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The boogaloo and crunk show
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| Jonzi D Productions will perform at the first Swan Slam! Picture: PATRICK GREEN |
IF you don't know your boogaloo from your crunk, body poppin', heel toe slide and Harlem shakes, then a celebration of all things hip hop, which arrives at Wycombe Swan later this month, might just be able to help.
Following on from the huge success of visiting events like Rumble in 2006 and last year's Breakin' Convention, the High Wycombe based venue will launch its first ever hip hop festival, Swan Slam!, on Tuesday, June 17.
Maria Ryan, Wycombe Swan's community dance officer, says the festival will hopefully increase people's understanding of hip hop, which was born on the streets of New York in the 1970s, as a recognised art form.
"I think it has changed incredibly over the years and the festival reflects that," says Maria. "Many people think of hip hop as one thing, like music or fashion, but actually there's a whole culture to it.
"Hip hop is also an art form that has evolved and shifted with time, making it relevant and very contemporary."
She adds: "I hope this festival will bring hip hop to more people and make it more widely recognised."
Swan Slam! will feature a number of leading hip hop artists, including the highly charismatic Jonzi D, whose company will perform excerpts from the critically-acclaimed TAG...just writing my name.
The piece tells the story of a young graffiti writer striving to find acceptance and brings together many elements of hip hop, including breakdancing, bodypoppin', graffiti art and rap music.
| "What I really hope is that the festival will broaden people’s minds about what hip hop is. It’s unique, original and a real celebration of dance." | | Maria Ryan |
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Kompany Malakhi, led by artistic director Kwesi Johnson, will also perform one of its latest pieces, Single Reflex. The production combines a range of culturally diverse styles such as hip hop, contemporary, jazz fusion and African-Caribbean dance forms, as well as text, film and music.
Innovative dance troupe Boy Blue Entertainment and Urban Strides, which was founded by High Wycombe-born Andy Instone, are other headline acts for Swan Slam!
Veteran hip hop performer Banxy rounds off the festival alongside Wycombe Youth Action. Trained at Swindon Dance, the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and the London Studio Centre, Banxy has spent the past 15 years teaching and performing across the UK and abroad and has appeared on many TV shows and music videos, including George Michael's Spinning The Wheel.
Maria adds: "What I really hope is that the festival will broaden people's minds about what hip hop is. It's unique, original and a real celebration of dance. I have plenty of faith it will prove to be a really great show."
Swan Slam! arrives on Tuesday, June 17, 8pm, at Wycombe Swan. Tickets: 01494 512000 or www.wycombeswan.co.uk
Workshops featuring Sound Studio, Urban Strides and Flex from Boy Blue Entertainment also take place on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. Details: www.wycombeswan.co.uk
9:47am Friday 6th June 2008
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