The Black Album has an emotional narrative: Tony Adigun on his latest dance piece

London-based Tony Adigun breaks down music’s caste system by choreographing street dance to Mozart and Beethoven.

A longer conversation with Adigun reveals that the piece brings together street dance with classical music in a way that neither is sacred nor sacrilege.

Tony Adigun has been in India since the beginning of this month and hasn’t done anything crazy yet. His dance piece, The Black Album, is the only hint that audiences in Kolkata and Mumbai have had of the “excitemental” energy that surges through this 34-year-old from London who has choreographed for stars such as Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Usher and Mel B (of the Spice Girls). The Black Album, which will be presented in Delhi today, as part of the British Council’s festival of contemporary dance, Impulse, is described in the brochure as a “triple bill in which three different hip hop choreographies are woven together like a concept album”. A longer conversation with Adigun reveals that the piece brings together street dance with classical music in a way that neither is sacred nor sacrilege. Excerpts:

What is black in your album?

We always think that beauty is bright faced and light hearted but I think opposite. There is a strong beauty within darkness and I wanted to explore it with my company Avant Garde Dance.

What does the piece comprise?

The first part is called Omega and there are five dancers and five columns of light who dance to music of DJ Jazzanova. Then comes Classical Break in which two BBoys and one ballerina interpret composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Prokofiev through break dance. Dark Matters is the final piece in which eight of us come together on stage as a strong group that plays with the idea of inner darkness. I wanted to create a new way for the audience to watch music and listen to dance.

How challenging was it to put your dancers through the paces?

I am a fan of understanding music. We approached The Black Album with the same intention. There were parts of the music the dancers had not heard before so we had to first understand the delicacy and structure of the music.

And what about the movements?

There’s contemporary hip hop, break dance, jazz and more. One-hand flips, back flips, jumps, spins and stretches, it’s all there. When the music is soft, the dancers move delicately, when the music is staccato and aggressive the texture of the movements change. I am a fan of interpretations and I let the audience decide their own journey. The Black Album has an emotional narrative through different shapes of black but everybody’s narrative differs.

You seem to be constantly working on mixing hip hop with classical compositions. Your latest is Romeo and Juliet (not touring India) in which you turn Shakespeare into a promenade theatre-cut-hip hop dance drama. Is it a sign of rebellion?

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I don’t see it as being a rebel, I see it as being normal. I think, ‘Why can’t this be done the other way? How do I go against the grain?’ I get bored if I have to do safe projects, in order to be worthy. So I push boundaries and I want to grow left, right, up and down.
One of the dancers who understood you was Akram Khan, one of your mentors.

I learn from everybody, from my family, from other dancers. I see myself as a student. Akram Khan came to see a performance almost three years ago. It was called Omi and was about the character of water, seen in the aftermath of the Tsunami in Japan. Akram Khan was shocked with what I was doing with hip hop. He got it.

The Black Album will be staged at Shri Ram Centre on November 10. Contact: 23731112

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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