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Two hip-hop dance companies with links to Sadler’s Wells have been awarded over £1 million to tour England over the next two years.

ZooNation Dance Company, and Sadler’s Wells’ international festival Breakin’Convention, have been awarded the money from Arts Council England for their ‘Strategic Touring Programme’.

Alistair Spalding, Sadler’s Wells Chief Executive and Artistic Director, said: “There is no underestimating the growth hip-hop as a dance style has been experiencing in recent years, exploding from the streets onto the stage, but also on TV and through fashion and advertising.

“Its enormous success stems from its ‘each one teach one’ approach to knowledge-sharing and its ability to continuously evolve and develop a highly original vocabulary – a language that is dynamic and current, and speaks to ever increasing numbers of young people.”

ZooNation are one of Sadler’s Wells’ resident companies, and have been awarded £562,783 for tours in May 2016 and 2017.

The Breakin’ Convention festival celebrates hip-hop dance theatre, and have been given £499,471 for rural touring of their show Into the Hoods: Remixed.

Kate Prince, Artistic Director of ZooNation Dance Company, said: “I think it is a really exciting and bold move for the Arts Council to make such a significant investment in developing audiences for hip hop dance theatre through these two major projects.

“The chance to work with venues more closely will really release the potential of our work to reach more people and connect new audiences to regional theatres.

“This investment of over £1 million pounds between ourselves and Breakin’ Convention also makes a statement about hip hop dance and its cultural importance and artistic currency.”

These grants come as part of a £4.8 million grant from the Arts Council, which aims to enable organisations across the UK tour across the UK over the next few years.

Two Sadler’s Wells associates have been granted over £1 million to tour the UK. For more information on ZooNation Dance Company click here. For more information of Breakin’ Convention, click here.