Founder and Choreographer
Founder and Composer
Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue, Associate Artist at the Barbican, London, is undoubtedly one of the most renowned choreographers, performers and teachers in the UK commercial and theatrical scenes.
Sandy’s credits are extensive having worked in TV, film and theatre, at home and abroad, alongside Boy Blue’s 2001 inception. As a choreographer he’s responsible for Cycles (2024) REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), the Olivier–nominated Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), A Night With Boy Blue (2025, 2022, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013) and the Olivier award winning Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2006). He also co-directed and choreographed Unleashed for the Barbican (2012).
In 2023, Sandy was part of the creative team of Free Your Mind, a Factory International commission to open their new building, Aviva Studios, in Manchester. Working alongside Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, Danny Boyle, Es Devlin and Sabrina Mahfouz, Free Your Mind was a large-scale undertaking based on a reimagining of the classic sci-fi film The Matrix.
Off the main stage, Sandy collaborated with director Danny Boyle for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, winning the Evening Standard’s Beyond Theatre award. Sandy also worked on the Closing Winter Paralympic 2014 Ceremony and the 2007 Tour De France opening in Trafalgar Square, London. Theatre work includes Play On (2024) and Guys and Dolls (2017) for Talawa, and Once On This Island for Regent’s Park OpenAir Theatre (2023).
On screen work includes choreography on the BAFTA Awards, for All Stars and T2 Trainspotting, plus appearances on Street Dance 3D, the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance and CBBC’s Alesha’s Street Dance Stars. In 2015 he judged the inaugural BBC Young Dancer Competition. As a performer himself, his repertoire includes Legacy Re:Loaded at the Jerwood Dance House and Jonzi D’s Lyrikal Fearta Redux at Sadler’s Wells.
In 2017 Sandy was awarded an MBE for services to dance and the community in the Queen’s New Years honours list, an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS) from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2018 and in 2019, a Companionship from LIPA.
East London born Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante MBE is a renowned producer, composer, singer, dancer and DJ, whose history is firmly etched in the UK black music industry, taking the sounds of sub-culture to a global audience over the course of his 25 year long career.
As co-founder and co-artistic director of Boy Blue, founded in 2001 with Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy, Asante is credited with the conception and composition of Cycles (2024), Free Your Mind - commissioned by Factory International to open their new home Aviva Studios in 2023 alongside Kenrick Sandy, Danny Boyle, Es Devlin and Sabrina Mahfouz. REDD (2019), Outliers - Asante’s debut in the Barbican Concert Hall (2018), Olivier-nominated Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), Touch (2011), Legacy (2011) and Olivier-winning Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution(2006). With Sandy, Asante also creates the family-friendly staple at Barbican Centre - A Night With Boy Blue (2025, 2022, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013).
As a music producer, Asante boasts a diverse catalogue within his discography; creating music for films Street Dance 3D and All Stars, enjoying session work with new artists like Sony signing Ryan De La Cruz, to production for major label artists including Delilah, Raleigh Ritchie, Estelle and George The Poet (whose sold out Search Party tour he also delivered musical direction for).
But it’s his work over the years with Kano, a Mercury Prize and Brit Award Nominee, winner of the MOBO Best Album Awards, that put Asante on the map way back in 2005; an early pioneer of the-then newly coined genre grime, a sound that would go on to shape a generation and knock down doors abroad, Asante’s influence can be heard across the capital and beyond. Trips to LA have seen him working with Kool Kojack (Ariana Grande/ Kesha) and Mike Free (Big Sean/ YG).
Recent television and theatre work includes composition for Jamie Lloyd’s productions of The Effect, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest, Tree, a Kwame Kwei-Armah and Idris Elba creation for Manchester International Festival, composition for Criminal Record (Apple TV+) Clotilda: Last American Slave Ship (National Geographic documentary special), the BBC documentary The Three Lives of Michael X, and a collaboration with Brian Eno over two series of Netflix’s Top Boy. Asante also worked on the film Kneecap for which he won The BIFA (British Independent Film Awards) Craft Award for Best Original Music.
