MEET THE JUDGES

Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe

Danielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe is an Award-winning Choreographer, Creative Director, Dramaturg and currently Associate Artistic Director of Zoonation: The Kate Prince Company.

With 2 decades under her belt across film, television, stages and events. Dannielle was an assistant choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance (BBC) and later took all female dance company Boadicea into the finals of Got to Dance (Sky One). Dannielle was an assistant choreographer and dance captain on the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony and soon after joined forces with leader of Britain’s Got Talent winners, Diversity; Ashley Banjo.

Dannielle went on to choreograph in the Diversity Arena tours ‘Digitized’,’Limitless’, ‘Limitless The Reboot’, ‘Up Close and Personal’ and The ITV Diversity Special. Dannielle was associate choreographer for ’Into the Hoods Remixed’ and associate choreographer on ‘Everybody’s talking about Jamie’ West End, The UK Tour, The Movie and the Australian tour. She was associate choreographer on ‘An Officer and a Gentleman at the Leicester Curve and was Associate Director on the Olivier Nominated musical ‘Sylvia’ The Musical at The Old Vic.

As Artistic Director of Zoonation Youth Company Birmingham, Dannielle Directed ‘Groove on down the Road’ at Wolverhampton Arena Theatre, Birmingham Hippodrome and Southampton Mayflower theatre. Dannielle choreographed ‘In The Willows’ The Musical and Dick Whittington at the National theatre. Nominated best Movement Director for The Sun The Moon The Stars at Stratford Theatre Royal and was awarded Best Choreography on Fantastically Great Women who Changed The World. Dannielle West End Choreographed debuted with Derren Browns Unbelievable.

Dannielle was a mentor and Judge on BBC Young Dancer. Dannielle work as Creative Director saw her curate the opening of The East Bank: Olympic park and curating ITV’s NYE Bash. Dannielle Business Coaching has led her to help launch and scale 100s Creative Female Entrepreneurs, train mindset to 1000’s of creatives and build her community The Elevation Nation.

Kendrick ‘H2O Sandy MBE

Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Boy Blue, Associate Artist at the Barbican London, is undoubtedly one of the most renowned choreographers and performers in the UK commercial and theatrical scenes.

Sandy’s credits are extensive having worked in TV, film and theatre, at home and abroad, alongside Boy Blue’s 2001 inception. As a choreographer he’s responsible for REDD (2019), Outliers (2018), the Olivier nominated Blak Whyte Gray (2017), The Five & the Prophecy of Prana (2013), A Night With Boy Blue (2018, 2016, 2015, 2013) and Olivier award winning Pied Piper: A Hip-Hop Dance Revolution (2007). He also co-directed and choreographed Unleashed for the Barbican (2012).

Off the main stage, Sandy collaborated with director Danny Boyle for the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, winning the Evening Standard’s Beyond Theatre award. Sandy also worked on the Closing Winter Paralympic 2014 Ceremony and the 2007 Tour De France opening in Trafalgar Square, London.

On screen work includes choreography on the BAFTA Awards, for All Stars and T2 Trainspotting, plus appearances on Street Dance 3D, the BBC’s So You Think You Can Dance and CBBC’s Alesha’s Street Dance Stars. In 2015 he judged the inaugural BBC Young Dancer Competition. As a performer himself, his repertoire includes Legacy Re:Loaded at the Jerwood Dance House and Jonzi D’s Lyrikal Fearta Redux at Sadler’s Wells.

In 2017 Sandy was an awarded an MBE for services to dance and the community in the Queen’s New Years honours list, an Honorary Fellowship (HonFGS) from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2018 and in 2019, a Companionship from LIPA.

Kloé Dean

Renowned as a visionary storyteller, Kloé Dean masterfully breathes life into narratives on a global stage, leaving an indelible mark with her unparalleled impact.

As a multifaceted Choreographer, Movement Director, and Performing Artist deeply rooted in Hip Hop, Funk, and Street Dance Styles, Kloé boasts an extensive repertoire honed over two decades. Her expertise extends beyond the confines of traditional genres, allowing her to create, perform, and facilitate seamlessly across Theatre, TV, Film, Music, Fashion, Corporate, Community and Education.

In an illustrious career, Kloé has left an unforgettable mark on theatre with productions like Tambo and Bones, Gone Too Far, and Tapped. She has also seamlessly collaborated with acclaimed music artists such as SAULT, Little Simz, Anne-Marie, Little Mix, Cleo Sol, Ghetts, and Kojey Radical, while leaving her artistic imprint on prestigious brands like Jimmy Choo, Nike, George at ASDA, and Marks & Spencer’s.

Her artistic prowess shines brightly, elevating every project she undertakes to new heights of creativity and impact.

Mr Mukhtar O.S Mukhtar

Mr Mukhtar O.S Mukhtar has been Directing, Choreographing and dancing for the past 20 years. He founded a dance collective by the name of PLAGUE who went on to win 3 UK championships and 2 WORLD hip hop championships in 2005 & 2011 respectively. 

Mukhtar spent 8 years with Cirque du Soleil (2005 — 2013) as a performer in the Beatles “LOVE” show in Las Vegas. 

In 2015, Mukhtar returned to the “LOVE” show as a creator/choreographer for the successful refresh and re-design of the show.

Mukhtar had a year out of Cirque in 2008, where he joined the creative team for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics show, as an artist and assistant choreographer. 

In 2014, Mukhtar took a step up in his career in becoming the writer and Stage Director (in Las Vegas) for Cirque du Soleil’s “One Night for One Drop”. An exclusive show that had over 100 performers and artists (John Legend, The Tenors). 

He returned the following year in 2015 to create and direct another original show, both shows helped raise over 15 million dollars for poverty-stricken countries in need of clean water. 

Since then, Mukhtar has been busy writing and directing bigger spectacles for Cirque du Soleil: a record-breaking touring concert for huge German pop icon Helene Fischer, a touring show dedicated to the greatest soccer star of our time Lionel Messi, Cirque du Soleil’s latest touring big top show ECHO, and invited as a Specialty Director for the 2024 Super bowl halftime performance for USHER, in las vegas.

Mukhtar is currently working on new exciting projects which you can experience in the near future.