4TH FEBUARY 2012
LOCKING with SHAWN

Location: London, UK

Biog: SHAWN is a member of PLAGUE Dance Company.

London dancer Shawn is a natural showman. He started performing back in 2000 when he was at theatre school where he studied singing, dance and drama. Shawn then focused on dance and took part in numerous shows before proudly becoming a member of Plague in 2008.

As a member of Plague, Shawn has won the prestigious 2011 World Championships. He has also appeared on BBC3's "Move Like Michael Jackson", in the "Streetdance 3D" movie and in the iconic Michael Jackson tribute stage show "MJ Timeless". He has also proudly danced alongside a plethora of great funkstyle dancers at "Breakin' Convention" to honour the legendary locking originator Greg Campbellock Jr.

Shawn i an allround dancer but specialises in funkstyles (popping and locking). With his innate groove, flavour and strong performance skills, it is fitting that Shawn also teaches these styles, providing the next generation of dancers with the opportunity to learn from one of the UK's finest and funkiest dancers.

Credits:
HHI World Hip Hop Dance Championships 2011 (1st Place)
UK Hip Hop International Dance Championships 2011 (1st Place)
Streetdance 3D
Breakin' Convention
MJ Timeless
BBC3 Move Like Michael Jackson

3RD MARCH 2012
UK UNDERGROUND JAZZ with SEAN GRAHAM

Sean Graham began his training at The Brits and Lewisham College 2001. Since 2004 he has been touring nationally and internationally with companies such as the Irven Lewis Dance Company, London Diaspora Dance Theatre LDDT, Francis Angol, VOCAB Dance, Adesola Akinleye Dance Company, Avant Garde Dance and Spread Expression.

Graham's knowledge as a theatre practitioner fusing contemporary, classical, urban dance and spoken word came to fruition through working with some of the leading practitioners across the genres of arts including: Robert Hylton

(Urban Classicism), Jonzi D (Breakin’ Convention), Sugar Pop & Fred Theo (Popping and Locking pioneers), Irven Lewis (Fusion Jazz pioneer) and Isaac Baptiste (Imperial Steps Breakers).

Since creating Sean Graham Dance Theatre SGDT in 2008, Graham has worked extensively as a soloist and choreographer, staging his work at festivals and theatres across the UK including Sadler’s Wells Breaking Convention, (Lylian Baylis), The Linbury Theatre of The Royal Opera House,

Dartington Halls, Stratford Circus, The Place, Move it dance Festival (Olympia),Hackney Empire and The Queen Elizabeth Hall. His choreographic works include; Broken-Skat, X.O’B’FREE/D, Buskin’ Boy, Spank a lee and Club Cult-ure.

Graham was awarded a Trailblazer fellowship by ADAD/Dance UK and a Marion North Mentoring scheme fellowship from Trinity Laban for research and development, both in 2008. In 2009 Graham became a Temporary Resident artists at the Bernie Grants Arts Centre in partnership with photographer Tracy Woodford.

In 2008 and 2009 Sean choreographed for award winning touring play ‘Locked in’ by Fin Kennedy and commissioned by Half Moon Theatre.

Graham currently teaches at Trinity Laban and is leading the creation of the dance association Verse Dance Arena VDA (est. 2009) which has provided numerous dance experiences for training and sharing across genres.

7TH APRIL 2012
CONTEMPORARY HIP HOP with TONY ADIGUN

Choreographer/Artistic Director Tony Adigun
Tony Adigun a.k.a TOUCH is at the forefront of Contemporary Hip Hop dance in the UK. Commercially he has choreographed international tours and videos for Mel B, worked in the USA choreographing for Ashanti and has choreographed live events such as the MOBO's. As a performer he has worked with top artists from the UK and America including Janet Jackson, Usher, JoJo, Cheryl Cole and Whitney Houston and is regularly a judge at events such as London's Best Dance Crew and other competitions around the UK and Europe.

He established his company Avant Garde Dance as a creative release to produce his own work without the restrictions of record companies that the commercial scene holds. The company have become highly respected in both Hip-Hop and Contemporary dance circles and have produced work for The Place, Sadlers Wells, SouthBank Centre, Barbican, Brighton Dome and Stratford Circus and took the Edinburgh Festival by storm last year with their 5 Star smash hit 'Spectrum'.

He is currently Associate Artist at East London Dance and this year he was named as one of the new Associate Artists at The Place in London. As a freelance choreographer Tony has been commissioned to produce 'The Big Chair Dance' as part of Big Dance London, has worked with establishments such as The Royal Opera House, Broadway Dance Centre New York,

Central School of Speech and Drama, Pineapple and the highly acclaimed company DV8 and has been commissioned by Remarkable Productions and Circus Space to create a new piece 'Silver Tree' integrating dance and the circus discipline of Chinese Pole. His work has also been shown at Breakin Convention Sadlers Wells was part of the ADAD Bloom Festival, Dance Umbrella's African Currents and has been received internationally at festivals in Paris, Poland and New York. Tony's mantra through life is to 'innovate never replicate' which is an ethos he seeks to hold true through all the work he produces. The diverse urban landscape that surrounds him and his will to always innovate and fuse art-forms result in work such as 'A Classical Break' a piece combing a classical score accompanied by b-boying.

2011 been a brilliant transitional year for Tony with his choreography selected to be shown alongside The English National Ballet's Swan Lake, his outdoor piece 'TAXI!' touring up and down the country and his involvement in Dance Umbrella both directing a short Merce Cunningham inspired dance film 'Trinity' and also his interpretation of Richard Alstons 1984 dance on film piece 'Wildlife' being choreographed on and performed by EDge The Place's post graduate company. Tony recently was awarded Best Choreographer of 2011 by the BEFFTA Awards.

5TH MAY 2012
URBAN HIP HOP WITH RHIMES

London born Rhimes Lecointe has been dancing with Boy Blue Entertainment from the beginning of her dance career. She developed a love for choreography, which drove her to direct and co-choreograph with some of London’s leading top choreographers, as well as directing her own pieces. Rhimes played lead role Rap-On-Zel in the hit west end show  ‘into the hoods’. Rhimes has appeared on Blue peter, Paul O’grady, Graham Norton’s ‘when will I be famous’ , The Paul Burling show and Comic Relief. In 2006 she appeared in ‘Life & Lyrics’. More Recently she featured as 'Justine' in the number hit Movie 'Street Dance 3D' as well as assisting Choreographer Kenrick Sandy on " So You Think You Can Dance". Rhimes has modelled for L’Oreal London, Afro hair and Beauty and choreographed for designers in The London V & A museum fashion show.  This leading lady has also choreographed for artist’s Plan B, Esser, Lady Soverign & The 2Bears. Rhimes is now Artistic Director of Female Crew Boadicea, Choreographer  & Artist Developer to Female Girl Band 'Rogue' and Female Artist 'Carmen Leigh'. 

2ND JUNE 2012
CHOREOGRAPHY WITH KLOE DEAN

Kloe Dean is an inspiring and confident artist. She has trained in the arts from a young age and is committed to pursuing her career as a successful and creative individual with a range of different talents. Kloe is strong in many fields from dancing to choreographing, singing, song writing and acting. With such an open mind and variety of skills from different art forms Kloe is a great person to work and perform with. She is a great leader whilst being able to be a respectable and keen participant.