Beefeater Sip-Hop (Sat 22nd April)

Street Dance Showcase in a Gin Distillery:

The London Tonic Series Presents Beefeater Sip-Hop

This month, Beefeater is bringing urban dance in from the streets of London by hosting a free hip-hop dance showcase at its iconic gin distillery, Beefeater London: The Home of Gin.

Beefeater Sip-Hop is the sixth instalment in the popular London Tonic Series, and will see guests enjoy two complimentary Beefeater cocktails alongside two excerpts from Smother, the critically-acclaimed hip-hop show. The production explores the theme of obsession and the meaning of commitment through a fast-paced, intimate performance that charts the relationship of two young men.

Choreographed by 201 Dance Company’s Andrea Walker, Smother received rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2016 for its technical choreography and for pushing the boundaries of the macho hip-hop sphere. The two excerpts juxtapose the highs and lows of the two men’s broken encounter and the different styles of hip-hop, from a heavy choreography influence to a more emotional drive. Smother is currently touring its raw, contemporary hip-hop style across the UK.

The Beefeater Sip-Hop performances will take place in Beefeater London’s Gallery Bar, which is located in its Kennington distillery and beneath the giant pot stills used to distil Beefeater’s celebrated London Dry Gin.

Beefeater Sip-Hop will take place over two sessions on Saturday 22nd April 2017, from 1:30pm until 3.30pm and 3:30pm until 5.30pm. Interested event goers can also add a tour of the iconic Beefeater distillery to their afternoon for £12 (£10.80 for concessions), by visiting beefeaterdistillery.com and booking onto the 1pm or 3pm slot.

Kasia Karpieszuk, Manager at Beefeater London, The Home of Gin, said: “Hip-hop might have originated in the US, but it’s here in London that the most innovative, experimental and thought-provoking choreography is being developed. Inviting 201 Dance Company in to share their performance in London’s most historic distillery is set to create an unforgettable celebration of the city’s creativity, contemporary culture and diversity, and we can’t wait to share this one-off experience with our guests.”

The London Tonic Series features one event per month at the Beefeater Gin Distillery until June 2017, showcasing the best of London’s arts and culture scene, from world-class mixologists to leading spoken word artists.

Guests will also be invited to make a charitable contribution to the London Tonic Series’ charity arts partner, the City & Guilds of London Art School; a not-for-profit, specialist higher education institution also based in Kennington, which trains the next generation of Fine Artists, Conservators and Historic Carvers.

Guests will not be admitted without government-issued identification proving they are at least 18 years old.