Outside of the studio, Asante mentors and delivers master classes in directing, choreography and music, is a Governor of London Contemporary Dance School and a member of the Barbican board. In 2018 Asante was awarded an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS) from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and received an MBE to Hip Hop Dance and Music in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Jo Stendall is an experienced dance producer who has previously worked with Michael Clark Company, The Cholmondeleys & The Featherstonehaughs and Theatre-Rites. She has worked internationally for over 15 years touring various companies across Europe, USA, South America and Asia. Jo is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was a judge on the Total Theatre Awards at the Edinburgh Festival.
Click here to contact Jo
Kathleen is an experienced dance professional with over 15 years in the field. She joined Boy Blue in March 2020 as Creative Learning Producer, delivering successful online classes & digital learning resources during the pandemic. In April 2023, she became Head of Creative Programmes, responsible for strategic participation planning across Boy Blue's creative programmes and work in the community. Kathleen has also worked for Tavaziva Dance, Artis Education, Greenwich Dance, Trinity Laban and Chisenhale Dance Space, and is an accomplished swing dancer, winning competitions across festivals, and previously taught regularly in London and internationally.
Click here to contact Kathleen
Bruno has worked in the dance and music industry for 20 years in various roles ranging from performer, to creative, to management. With a background as a dancer, Bruno moved on to choreography and movement direction working with many top UK and US music artists, including Labrinth, Tinie Tempah, Bebe Rexha, Rita Ora, Peter Andre and Stylo G on live performance and TV, whilst also working with brands such as Nike, Adidas, The International Olympic Committee, and Starbucks. He has judged street dance competitions and delivered workshops and seminars in the UK and internationally for over a decade.
Bruno moved into music artist management, guiding and developing artists and their sound to land deals with major record and publishing labels Polydor and Sony/ATV and worked as an A&R / Label Manager for independent record label Nexar Music looking after several artists on their roster from around the world.
Bruno is now the Creative Programmes Manager at Boy Blue having been at the company as a freelance dancer, choreographer and lead Teaching Faculty member for the last 17 years.Click here to contact Bruno
Ella recently joined Boy Blue after graduating with a degree in Event Management and Music Business. She has a variety of experience working in a range of roles across the creative industries, including working as artist liaison, artist manager and tour assistant. Ella has worked with Soar Dance, HDI Dance Camp, The Royal Family Dance Crew and at the Super Weekender, as well as across many theatre productions. Ella acts as a central point, and brings a youth voice to Boy Blue’s administrative and organisational activities.
Click here to contact Ella
Nathaniel SB Impraim-Jones is a professional hip hop dancer and Choreographer who has worked extensively across the industry. Music artists he has worked with include Beyonce & Jay Z, Jason Derulo, Mabel, Kelly Rowland, Whitney Houston, Stormzy, Dave, and Jesy Nelson.
Nathaniel has been a member of the Boy Blue company for 18 years as a dancer, teacher and facilitator. Mentored by Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy & Michael 'Mikey J' Asante, Nathaniel has worked as Boy Blue's Rehearsal Director on Blak Whyte Gray (2016 - 2022), REDD (2019), Free Your Mind (2023) and Gravity with the National Youth Dance Company (2024 - 2025) touring throughout the globe from London to New York.
Click here to contact Nathaniel
Contact Angie for all 'Cycles' and 'Blak Whyte Gray' touring enquiries.
Click here to contact Angie
Sarah is an Accountant for the City of London based at the Barbican Centre. Sarah Wall joined the Barbican in 2004 as an Assistant Management Accountant and has held numerous positions at the Barbican before becoming our Head of Finance and Business Administration in July 2021. She trained to become a qualified accountant in the City of London Corporation and previously worked at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She has spent a large part of her career working within the City in areas such as commercial, project management and finance.
Andrea Sasu is an accomplished multi-skilled digital media professional with a wealth of knowledge in planning and delivering cross channel campaigns and digital products.In a career spanning well over 10 years. Andrea has provided strategic and creative direction to a range of high profile brands such as ITV, Viacom, Comic Relief, and Reuters.
Anthony is currently Head of Talent Development at Southbank Centre and was formerly Head of Programme at Fuel Theatre. He has worked as a cross-arts producer and programmer for eight years supporting artists to create work and push their practice across a number of schemes that he has delivered in different organisations. As a trained classical singer who has worked in organisations such as the Royal Opera House, Barbican Centre and The Lowry in Salford, his career to date has primarily been about making the sector as accessible to as many unheard voices as possible.
