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PERFORMANCE
POET
These include free style rap and dance shows that require maximum audience participation in an informal club atmosphere - Apricot Jams (rap) & Bustin' Moves (dance), to full length theatre works Lyrikal Fearta & Aeroplane Man that deal with issues of alienation and the search for cultural identity. Jonzi-D, alongside an eclectic ensemble of emcees, dancers and musicians, present the full length version of his critically acclaimed solo, Aeroplane Man, as featured in 'Lyrikal Fearta'. The true story of a black man's journey from East London, on a global quest to find his spiritual homeland. With a unique fusion of rhyme, lyrically motivated movement, classical and modern black dance forms, plus live breakbeats, the universal theme of displacement is delivered with insightful honesty and exhilarating energy. Jonzi will be touring Apricot Jam and Bustin Moves throughout the Autumn of 1999 and into 2000. Jonzi draws the artists together specifically for each performance so the line up can be as wide or as small as necessary, can involve "local" artists or can encompass an "event style" format. The
Apricot Jam Bustin'
Moves Lyrikal
Fearta
Comments "'Aeroplane Man' ended the festival at The Place theatre by asserting all the values you'd hope for - technique, thoughtfulness and abundant entertainment. Jonzi-D is a genial black cockney rapper with luxurious dreadlocks and a witty mind. He plays the central figure in Aeroplane Man, waking up to find that being in the East End and wearing Union Jack underpants is no guarantee of a sense of who you are. He tells us about it in chanted verses with funny, energetic wordplays, calling up 'Mr Aeroplane man' to fly him around the world to look for a place to call home. Episodes in Grenada, Jamaica, New York and Africa are characterised by the six dancers and five rousing musicians. The comedy comes in Jonzi sticking out like an inept tourist wherever he goes. The Poignancy comes in his being mocked bullied even, by his black 'brothers'. The value comes in his basing the voyage on genuine dance forms. He gives us London music hall, Grenadan calypso, the Jamaican club scene hip-hop break dancing from New York and South African gumboot dance. You get the issues, but you get the skills too." Ismeme Brown The Telegraph "Bringing
theatre to hip hop as opposed to bringing hip hop to theatre"
"As a solo performer or in collaboration with other artists there
is no doubt that Jonzi D.'s unique brand of theatre will entertain
and inspire audiences everywhere... he is an issues-driven performer
but has the technique, the skill and the charisma to pull off
thrilling entertainment pieces that give voice to the alienated.
Prepare to be amazed."
To
book Jonzi-D for a performance in your school...
Jubilee Books
t: (020) 8265 4645 Our office is open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm. |
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Jonzi-D
has been at the forefront of underground British hip-hop culture
since it burst onto the scene at the beginning of the eighties.
Graduating from the London Contemporary Dance School in the early
nineties, his ability to draw from a diverse range of cultural
influences in an uncompromising way has resulted in a whole range
of exciting performance formats.
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