Robert Hylton
all things dance
PhD
Dr Robert Hylton
PhD C-DaRE (Centre for Dance Research), Coventry University (fully funded by Coventry University)
ABK Research
My research focuses on street and hip hop dance and their relationship with the African diaspora, as an embodied practice of living archive, past, present, future, and now–doing—in how cultural transmission transfers knowledge between bodies and places. Based on my PhD on Black British Popping through the concepts I call the bit before in Active Bodily Knowledge – Talking-Sensation into Cultural Identifiers (CIs) and ABK Research methodology—a practice-based approach to examine the temporal-realtime interrelation between consciousness (Talking-Sensation) and interior sensation (Cultural Identifiers) in popping improvisation. In doing so, I developed ABK Research symbology (i - +): (i) consciousness, (-) interior sensation, and skin (+)-visible movement-expression. Importantly, I identified the time and space of what I call (i -) the bit before—to isolate (i) consciousness and (-) interior sensation into (i -) as a time-based illustrative framework-methodology to explore popping—as an embodied practice-based approach: to learning, teaching, studying, and doing dance improvisation. In turn, I define (i -) the bit before as part of the real-time millisecond experience and pre-active temporality of Active Bodily Knowledge (i - +) to describe the living experience of—doing popping improvisation. Further examined through film, and what I call haptic editing—as a tool to develop theory-based creative work—around the theme of doing: cultural exchange, memory, human experience and innovation.
A presentation and practice-based film on my research, along with movement workshops exploring Active Bodily Knowledge, are available on request.
Related Research Interests
Film theory & cultural transmission
Black British cultural expression
British social dance
UK Jazzdance, social dance, hip hop & streetdance
Migration, otherness, embodied identity & place
Cultural transmission, archive & writing
Aim
Researching the presence of African diasporic streetdance in both the UK and the US to enable a broader access and understanding of an often hidden or unspoken representation of Black performance and social dance over the past 300+ years in Britain. To enhance and promote the visibility and presence of African diasporic streetdance through a British perspective pre and post UK Jazzdance (late 60s-early 70s) and hip hop dance in education, academia, performance and research.
The research will develop into a future exhibition, performance, and film work.
For more information or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Related Qualifications
MA - Northampton University (bursary)
BPA - Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD)
Selected Writing
Academic
Forthcoming chapter in: (release date 13 August 2026).
Hylton, R. (2026). Chickens coming home to roost: UK hip hop dance and the outside world. In Akinleye, A., Bourne, S., Glean, B., Katerega, L., Romans, H., & Cheng, J. (Eds.). The Palgrave handbook of Black British dance (pp.xx-xx). Palgrave Macmillan. Available pre-order: here
Hylton, R. (2024). A Conversation on the Nature of Practice in Hip-Hop Creativity, Skill, Integrity, Intelligence and Community, Edinburgh University Press. BLOG Link
Hylton, R., & Burrows, J. (2023). Creativity, Skill, Integrity, Intelligence and Community: A Conversation on the Nature of Practice in Hip Hop. Dance Research, 41(2), 170-180. Link
Hylton, R. (2016). Reacting, Shifting and Momentum of a Developing 21st Century Dance, Blurring Boundaries: Urban Street meets Contemporary Dance, P18-27, Serendipity, Du Montfort University. Link
Book
Hylton, R. (2022). Dancing in time: The history of moving and shaking. British Library Publishing. Link
A Japanese translation of Dancing in Time is available here: Link
Contributions
Chambers, C. (Ed.). (2023). The Methuen Drama Encyclopaedia of Modern Theatre (1st ed.). Hardback. Published on April 20, 2023. Link Role: Hip hop theatre contributor, focusing on how streetdance styles have impacted on theatre.
Hylton, R. (2021). Where we are now: Charting screendance’s recent growth and development and what it means for creators. Hotfoot Online, Autumn 2021, 38–39. Link
Hylton, R. (2020). British Library Eccles Centre BLOG 'Dancing in the Archives...' Link
Hylton, R. (2019, Spring). Layers of resilience and blackness. Hotfoot Online, 40–43. In Hotfoot Online Spring 2019 Edition. One Dance UK. Link
HOTFOOT Magazine, (2016), ADAD: 21st Anniversary Edition, LONG TERM INVESTORS, P75-77. Link
Hylton, R. (2011), Skills n Drills, Animated Magazine. Link
Peer Reviews
I am available to peer-review papers/manuscripts on request.
Fellowships
Former Associate Research Fellow in the School of Arts at (Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre), University of London, 2019-2023
Former Visiting Fellow at The Eccles Centre, British Library, 2019-2020
Associate Artist
Former Associate Artist at Laban, London
Former Associate Artist at The Place, London
Talks
Introducing Cultural Identifiers (CIs) and their methodology: Reading Improvisation in Black British Popping - PSi #29 Assemble! Hoxton Hall - Palmer Room, June 21st, 2024
Creatively Innovating the Archive: In Conversation with Robert Hylton: Monday, 6 March 2023
De Montfort University's 'Funmi Adewole speaks with first-generation UK Hip Hop Theatre pioneer, Robert Hylton.
Talking Back: Hip Hop Through Research and Practice - curated by Dr Rosa Cisneros
Rich Mix, London – Hip hop dance archive, commissioned by State of Emergency
Southbank University – The role of Artistic Director
The Place, London – The life of a choreographer
University of East London Dance: Urban Practice - Hip Hop Pedagogies
University of East London Dance: Urban Practice - Hip Hop Theatre
Northampton University - Hip Hop Dance and Theatre
Dance UK (One Dance) AGM at Sadlers Wells - Websites, culture and information
Panel
Moving Online Research Group: Ontology and Ownership of Internet Dance - 2024. Developed by Hetty Blades, Coventry University
One Dance UK Awards - Judging Panel 2023
Memberships
PoP Moves UK committee member: an international research group for popular dance and performance. (on a break)