A seamless blend of breaking, hip-hop, and soulful grooves delivered by multi-talented performers who keep the audience engaged from start to finish.Rating
Excellent
So, what do you get when you merge – in no particular order – world champions of Breaking (The Ruggeds) and world class Hip-Hop performers (Ghetto Funk Collective)? The answer is an excellent evening’s entertainment.
Both groups hail from The Netherlands and together they fuse their talents into a vibrant blend of funk, soul, hip-hop and more. Nine performers in total Lucinda Wessels, Rico ‘Griimsen’ Coker, Sammy Huijts, Virgil ‘Skychief’ Dey, Roche Apinsa, Alexander ‘Shield Beats’ Henriksen, Jessy “FORTBEIGE’ Kemper, Ruben ‘Chi’ Verhoeven (all of them multi-taskers): musicians who dance, dancers who pick up instruments, and a constant shift between ensemble work, solos, duets, trios, etc. Drums, keyboard, guitar, bass, saxophone, paired with dancers moving with grace and explosive energy, all whilst maintaining an easy rapport with the audience.
The choreography is a dynamic mix of power and finesse, drawing on all the elements of breaking and hip-hop theatre. A good mix of lively acrobatics which sit comfortably alongside slower, more lyrical passages, always reflecting and interpreting the music adeptly. The space is used well, with only one brief moment where the entire cast clustered at the back with their backs to the audience – clearly part of the story being told but difficult to follow, especially with a strong light shining directly outwards.
Standout moments included the red‑carpet sequence, where the frenzy of paparazzi flashbulbs was conjured without a single camera; the instrumental solos that let individual performers shine; the umbrella routine, whose movement and music blended to evoke a showery afternoon; vibrant bursts of freestyle, and that’s only a fraction of the highlights.
As mentioned previously, audience interaction is one of the show’s strengths. They managed to get everyone up and dancing on the spot, the majority moving with enthusiasm. Another entertaining interlude began with a couple of armchairs, box of vinyl and mixing equipment. Reminiscent of old chat shows we were treated to a short demonstration of mixing featuring a Nina Simone song.
The street wear style clothing gave the dancing a spontaneous quality, while the lighting, whether isolating soloists in spotlights or pulsing in time with the rhythms, enhanced the flow of each sequence. Hats seemed to feature quite prominently too, and given the sheer athleticism display it was impressive how rarely they actually hit the floor.
With its mix of contrasting sections the bursts of high-energy, smooth grooves and playful interludes, the show stays lively sustaining interest from start to finish. The performers’ obvious joy on stage radiated throughout the theatre giving the whole evening an infectious energy..
Produced by The Ruggeds
Choreography by Ruben ‘Chi’ Verhoeven
Music by Jessy ‘FORTBEIGE” Kemper, Alexander ‘Shield Beats’ Henriksen
Light and Set by Ido Koppenaal
Costumes by Jinko Joshu
Creative Design by Niek Traa
Graphic Design by Franky Sticks
Groove has finished its run as part of part of the Southbank Centre’s 75th anniversary programme.
