ZooNation
Anne Roininen, Car Show, 2017-2021, Courtesy of the artist.
ZooNation Youth Company
ZooNation Youth Company was founded in 2006 and is comprised of some of the best young performers in the UK with dancers from all over London and from as far as Birmingham, Southampton, Dorset and Brighton.
As well as performing as part of the cast of West End show Into the Hoods, ZooNation Youth Company has performed in the Channel 4/BAFTA short film The Holloway Launderette (Channel 4/BAFTA/Big Dance), Breakin’ Convention, Move Like Michael Jackson (BBC), Nelson Mandela’s 90th Birthday Celebrations (worldwide broadcast) and BBC’s Blue Peter to name but a few.
The company were incredibly honoured to be invited to perform for the International Olympics Committee at the Royal Opera House (heads of state, opening ceremony, London Olympics 2012).
Zarah Hussain, Aath, 2021. Still from animation made with computer code. Commissioned by the Bagri Foundation. Courtesy of the artist.
ZooNation Youth Company performed ZooNation’s Groove on Down the Road at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, where they are resident company, in the summers of 2013 and 2014. They have performed as guests at the Dance Proms, at the Royal Albert Hall and at Fresh at The Place. In recent years they have performed at The Old Vic Summer Party, Kensington Roof Gardens, the New Year’s Day Parade, Move It, Birmingham Hippodrome as part of BSide Festival and at the Southbank Centre, Riverside Stage, Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall.
In 2019 the company returned to the Queen Elizabeth Hall stage with their hit show Tales of the Turntable.
Everland
Everland a new work created for the Next Generation Festival at the Royal Opera House, explores growing up, the relationship to our emotions and how they play a vital part in what it means to become an adult. This work has been co-created by ZYC’s Artistic Director Kendra Horsburgh, and the company, featuring original music by ZooNation’s Musical Director DJ Walde.
Performances on 31st May and 1st June 2022 at 3.00pm and 7.00pm.
ZYC Interview Questions
Elijah Smith
How old are you?
I am 20 years old
When did you first start learning to dance?
I started to learn how to dance when I was 13
When did you become a member of ZYC and how did you secure a place?
I became a member of ZYC in 2019. I prepared for the ZYC auditions by practicing foundations in different styles and freestyling with them.
What do you like most about training with ZooNation Youth Company?
I enjoy developing in my craft by learning under so many amazing teachers and also the lively environment with all my peers.
What advice would you give young people about dance as a sport?
I would advise all young people who are interested in dance to have fun and dance with your friends.
What advice would you give children who want to become a professional dancer?
If you are looking for a professional career in dance I advise you to be open for everything even if you don't feel confident in it because there are always lessons to be learnt, even if it's a style of dance you don't want to do forever things always crossover and are applicable.
Zoe O’David
How old are you?
16, 17 soon
When did you first start learning to dance?
I started with ballet when I was around 2, and street when I was roughly seven.
When did you realise that this was a sport you wished to take more seriously?
I think that after my very first serious show, I must have been like 8, and with costumes and lighting and everything I realised I wanted to perform.
How often do you train?
So I train with Zoo obviously six hours a week, and I do additional training at the school that I go to.
What are you working on at the moment?
We’re working towards pretty big things at ZooNation, with a full scale show at the Royal Opera House coming this summer. I’m pretty excited.
What advice would you give young people who want to become a professional dancer?
I’d say just don’t give in. It sounds cliché, but I think they become clichés for a reason. There will be so many things in your journey that will discourage you; I know there have been in mine, and I’ve no doubt that there will be more. But I just hold on to that magical feeling I have when I’m performing, and remind myself that training is learning how to make that magic.
Alex Johnston
How old are you?
16 years old
When did you first start learning to dance?
I first learnt to dance at ZooNation when I was only about 5. I started coming to the under 8 ZAD classes every week on a Saturday and loved it so much that I have kept dancing as a big part of my life ever since.
Do you also study as well as dancing? How do you balance the two?
Yes I’m doing my GCSEs at the moment which can be tricky to balance at times. However, dance for me never feels like work so it’s a great way to have a break and clear my mind and in fact it often makers me more productive when I have to start studying again.
What are your ambitions?
Something that would be really cool would be to direct my own dance show as I love coming up with stories and concepts and would love to see something like that come together. Directing and choreographing are definitely potential interests of mine in the future.
When is your next production?
Our next show is called Everland and it’s on the 31st May and 1st June at the Royal Opera House Linbury Studio and is about the difficulties of growing up.
How could our readers come and watch?
Be sure to look at the Royal Opera house website for when tickets come out and also check out the ZooNation website for info about this and other dance workshops and free events.
Mariah Williams
How old are you?
14
When did you first start learning to dance?
I first started dancing at the age of 5.
How often do you train?
Mondays I have street training for 1hr and 30 mins
Thursdays I have contemporary training for 1 hr and 30 mins
Fridays I have jazz training for 1 hr and 30 mins and Street training for 1 hr and 30 mins
Saturdays I have ZYC company training for 3 hrs and ZAD training at ZooNation for 3 hrs.
I also train in all styles daily at home every evening
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on some school shows and dance shows like Move It.
Do you also study as well as dancing? How do you balance the two?
I still take studies and do dance but I happen to be fortunate enough to go to The BRIT School Performing arts college and in Year 10 at the Brit School they make sure that we are getting the right grades that will help us in the future by making us do just as much or even more studies than dance. I balance the two by making sure my studies don't go down by leaving time to revise or if I don't get a subject I will make time to boost that subject or in my breaks in dance I will take mini quizzes on maths, science etc.
What are your ambitions?
My ambition as of right now is to be comfortable to say I'm an all rounded dancer and to be very versatile with different dance styles. I say this because I have done so much street training in my past and as much as I love the style and styles within street I would like if I can be skilled in others just as much and I think that if I put in the work from now I can reach that ambition of mine.
ZooNation Website: zoonation.co.uk
ZooNation Socials: @ZooNationUK
ZooNation Youth Company TikTok: @zoonationyouthcompany
Photographer credit for all images is Helen Murray.
