East Bank Stratford is the much heralded, brand new cultural and educational district within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, that brings together branches of world-class institutions including Sadler’s Wells, the BBC, University College London and the V&A. This cultural quarter is a vibrant hub for creativity, education and innovation – and the new branch of Sadler’s Wells is a pioneering, stunning centre for dance. It is here that we have the pleasure of being taken on the journey by Breakin’ Convention’s Tentacle Tribe: PRISM performance – a thrilling production that plays with the concepts of perception, identity and illusion.
Founded in 2012 by choreographer-performers Emmanuelle Lê Phan and Elon Höglund (from Canada and Sweden respectively), Tentacle Tribe blend their creativity in a way that transcends the boundaries of street and contemporary dance, to create a distinctive style all of their own. Their expertise has been recognized worldwide – they have collaborated with Cirque du Soleil, amongst countless other high-profile names, too. Tentacle Tribe utilize various hip-hop concepts, methods, and techniques, such as breaking and popping, and there is a strong theme of partner collaboration throughout their work. They are also inspired by the physicality and mystique of the animal kingdom, which is certainly an inspiration that shines through in PRISM.
PRISM unfolds as a gripping, quirky, at times unsettling puzzle of movement, from the very opening moments. We’re invited into the reflective world of mirrors and light – the stage is framed by a reflective floor and moveable mirrored panels, creating a shifting canvas in which the dancers appear multiplied and refracted at various changing moments. The title ‘PRISM’ refers to the way a prism splits light into its constituent colours, and the performance uses this concept as its baseline to showcase the five performers, who writhe, pop, twist and wave, each one dressed in one particular bright prism colour which adds to the simple yet visually striking scene we see unfolding before us (Emmanuelle and Elon are part of the quintet themselves). The dancers transcend between being stand-alone artists with their own story to convey, to being ‘one’ as a group, popping, pulsating, creating incredible shapes and throwing intricate shadows across the space. It comes to mind that there must be a real sense of camaraderie and trust that is surely genuine between the dancers – one can imagine that a deep connection must be present in order to create such an impactful contemporary art piece together. The chemistry between them is nothing short of astounding. The dancers are lithe, athletic and unique, and they manipulate the movable mirrors at various points to create different shapes, scenes and moods. At one point, they hold the mirrors up towards us as an audience, and we realise at that moment – we ourselves are part of the PRISM!
PRISM is almost meditative in nature; we move between feeling quite unsettled at the eerie, uncanny-valley type choreography, to feeling lulled into relaxation by the hypnotic momentum in the next moment. The original, contemporary soundscape that accompanies throughout was created by Elon himself and serves as an important canvas to allow the dancers to speak through their bodies. There is a spoken-word interlude towards the latter half of the performance that encourages us to ponder the notion that there may be many different versions of ourselves, existing in both this worldly plane and perhaps the next, if that’s what you believe – ‘who are you, in this version, of this life?’
After the performance, we are treated to a surprise panel talk with a representative from Breakin’ Convention, Emmanuelle and Elon themselves, and an ASL interpreter for the hard of hearing (a thoughtful inclusion that incorporates both Breakin’ Convention and Sadler’s Wells commitment to accessibility for all – and rightfully so). We get to hear from the Tentacle Tribe founders about the PRISM creative process – a microphone is passed around the audience and the floor is open for questions, which is another layer of inclusivity that brings us up close and personal with the educational aspect of this street, contemporary, hip-hop fusion.
A thoroughly enjoyable artistic celebration, PRISM leaves you questioning what is real and what is simply a reflection – a hypnotic journey that lingers long after the mirrors fade to black.
Review by Louise Czupich
Everything we perceive is shaped by reflection—without light, there is no vision. White light, or visible light, is composed of seven wavelengths perceptible to the human eye. When we see red, it is not the colour itself we witness, but the reflection of what remains after all other wavelengths are absorbed. This raises a profound question: what lies beyond what we can see? The unseen has long fascinated artists, philosophers, and scientists alike. Some even propose the existence of a mirror universe, a parallel world governed by its own mirrored physics.
Opposites define one another: night cannot exist without day, reflection cannot exist without an object. Our very experience relies on this interplay of contrast.
These ideas are embodied in the reflective set design of this creation. For the first time, Tentacle Tribe introduces a fully transformable environment: six mobile mirrored panels gliding across a reflective floor. More than mere scenery, these structures become active partners in the choreography—supporting the performers’ weight, multiplying their images, and expanding the possibilities of movement. The mirrors echo the work’s central themes, inviting audiences to contemplate reflection, identity, illusion, and the mysteries that reside just beyond visibility.
Choreography Emmanuelle Lê Phan & Elon Höglund
Dancers
Emmanuelle Lê Phan
Elon Höglund
Rahime Gay-Labbé
Céline Richard-Robichon
Mecdy Jean-Pierre
Set Design & Adaptation Charles Cormier & Rahime Gay-Labbé
Light Design & Technical Direction Benoit Larivière
Original Music Elon Höglund
Co-Production Diagramme Gestion Culturelle, Danse Danse
BREAKIN’ CONVENTION PRESENTS TENTACLE TRIBE: PRISM
Sadler’s Wells East
8 to 11 October 2025
