Britain’s Got Talent star from Stratford brings krump to the stage
PUBLISHED: 13:00 17 April 2017
Theo 'Godson' Oloyade. Picture Paul Hampartsoumian
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See Britain’s Got Talent star Theo Oloyade take centre stage as international dance festival Breakin’ Convention returns.
Theo 'Godson' Oloyade performing at Breakin' Convention 2012. Picture: Paul HampartsoumianThe krump master, aka Godson, will perform at the critically-acclaimed Sadler’s Wells festival on Saturday, April 29.
Theo, who lives in Stratford, will perform an original piece he has been working on for the last year, based on The Gates of Hell by French artist Auguste Rodin, itself a scene from Dante’s Inferno.
The 26-year-old says he is considered “one of the UK pioneers” of krump, the “aggressive” and high-energy urban street dance style that has graduated from its LA hip-hop roots to international fame.
“It is explosive and there are a lot of arm gestures in it, swaying, it’s very tribal like,” explained Theo.
“There is a lot of freedom of expression in it so you are able to really tell a story through movement.
This will be Theo’s third solo performance at Breakin’ Convention but he has appeared several times already with leading London dance company Boy Blue Entertainment.
“They came to my school when I was in Year Eight,” he said of his introduction to the group and founder Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.
“Dancing is just something I loved doing.”
From age 14, Theo began to build his profile steadily. Turning professional in 2008, he acquired a breadth of styles including hip-hop, poppin’, house and krump.
After being accepted into Boy Blue, he diversified his talents with choreography and teaching and was chosen as a dance captain for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony.
He then made the final of Sky1’s Got To Dance in both 2013 and 2014 before appearing on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016, bringing krump to mainsteam audiences.
“It was a really great experience, I got a very good response,” he said.
“I did need to play it down but performed it in such a way that it was received well.”
His hope now is to both continue creating his own work and be held up as a role model for dance.
“I am able to express who I am through movement and not get judged – not in any kind of light.”
Breakin’ Convention ‘17 runs from April 29 - May 1 at Sadler’s Wells and Lilian Baylis Studio. Tickets cost £15-£24.
Call 020 7863 8000 or visit sadlerswells.com
