📚 EoE — Section 2 · Section C Exam
Style & Dancers
Emancipation of Expressionism · Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy · Boy Blue Entertainment
📚 What you'll learn on this page
- Identify and describe each of the six hip hop sub-styles used in the work
- Spot each style in the performance and explain what it looks like
- State the number, gender split and significance of the dancers
- Describe Boy Blue Entertainment's identity, history and what makes them distinctive
Emancipation of Expressionism draws on six distinct hip hop styles — and knowing what each one looks like in practice is essential for Section C. This page takes you through each style with real video reference, then covers the dancers and the company behind the work.
2.1 · Dance Style & Characteristics
The overall style is hip hop — but hip hop isn't one thing. It's a family of related styles, each with its own movement vocabulary. Kenrick uses all six of the styles below in EoE, often mixing them within the same section. The ability to name these correctly — and say what they look like — is a key Section C skill.
Use the playlist below to watch each style in action. Boy Blue's own dancers demonstrate them — the same vocabulary you'll see in the performance.
Use the playlist controls to navigate between videos for each style: breaking, krumping, locking, hip hop, waacking and popping. ▶ Open playlist in YouTube →
Now use the cards below as your reference guide — what to look for as you watch, and where each style appears in EoE:
🔥 Krumping
Explosive, full-body and intensely expressive. Look for huge arm swings, stomping footsteps, chest pops and raw emotional energy — almost aggressive in its force. Born in Compton, California as a way of channelling intense emotion.
In EoE: Particularly visible in Section 2 (Growth & Struggle) and in individual solos in Section 4.
⚡ Popping
Sharp muscle contractions create a sudden "pop" or "hit" effect. This can stay in one isolated body part — a shoulder, a wrist — or ripple through the whole body like a wave. Look for sudden stops within a flowing movement.
In EoE: Throughout the work. Most visible in Section 3 alongside animation-style gestures.
🔒 Locking
A groove-based style with an unmistakable stop-start character. The dancer freezes mid-movement — locks in place — then continues. Often playful and theatrical, with exaggerated gestures and clear musicality.
In EoE: Visible in ensemble sections; the sudden freezes within the Ninja Static connect to locking technique.
🤖 Animation
Robotic, mechanical movement imitating stop-motion film. Precise, controlled and often slow — as if the body is being operated from outside. Look for jerky transitions and exaggerated stillness between moves.
In EoE: Particularly Section 3, where the staccato violin notes in November directly echo animation-style gestures.
🌀 Breaking
The most physically demanding style in the work. Acrobatic floor work — windmills, headspins, freezes, power moves. Requires enormous strength and control. Closely associated with b-boys and b-girls.
In EoE: Individual solos in Section 4 (Empowerment) showcase breaking most prominently.
💫 Waacking
Circular arm movements, dramatic poses, theatrical presence. Very expressive and visual — the arms create large sweeping arcs. Originated in 1970s LA clubs and is one of the most visually distinctive styles.
In EoE: Visible during individual expression moments in Section 4; contributes to the theatrical quality of the solos.
Analogy Anchor
Think of hip hop like a musical genre: just as "rock music" contains heavy metal, indie, punk and classic rock, "hip hop dance" contains breaking, krumping, waacking and more. Kenrick uses all six styles as different instruments in the same composition.
Now test yourself — read the description of movement and identify the style:
"A dancer contracts their shoulder sharply — the movement travels down the arm and out through the fingertips, creating a rippling wave effect."
Which hip hop style is this?
"A dancer drops to the floor and spins on their back in a wide rotation, before snapping up into a completely still freeze — inverted, perfectly balanced."
Which hip hop style is this?
"A dancer moves with huge, forceful arm swings and heavy footsteps — every action seems driven by barely-controlled, intense emotion."
Which hip hop style is this?
"A dancer's arm sweeps in a large, dramatic arc — circular and theatrical — creating a bold visual statement that's all about presence and expression."
Which hip hop style is this?
Examiner's Eye — be specific, not generic
Don't just write "hip hop" — name the specific style and describe it. "The dancer uses krumping — explosive chest pops and arm swings driven by raw emotion" is far stronger than "the dancer uses hip hop movements." Examiners reward precision.
2.2 · Number & Gender of Dancers
EoE has a large cast of 17 dancers — and every decision about that number is deliberate. A large ensemble gives Kenrick the power to create both overwhelming group unison and striking moments of individual isolation.
8
Female
Non-gender-specific costumes — same outfit as the male dancers
9
Male
Several have leading roles and key solos throughout the work
K
Kenrick Performs
The choreographer is on stage — he performs in the work he created
Every dancer in EoE wears the same non-gender-specific costume. This matters — it creates visual equality within the ensemble, reinforcing the sense of a unified group (order). Individual dancers are distinguished through their movement, not their appearance.
