light Festival! Their first time ever on a dance stage!
And they had some lovely words for us once about the project! We love the fact they found talking about mental health and doing choreography “fun and interesting”!
5th Birthday
We turned five in September!
From starting in Oxford to expanding to London, transitioning from hosting workshops, into creating professional work for the stage; we’ve gone from strength to strength.
All thanks to you and your appetite for what we do.
We’ll leave this busy 2017 behind with a simple message: Thank you to ALL so much, and watch this space!