FrontX

• Yasmin Sulaiman
• 4 August 2019

This article is from 2019

credit: Minh

Uplifting cross-artform collaboration

This heartfelt show directed by Belgian breakdance champion Milan Emmanuel is an immersive blend of live art, hip hop, mime and classical singing. Six international artists – all of whom Emmanuel met while working as a street performer – weave their stories together to create an empowering tale that celebrates resilience and a passion for performance.

We are introduced to Micael, a talented b-boy who moved to Belgium from the Ivory Coast as a teenager; Slowmotion Phax, who was part of the first generation of hip hop artists in France in the 1970s; Kosovan burlesque dancer Hello Shelly, who confronts ideas of femininity through pole dancing and Thai boxing; and Iranian-Australian Roya the Destroya, a brilliant dancer and actress who was born with one leg.

Their movements are soundtracked by Walloon singer Aurélie Castin, whose style spans opera to jazz and R&B, and Big Ben, who has twice been crowned Belgium's Champion of Beatboxing. It's their musical offerings that really elevate the show; Big Ben's beatboxing in particular is seriously impressive. And while the transitions feel a little clunky in places, ultimately FrontX is an uplifting hour of movement, music and story.

Summerhall, until 24 Aug (not 12, 14, 21), 3pm, £9 (£7).