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ZooNation was founded by Kate Prince in 2002 and is best known for its work in the theatre, creating full length narrative dance productions strongly influenced by hip hop culture and music. We fortify this work with an extensive programme of engagement and talent development, working with different communities and young artists to increase their skills, knowledge and confidence in our styles of dance theatre.
Whilst working as a choreographer for music acts on television and in music video, Kate was distracted by the immense talent of the dancers backing the artists. She founded ZooNation as a company that could highlight the skills of these ‘backing dancers’ and give them their own platform as artists in their own right. At the time, the career path for a ‘backing dancer’ was limited whilst for a contemporary, ballet or musical theatre dancer, the breadth of employment opportunities was vast. Our first production, BoxBeat, was performed at Sadler’s Wells in the Lilian Baylis studio. It told a loose tale of three children who ran away from home and got lost in a new world of vibrant dance and music. This same idea was to be developed three years later to become Into the Hoods.
We have gained significant recognition for our artistic excellence through a variety of associateships which reflect the diverse facets of our work as artistic leaders, a trailblazing company and an enabler of the next generation of talent. Our current associations include:
ZooNation’s first show performed at Lilian Baylis, Sadler’s Wells Theatre
ZooNation’s first performance at Breakin’ Convention
Official Olympic Celebration in Trafalgar Square
Into The Hoods premiered at The Peacock
ZooNation Youth Company and ZooNation Academy of Dance Founded
Into The Hoods storms the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
ZooNation and Boy Blue performed at the Tour De France opening ceremony
ZooNation Youth Company perform at Breakin’ Convention
Into The Hoods became the first ever hip-hop dance show in the West End and one of its longest running dance productions
Olympic and Paralympics Handover ceremony in Beijing
Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Celebration in Hyde Park
ZYC perform Details in the Fabric at Breakin’ Convention, Kidz Take Control, MOVE IT and Latitude
ZYC perform at Save the Children event at the Natural History Museum
ZooNation perform at the Olivier Awards
Some Like It Hip Hop is created
Some Like It Hip Hop opens in London and embarks on it’s first UK Tour
The Holloway Launderette, created for Channel 4, BAFTA and Big Dance.
ZooNation celebrates 10 years at Sadler’s Wells
ZooNation Youth Company’s Groove on Down the Road opens at Southbank Centre
ZooNation: Unplugged opened at Sadler’s Wells
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party opened at The Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House
Into The Hoods: Remixed opened at The Peacock and embarked on a UK Tour
Old Vic Summer Gala Performance
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, reimagined for the unique space of The Roundhouse
Sylvia opened at the Old Vic
ZooNation Youth Company’s Tales of the Turntable opened at Southbank Centre
Message In A Bottle opened at The Peacock in London
Message In A Bottle embarked on a European Tour
Everland premiered at the Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House
Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe announced as ZooNation’s Associate Artistic Director
ZooNation celebrates 20 years, presenting Mixtape at Sadler’s Wells, London
Sylvia returns to the Old Vic
Message In A Bottle embarked on a major UK and international tour from May 2023, visiting venues across the UK and touring internationally to places such as Zurich, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sydney and Broadway, a ZooNation first.
Cast of Sylvia perform at the Olivier Awards, Beverley Knight wins Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
ZYC brought Twice in Time to the Linbury Thetare as a part of the Next Generation Festival
Cast of Sylvia attend the Black British Theatre Awards, winning Best Musical Production, and Sean Green wins Best Musical Director.
Message In A Bottle feature film premieres in UK wide cinemas.
ZooNation begins residency at Robert Blair School
The Exchange brought together ZooNation Youth Company and Sadler’s Wells’ Company of Elders for an exploration of evolving perspectives, stories of our past, present and future selves through dance styles influenced by Hip Hop culture.
ZooNation Youth Company return to Royal Opera House’s Next Generation Festival with Kingdom of Nevar.
ZooNation awarded Best Midscale Company from the Critics Circle National Dance Awards.
ZooNation return to the Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre with The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, ten years after it’s first commission.
ZYC performed Lights Out under the direction of Kate Prince and Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe at the Linbury Theatre
Ebony Scrooge marked Sadler’s Wells East’s inaugural festive production as well as ZooNation’s first full scale production choreographed and directed by Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe.
