About us
Far From The Norm is a Hip Hop Dance Theatre company, led by Artistic Director Botis Seva.
Our performers bring to the studio a range of dance styles from Popping to Breaking, Krump to House, and it is with their informed knowledge of different dance styles that Botis is able to question, learn and translate what else is possible.
We challenge perceptions of Hip Hop and create work that empowers marginalised people. All our work is original, vital and fearless and invites debate on social political issues and the contemporary world.
Our work includes live theatre performances, outdoor shows, immersive experiences and film. We tour nationally and internationally and we are continuing to develop strong partnerships around the world to nurture a new generation of hip hop dance theatre.
“I’m not the future of hip hop dance, I just try and make work to connect with people and bring some sort of peace to the world. Far From The Norm has a core of artists and every time we get in the studio we all know each other’s triggers and understand the work ethic required. We all appreciate the journey and can see our hard work paving the way for our futures and that of the next generation” Botis Seva
How it started
Established in May 2009 in a youth club in Dagenham, Hip Hop Theatre company Far From The Norm was founded by Artistic Director Botis Seva and is a collective of artists renowned for experimenting with hip hop - our dancers specialise in styles ranging from Krump to Popping to House. Simply, it was a collective of creatives thinking about creativity and moving in a different way to what was considered the norm. Hence our name, Far From The Norm.
After years of presenting work in community settings, through talent development initiatives and self-investing in our own productions, Far From The Norm is now touring their Hip Hop Theatre shows internationally to sold out audiences.
“Far From The Norm started in a youth club in Dagenham, between a group of friends. I used to invite different artists to come down and train in a closed community session, as I was interested in exchanging with different artists’ styles and vocabularies. Before I knew it, we were creating short works together and presenting extracts at local street dance platforms, one of Far From The Norm’s first performances was at an annual street dance competition ran by Leanne Pero called Keep It Moving at Fairfield Halls, in Croydon”
- Botis Seva