The 17 dancers visualised — each dot is one performer:
Female dancer (8)
Male dancer (8)
Kenrick (performs + choreographed)
The size of the cast directly serves Kenrick's intent. With 17 dancers, moments of full ensemble unison are visually powerful — everyone moving as one creates the feeling of order. When a single dancer breaks away from 16 others, the contrast is immediate and striking — that's the chaos.
Did you know?
The original version of EoE was made with just 9 dancers. It grew to 11, then to 17 for the version students study. Kenrick has also performed it with as few as 9 since. The work scales — but 17 gives the fullest impact for the ensemble sections.
Fill in the blanks — dancers and numbers
EoE has dancers in total — female and male. Kenrick in the work.
Examiner's Eye — mention the gender split
Examiners often ask for the number of dancers and the male/female split as a 1-mark fact. The full answer is 17 dancers — 8 female, 9 male. Don't forget to mention that Kenrick himself performs when discussing the choreographer's relationship to the work.
2.3 · The Company
Boy Blue Entertainment was founded in London in 2002 by Kenrick 'H2O' Sandy and composer Michael 'Mikey J' Asante. They are joint Artistic Directors, and they create every production together — choreography and music made as one unified vision. The company name is also their colour: blue. It appears in the costumes, the lighting, and the identity of the work.
The company's mission has always been to take hip hop beyond the streets and clubs and present it as a serious art form deserving of major concert venues. EoE, performed at Sadler's Wells, is the purest expression of that mission.
2002
Boy Blue Entertainment founded in London by Kenrick Sandy and Mikey J Asante as joint Artistic Directors.
2003
Pied Piper premieres at Theatre Royal Stratford East, then transfers to the Barbican. Wins the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Dance Production. Boy Blue become Associate Artists at the Barbican.
2012
London Olympics Opening Ceremony. Kenrick choreographs hundreds of young dancers for the segment 'Frankie and June say thanks Tim', and stages the handover of the Olympic torch.
2013
Emancipation of Expressionism premieres at Sadler's Wells in May. The work you are studying.
The company's signature vocabulary is central to understanding EoE. Boy Blue have their own movement language — four specific motifs that appear across the work and mark it as unmistakably theirs.
True or false — Boy Blue facts
1. Boy Blue Entertainment was founded in 2002.
2. Kenrick Sandy and Max Richter are joint Artistic Directors of Boy Blue.
3. Boy Blue won the Laurence Olivier Award for Emancipation of Expressionism.
4. Boy Blue contributed to the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony.
💜 Section 2.4 — Personal Interpretation
How does the style shape your reading?
No right or wrong answers here. Pick the interpretation that resonates most with you — then see how it could work in an exam answer. At the end, build your own exam sentence about the style.
Which hip hop style do you find most visually compelling?
💡 How this works in an exam
Seventeen is a large cast. How does the scale of the ensemble shape the experience for you?
💡 How this works in an exam
Kenrick choreographed the work and performs in it. Does knowing this change how you watch?
💡 How this works in an exam
✍️ Build your exam sentence
Choose from the dropdowns to assemble a personalised exam-quality response about the style. Screenshot it when done.
Style
Section
Creates
Intent
Your exam sentence
📸 Screenshot this and save it to your revision notes.
📌 Revisit This — 6 things to know cold
Six styles
Krumping · Popping · Locking · Animation · Breaking · Waacking. Know what each one looks like.
Dancers
17 total — 8 female, 9 male. Kenrick performs. Several dancers have key solos and leading roles.
Non-gender-specific costume
All 17 wear the same outfit — equal, unified. Individual identity comes through movement, not appearance.
Boy Blue founded
2002, London, by Kenrick Sandy and Mikey J Asante (joint Artistic Directors). Associate Artists at the Barbican.
Olivier Award
Won for Pied Piper — NOT for EoE. Don't mix these up.
Company colour
Blue — it's in the name, the costumes and the lighting. Every design choice reinforces Boy Blue's identity.
🧠 Revision Check
10 questions · style, dancers and company · select one answer per question
1. Which hip hop style involves sharp muscle contractions to create a "pop" or "hit" effect?
2. Which style features acrobatic floor work — windmills, headspins and freezes?
3. Which style is described as robotic and mechanical, imitating stop-motion movement?
4. How many dancers are in Emancipation of Expressionism?
5. What is the male/female split of dancers in EoE?
6. Does Kenrick Sandy perform in EoE?
7. When was Boy Blue Entertainment founded?
8. Who are the joint Artistic Directors of Boy Blue Entertainment?
9. Which production did Boy Blue win the Laurence Olivier Award for?
10. Which statement best explains why the costumes in EoE are non-gender-specific?
Take a screenshot of your score and paste it into your ePortfolio so your teacher can see your progress.