Anthony previously worked as the Senior Producer (maternity cover) within the Programming department of The Lowry leading on the strategic approach to artist development and delivering The Lowry’s programme of in-house schemes. These programmes helped to identify artists and companies that fit with the artistic vision of The Lowry and enabled him to commission them to create new work. This post was focused on the delivery of an ambitious and nationally visible model of artist development that sits within the heart of The Lowry’s creative and artistic ambition.
Prior to this role, Anthony worked as a Producer at the Barbican Centre in their Creative Learning department where his main responsibilities were the strategic overview, management and delivery of two main programmes; Creative Careers and Development of Emerging and Practising Artists.
Gurd Lidder is a Retail Planning/Sales Manager with over 15 years experience in planning both international Wholesale and Retail fashion marketplaces. Having worked for international retailers such as Nike, Walmart and Gap, Gurd has a long history in delivering profit and process development in an ever changing and challenging world of consumer product delivery.
Kieran Jay joined Harbottle & Lewis as a partner and head of the Music group in January 2020 from Lee & Thompson. Kieran has represented leading artists, song-writers, producers and mixers as well as independent management, record and publishing companies, and has some of the UK’s most successful artists and A&R executives – both new and established – as clients. He advises on recording, publishing, management, live performance and endorsement agreements, and also represents a growing number of leading music industry executives in respect of their employment arrangements.
Kieran also has significant experience in sports law having spent a number of years as a partner at Herbert Reeves & Co, working with Michael Kennedy advising leading Premiership footballers and managers, athletes and agents on playing contracts, image rights arrangements and endorsements, broadcast arrangements, regulatory and disciplinary issues.
Nadine graduated from King’s College London with a Bachelor of Science with Honours, and studied Gastrointestinal Physiology, studied at De Montfort University before gaining a Master of Science in Diagnostic Imaging from Sheffield Hallam University. Professionally, she began as a Gastrointestinal Physiologist at St Thomas’s Hospital before transitioning to Philips Healthcare, where she now serves as Global Service Center of Excellence Project Manager, overseeing IT CRM projects impacting 5,000+ employees.
Outside work, Nadine is an accomplished artist, with a background in music, dance, and semi-professional gymnastics, including performances for notable figures and international audiences. She also dedicates time to board responsibilities as a Community Interest Company member for the Barking Riverside Development.
In her personal life, Nadine cherishes her role as a mother and enjoys expressing herself through art and travel.
Anja is a highly experienced Head of Production and Arts leader. Passionate about Broadcasting and the Arts, she is keen to widen participation and engagement with people from all walks of life. Anja excels at delivering strategic change, managing complex production operations, logistics, technical aspects and staffing, as well as developing new revenue streams. With extensive experience in digital development, project management, and leadership in the media, arts, culture and creative sectors, Anja brings over 20 years of experience in live streaming, TV broadcast, project management and commercial brand partnerships.
As Head of Production at the Royal Opera House, Anja was responsible for the delivery of all filmed and post-produced content, including leading on strategy and distribution to cinemas, big screens, worldwide TV, streaming platforms, and brand collaborations. Under her tenure, this world-class capability grew and is now a hugely successful, integral part of the ROH’s core business and reach. Currently, Anja is working as an Arts Consultant and Head of Production in commercial / branded broadcast and streaming, in the media, arts and culture sectors.
Anja’s skills extend to music, as she is also an accomplished classically trained pianist and a qualified Piano and Music Theory tutor. She also trained as a dancer, having studied contemporary dance and ballet for many years.
Jon is Deputy Head of the Office of Corporate Engagement at Goldman Sachs. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2018 and leads Goldman Sachs’ philanthropic programmes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. This includes the Goldman Sachs Gives program, oversight of employee volunteering and leading the 10,000 Small Businesses entrepreneurship education program in the UK and France. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Jon worked in the higher education and charity sectors.
Earlier in his career he served as Chair of the British Youth Council and as a trustee of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Jon holds a BSc in Government and History from the London School of Economics.
