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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:
BoxBeat – 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 at The Peacock
ZooNation Youth Company and ZooNation Academy of Dance founded.
Into The Hoods at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
ZooNation and Boy Blue performance at the Tour de France opening ceremony.
ZooNation Youth Company perform at Breakin’ Convention.
Into The Hoods transfers to the Novello Theatre (West End)
Olympic and Paralympics handover ceremony in Beijing.
Sport Relief performance
Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Celebration in Hyde Park, London.
ZooNation Youth Company perform Details in the Fabric at Breakin’ Convention, Kids Take Control, MOVE IT and Latitude.
ZooNation Youth Company perform at Save the Children event at the Natural History Museum.
ZooNation perform at the Olivier Awards
Some Like It Hip Hop opens at The Peacock Theatre, London.
Some Like It Hip Hop, National Tour
The Holloway Launderette (short film), created for Channel 4, BAFTA and Big Dance.
ZooNation celebrates ten years at Sadler’s Wells.
ZooNation Youth Company’s Groove on Down the Road opens at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
ZooNation: Unplugged at Sadler’s Wells
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, at The Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House
Into The Hoods: Remixed at The Peacock and UK Tour
ZooNation Youth Company perform at the Old Vic Summer Gala
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, reimagined for the unique space of the Roundhouse, London
SYLVIA opens at the Old Vic, London
ZooNation Academy of Dance celebrates 10th Christmas Show
ZooNation Youth Company’s Tales of the Turntable opens at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Some Like It Hip Hop National Tour begins
Message In A Bottle, Sadler’s Wells, UK and International Tour begins.
ZooNation celebrates 20 years, presenting Mixtape at Sadler’s Wells, London
Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe announced as ZooNation’s Associate Artistic Director
Sylvia returns to the Old Vic, London
Cast of Sylvia perform at the Olivier Awards, Beverley Knight wins Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
Message In A Bottle UK & International Tour begins
ZooNation Youth Company present Twice In Time at Royal Ballet & Opera’s Next Generation Festival
Message In A Bottle opens at the Sydney Opera House, Australia and the feature film premieries in America.
Cast of Sylvia attend the Black British Theatre Awards, winning Best Musical Production, and Sean Green wins Best Musical Director.
Message In A Bottle completes American tour, including Broadway. Message In A Bottle feature film premieres in UK wide cinemas.
ZooNation begin residency at Robert Blair School
ZooNation return to the Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre with The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, ten years after it’s first commission. 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.
