Press Release: Jonzi D at Sadler's Wells and UK tour

Jan McNulty · July 19, 2013

Jonzi D

Lyrikal Fearta: The Letter & Broken Lineage

Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells

Wednesday 16 - Saturday 19 October

Performances at 8pm

Tickets: £17

Ticket office: 0844 412 4000 www.sadlerswells.com

“The name Jonzi D shouts respect in circles of hip hop dance theatre” The Independent

Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Jonzi D presents a triple bill, including his acclaimed solo work The Letter and the UK premiere of Broken Lineage, returning to Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Studio from 16 - 19 October 2013 ahead of a UK tour.

The Letter explores the responses to Jonzi being offered an MBE, and uses choreopoetry to look at this sensitive subject matter through the eyes of an animated cast of characters. The evening also features a top guest hip hop artist presenting a new work, and the UK premiere of Broken Lineage, a newly commissioned collaboration with Ivan Blackstock of BirdGang Dance Company, about the relationship between the old skool and new skool hip hop generations. Bringing Jonzi’s unique perspective to evolving social issues, it promises to captivate audiences with Jonzi’s wit, humour and style.

Jonzi D is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist who has been actively involved in British hip hop culture, rapping and b-boying since the early 1980’s. Since graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School, Jonzi has been committed to the development of hip hop dance theatre. He was an Associate Artist at The Place Theatre and has performed and created worldwide.

He devised and directed TAG… just writing in name in 2006, IVAN in 2006 and Markus the Sadist, a rap theatre piece in 2009. All pieces toured the UK to critical acclaim. Jonzi is also Artistic Director and host of the acclaimed international festival of hip hop dance theatre, Breakin’ Convention, which is now in its tenth year.

As an MC and poet, Jonzi has worked with The Roots, Steve Williamson, Mannafest, Lenny Henry and Gangstarr. He appeared in HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and Channel 4’s Faking It, and his pieces Silence da Bitchin’ and Aeroplane Man were screened on Channel 4. In 2007, Jonzi was listed as one of the top 10 positive black musical role models by MOBO.

Ivan Blackstock trained at The Urdang Academy, where he gained a DADA Award and won the in-house choreographic platform award, and then at London Contemporary Dance School. He performed as a backing dancer on a world tour with Pet Shop Boys, and worked with Arlene Phillips on the West End production of Flashdance the Musical. Ivan Blackstock and BirdGang Dance Company returned to Breakin’ Convention at Sadler’s Wells with for the third time in May 2013.

BSL-interpreted performance and free BSL-interpreted post-show talk: Friday 18 October

Contains strong language

The Monument Trust supports co-productions and new commissions at Sadler's Wells

Lyrikal Fearta Autumn 2013 Tour Details

Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadler’s Wells, London
Wed 16 October - Sat 19 October
www.sadlerswells.com
Box office: 0844 412 4000

Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury

Mon 21 October

www.kent.ac.uk

Box office: 01227 769075

Contact Theatre, Manchester

Wed 23 & Thur 24 October

www.contactmcr.com