A meticulously crafted night that celebrates the community and culture of Funk and Breaking throughout time.
Ghetto Funk Collective is an Amsterdam-based dance and arts crew dedicated to funk culture. The Ruggeds are world-champion b-boys known internationally, including for their appearance in Justin Bieber’s “Where Are U Now” music video. Together, the two groups brought their UK debut, Groove, to the Southbank Centre: a visually striking and musically enchanting performance that, at its core, is a sincere invitation into the dance and music culture they love.
The evening celebrates both individuality and community. It highlights not only different musical and dance styles, but also how music and movement converse and flow together to create the culture we live in today. Featuring a wide range of dance and musical styles, the performance is skilfully choreographed by Ruben “Chi” Verhoeven. Different performers take the lead in different pieces while remaining supported by the collective. Together, they take the audience on a journey across eras and genres. Although a strong overarching narrative is missing, each piece is carefully crafted and superbly executed. Audience interaction is woven throughout, and the musicians are given opportunities not only to showcase their individual talents but also to reveal aspects of their creative process. This attention to individuality within a collaborative framework ultimately feels like an invitation into a loving and vibrant culture and community.
Among the many accomplished dancer-musicians, Lucinda Wessels’ stage presence was especially distinctive and magnetic. Her improvised solo was neither overtly crowd-pleasing nor driven by technical display. Instead, blending contemporary dance, locking and classical influences, she created something fluid, peculiar and deeply in tune with the music. Her duet with Rico “Griimsen” Coker was equally compelling. Rather than aiming to astonish, the pair created something quietly mesmerising.
The Southbank Centre is an intriguing venue choice. The Undercroft beneath the Queen Elizabeth Hall was the birthplace of UK skateboarding and a longstanding hub for street dance and urban arts, making it a fitting host for the performance. Presenting Groove in the Queen Elizabeth Hall also carries symbolic weight. It places funk and breaking, two cultures deeply rooted in local communities and urban spaces, on a prestigious stage with significant cultural history. Yet the venue also presents challenges, creating distance between performers and audience. The lighting design produces striking visual images but occasionally obscures details of movement, while the long end-on stage limits visibility for audience members seated farther back. Most importantly, the traditional theatre setting creates barriers to the communal atmosphere in which these dance forms thrive. Although the performance invites participation, the space prevents it from fully replicating the experience of people gathering around a dance floor, cheering dancers on and celebrating each movement throughout the performance. As a result, the work is experienced as something to be observed rather than collectively lived.
Groove has just finished its run at the Southbank Centre, where it played from 4 to 5 June.