People and Personalities

Described as one of the hottest choreographers on the UK street dance scene, he has worked with some of today's best dancers and the choreographers of Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Missy Elliot and Lil' Kim.

He was the youngest person in the UK to write, choreograph and present his own DVD 'PHAT Moves, Street Dance Grooves’ and his work has taken him as far afield as Los Angeles, Prague, Cannes and Dubai – quite a way from his native High Wycombe!

Andy has danced with Basement Jaxx at Glastonbury, taught at the Beverley Hills High School (of 90210 fame), worked on three pop videos and has done some work for Nike in Prague where he took a class for 1,000 people in a stadium.

I caught up with him just after he had had a meeting about yet another project - this time in conjunction with Lizzie Webb (TV AM's Mad Lizzie)  and if he dances with as much speed, passion and enthusiasm as he talks, then it must be truly something to behold!

So what is it about street dance that he loves?

Andy in Phat action!

"I love its accessibility" he explained. "I also like the self-expression. It's dance born out of poverty, you don't need anything to do it. If you can make a beat box sound with your mouth you don't even need a stereo - you just need a space.

"It's also very emotive and rhythmical with African Dance influences."

Footballer

Andy originally started learning dancing at the age of six but didn't do anything with it then, because the big plan was to become a professional footballer.

"My sister went to dance class so I went along with her to start with" he explained.

"I did tap, ballet and modern and had strong co-ordination and balance but I didn't do anything with that. At eight I gave it all up and concentrated on my football. I played for the county and at the Wycombe Wanderers School of Excellence. I wanted to be professional that was the big plan, but I got released at 16 and got back into dance."

He started street dancing at a fairly early age by watching Michael Jackson videos repeatedly, and by 15 he had a reputation as the “hip hop master” at school.

"I used to religiously watch Michael Jackson" he said. "I had all his videos - he was a huge inspiration.

"I watched and practised his moves and then on Friday and Saturday nights we'd have parties and put on a track and slowly start dancing.

"I'd eventually get a bit of a circle round me and we'd have break dance battles but I came out on top because I'd been practising the moves all the time at home!

"Then at school on Monday mornings people would ask me to teach them the moves" he continued. "This carried on at lunchtime and eventually at 15 I was doing lunchtime classes in the school hall."

That school was Misbourne School in Great Missenden where he does some of his classes now.

"It was a great school and gave me so many opportunities, it's good to be able to give a bit back" he said.

Self-taught

Andy left school after his A'Levels and carried on teaching. At 18, he had established his own dance company, Urban Strides, which specialises in school and university workshops, dance academies and community work throughout the country.

Andy Instone

Up to this point, he was entirely self-taught but at 20, and after being advised to get training by Omar Paloma of Culture Shock, he won a three-year scholarship at the prestigious Millennium Dance School, where he spent 30 weeks of the year and worked for the other 22.

His past projects include the Smash Hits UK, Atomic Kitten and A1 tours. His reputation now goes before him and he is receiving further choreography requests from around the globe.

He got the Royal Variety gig by recommendation. Gary Lloyd is choreographing the whole show and has asked Andy to put together a hip-hop section in the opening.

"He heard about me on the grapevine" explained Andy. "Someone recommended me and said I was really good to work with. I went to see him and showed him a few bits and he asked me there and then to get involved."

His work has even taken him to Bullwood Prison in Essex where he taught the ‘lifers’ and the young offenders featured in ITV’s The Real Bad Girls. He explained how this work gave the inmates something new in their lives and helped with their self-esteem.

"If you're doing crime you've not got that much self-esteem" he says. "I taught Young Offenders and lifers, although I didn't know they were the lifers at the time!

"But they were much more assertive. When you're in for life you grab at any little thing.

Andy Instone

"It was a very interesting time for me" he continued. "I've been a victim of crime and I'd only received negativity from these kind of people before.

"But you can't tar everybody with the same brush. I gave them something to hold onto that's not based on crime or drugs or alcohol - something good.

"I'm a bit of a dance evangelist really!"

Power

Andy says that he really believes in the power of dance to do good. To that end, he has also done a lot of charity work, most recently for the new Global Angels charity, established by Molly Bedingfield, mother of pop stars Natasha and Daniel, and whose mission is to make the world a safer and kinder place for all children.

"One of their main ways of fundraising is to put on live concerts" he explained. "They've just asked me to choreograph their concerts at Wembley. They've also just asked me to be an ambassador along with Natasha and Daniel, Jamelia and Lemarr."

This month Andy, who already holds classes in Aylesbury, Watford, Great Missenden, Winslow, Princes Risborough, to name but a few, is starting new Monday evening classes at the Milton Keynes Theatre. And everyone is welcome.

"Definitely - anyone can do it" he said. "You don't have to be technical. I can break it down so that it's accessible to everyone - both the kids and their mums and dads.

"Usually the mums drop the kids off and they really want to do it and sometimes they do just join in" he revealed. "It's one of those environments. We are sharing a love of dance, it's not exclusive, it's open to everyone.

Andy teaches thousands in Prague

"There's no hip hop in Milton Keynes at the moment and so many people want to do it. We could do something really fierce with them."

Andy will be taking two classes on a Monday from 4.00pm - 5.00pm and from 5.00pm - 6.00pm. To start with, both classes will be at the same level although they may split into different ones at it grows. But Andy says that he wanted two different hours to give
more people the opportunity to come along. He says that anyone from 13 upwards is welcome.

Benefits

And if anyone is wavering, Andy is very keen to stress all the benefits.

"You can sit at home and watch the telly or get off your backside and meet people" he said.

"And you are also learning something that's beneficial. It's great for your fitness. Adrenalin levels are raised, the heart rate is raised and it's very good for toning muscle.

"It also gives you an enormous sense of self-confidence. People start walking with their shoulders back and heads held high.

"And it's so much fun" he added. "I also use the latest tunes so you can use the moves in the clubs."

Andy certainly seems to have the power to inspire, but in turn he has also been inspired. He speaks warmly of one of the best things he has learnt, which came from Tony Wright, who has choreographed Will Smith, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

"He comes from the Bronx and was there when it all started" he explained. "He keeps me well real and reminds me of where it came from.

"I said to him that when I choreograph I sometimes come up against a brick wall and go over things in too much detail.

"He said to me "think less, dance more". So I set up the video and freestyled and then went back and choreographed. That phrase has lived with me.

"It's good just to forget your inhibitions and go for it."