Our Creative Learning Programme was as busy as ever in 2022. We delivered EOE workshops to schools and colleges across the country, supporting dance teachers and students in their learning and understanding of EOE.
We launched East Co, a new project working with schools and colleges in east London and connecting them with local dance artists. The project ended in a sharing which was a big success and we look forward to developing the project further in 2023.
We produced our first in person Studio Showcase since covid, in the summer. We had guests from Reading, Cardiff, Manchester and Cornwall performing alongside BB dancers and other London based groups.
We kept our Boy Blue Young Artists busy with a variety of different projects and performance opportunities. We collaborated with Hackney Empire on their project, Only Joy Aloud. This was a 5 day process aimed at bringing out the voices of east London through movement and storytelling ending in a performance on HE's main stage.
Our young artists also performed at the National Theatre's Riverstage as well as Impact Dance's 25+1 celebrations.
We held our first A Night With Boy Blue since the pandemic, with over 100 BB dancers on the Barbican main stage. We were thrilled to be working with some BB OG dancers as well as the new generation. We celebrated the company turning 21 in 2022, a momentous achievement.
We took our critically acclaimed show Blak Whyte Gray on tour, with 3rd and 4th generation cast members, to Madrid and Manchester.
We also took part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, performing on ITV with artists Ella Henderson and Nathan Dawe as well as creating the 2010s section of the Jubilee Pageant working with 25 professional dancers and over 100 volunteer performers.
We got the crowds on their feet at Wilderness Festival performing the Get Down.
Ken and Mikey celebrated their 21 years as Co-Artistic Directors in 2022.
Mikey was awarded an MBE for his services to hip hop dance and music. He worked as composer for Ballet Black, Royal Opera House and writer Inua Ellams.
Kenrick choreographed for a BBC3, Wiz Kid, Company 3, Black Sherif, Jesy Nelson and sat on the judging panel for UDO worlds.
Boy Blue received addition investment from Arts Council England, which we will be using in 2023 and beyond to further develop the company and to continue to showcase dancers and young people and support their creative development.
Bring on 2023!
