Whilst SYTYCD is doing wonderful PR for certain performing arts colleges and thrusting otherwise struggling dancers into an unprecedented limelight, its legacy is throwing up interesting projects among its alumni.
Never mind understudying in Dirty Dancing or being part of Shoes; this autumn, series 1 stars Lizzie Gough and Tommy Franzen create Some Like It Hip Hop with Zoonation at Sadlers Wells. And this coming Saturday, Tommy performs at The Place with Supple in a double bill with Mickael ‘Marso’ Riviere.
Sadler's has an established record on hip hop being second home to Jonzi D and his annual 4-dayer, Breakin' Convention as well as the residence of Zoonation and feted SYTYCD choreographer, Kate Prince. But it's the first time we can remember The Place - the 'premier centre for contemporary dance' - going street. We're taking this as a signal that hip hop dance is moving on from telly tutting and crowd pleasing tricks to exploring other possibilities in contemporary dance and wishing to be taken seriously in a front of a non-hip hop or talent show hungry audience.
We'll let you know if we're right.
