Educational films

Frames

Commissioned by The National Gallery

The Frames education project was commissioned by the National Gallery for the Festival of Youth Arts (FYA) 2006. The project worked with young people in care and used street dance forms to introduce them to the National Gallery in an innovative and inclusive way.

Urban Classicism created a site-specific film referring to paintings in the National Gallery using popular music and culture to inspire and invigorate participants whilst combining street forms of dance, b-boying (break-dance), body popping, with contemporary dance techniques.

Frames, the resulting 8 minute film, was screened at the closing party for the Festival of Youth Arts hosted by the National Gallery on Friday 2 June 2006.

Conceived by Robert Hylton

Directed by Curtis James

Music by Billy Biznizz

The Real Thing

A hip-hop dance and film project featuring 50 young people from East London. Inspired by Puccini's opera La Bohème, the cast of young people worked with professional artists to create this work. The film was a partnership with East London Dance and the Royal Opera House and shown on Blast on BBC2 autumn 2006.

Commissioned by The Royal Opera House and the BP Summer programme.

Movement Direction by Robert Hylton

Two Sugars with My Hip Hop please...

In February and March 2004, residents and staff at Phillip House in Kilburn London (a part of the Central and Cecil Housing Trust) worked with Urban Classicism Artistic Director Robert Hylton and collaborators Billy Biznizz and Curtis James.

The resulting work is a wry and humorous film that pokes fun at the serious side of the Hip Hop dance genre in a relaxed and heart-warming atmosphere created by the cast of 15 elders.

Commissioned by The Royal Festival Hall, South Bank.

Conceived by Robert Hylton

Directed by Curtis James

Music by Billy Biznizz

Urban Classicism South Side

This film was inspired by Robert Hylton’s piece, ‘Is this the Last Time?’ which was performed as part of Nubian Steps, presented at The Purcell Room 28 September to 1 October 2001 by Onyx Arts Foundation whilst the performers were engaged through IndepenDance.

The project itself gave Robert the opportunity to work with young gymnasts and acrobats of the area in an altogether original and unique location seen in the National Glass Centre.

Commissioned by The Royal Festival Hall, South Bank

Conceived by Robert Hylton

Directed by Curtis James

Music by Billy Biznizz