Hip-Hop Dancers to Represent 2012

A hip-hop dance group will be among the acts representing London as the Olympics are handed over in August.

London-based ZooNation will perform with the Royal Ballet and disabled dance group Candoco at the closing ceremony of the Beijing games.

A London 2012 spokesman said the eight-minute piece will show “London’s creativity, diversity and youth”.

But London Assembly (LA) member Brian Coleman said: “This is not the image we want to send around the world.”

‘Best of British’

London Mayor Boris Johnson will be given the Olympic flag during the 24 August ceremony, watched by up to 100 million TV viewers worldwide.

The dancers will be joined by other performers, with the full line-up to be announced on Monday.

The 2012 spokesman said: “We are in the final stages of planning our handover ceremonies—they will be the best of British, with a range of talent.”

ZooNation incorporates street dance and breakdance into its choreography and is the group behind hit West End musical Into The Hoods.

But Conservative LA member Mr Coleman said: “There are much more positive images of London, whether it is red buses or West End shows, or our diverse culture.”