From performing, choreographing professional shows and teaching street dance to children, Kendrick ‘H2O’ Sandy is as innovative as you can get. Katherine MacAlister chats to him

Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy is a dance phenomenon in his own right, his reputation preceding him wherever he goes.

This is the man pushing street dance frontiers, making sure he’s always ahead of the game and spreading the word, bringing us the best choreography, new shows and never resting on his laurels.

I find him in his office in East London juggling his acts, making sure the numerous amateur and professional shows all go without a hitch because when he’s not touring, he’s teaching youngsters and children the art of street dance.

Growing up in Ilford, dance came late to this 34 year old. Until then he was more interested in sport and wanted to be a graphic designer. But popping by to watch his “theatrical brother” rehearsing one day he found him break dancing, and that was it. “I was a bit ignorant until then and thought dancing was for girls,” he chuckles, “but I haven’t looked back since.”

So what is it he loves about street dance? “The physicality of it and the movement. For me it wasn’t about impressing girls or going clubbing.

“I was an athlete and loved climbing and cycling so I thought I’d just try it and see where I could take it. It wasn’t about forging a career but about enjoyment, but soon I was dancing five days a week and virtually living in the community centre.”

After his A-levels Kenrick was accepted on to an arts foundation course but instead opted to go to a performing arts college.

“I just wanted to move dance forward,” he shrugs. “And it opened my mind to the different way of moving, from body popping and robotics to animation and contemporary dance, and seeing how they could work together. I was living it and dancing it. I didn’t have a care in the world.” he chuckles.

Starting up Boy Blue with childhood friend Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante, the pair have worked on and choreographed TV shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, CBBC’s Alesha’s Street Dance Stars, film Street Dance 3D, and worked with music stars Misteeq, Sugarbabes, Plan B and Victoria Beckham as well as staging a segment of the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

The Five & the Prophecy of Prana is their latest piece which fuses hip hop with martial arts. “It’s a theatrical piece, a dance piece and a martial arts piece, but there is a narrative plus it’s a really fun show,” Kenrick promises.

As for his reputation, Kenrick says: “We are rebels so sometimes we get a slap on the wrist for not being orthodox but I like to mix things up and have fun and be pioneering, and fusion is what’s happening now. It’s about keeping it fresh and innovative so I’m always looking for the next new thing, because you have to keep pushing, and I’d rather be at the front, than at the back waiting for someone else to set the tone. I want to be the trendsetter.”

Where does Kenrick’s passion and drive come from then? “I feel a responsibility to maintain the love for dance and hip hop and to keep people inspired with my passion and fire. And when you’re choreographing a piece it’s your baby. Seeing the final results on stage encourages you to keep going. So yes, there is a pressure because people always want to know what’s next for Boy Blue and expect us to bring something different to the table and that’s a pressure, but I have that hunger for dance and anyway, I want my work to be refreshing. I don’t want to be influenced by anyone else – that’s not pioneering or innovative.”

SEE IT
Explosive manga and hip-hop dance fusion The Five and the Prophecy of Prana comes to Oxford Playhouse tomorrow and Saturday. Call the box office on 01865 305305 or see oxfordplayhouse.com

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.