Our members and patrons are very important to us and, over the last year, we have carried out research and spoken to as many of them as possible to find out what supporters value most about Sadler’s Wells and what they would like from their membership.

The one benefit that members overwhelmingly asked us for is priority booking, so from 1 February all our membership and Patron schemes will have this as a key benefit. The first opportunities to take advantage of priority booking are for Carlos Acosta’s Acosta Danza in February and then for Matthew Bourne’s revival of Cinderella in March.

As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our members to help us invest in dance and run our learning and participation programmes. Our membership schemes have not changed in over nine years, and we feel we now need to modernise the benefits so that our membership programmes remain cost-effective and competitive.

Members and Patrons joining or renewing from 1 February 2017 can continue to take advantage of a 20% discount on most tickets – making their Sadler’s Wells membership still incredibly good value. As part of our review of our membership schemes, we are making other changes to the old discounts and benefits.

All existing Members and Patrons are being written to by post in January to explain these changes. For details on the full range of benefits in our new schemes, please visit www.sadlerswells.com/membership.

With the help and involvement of our supporters we can continue to create exciting new work, inspire young people through dance and nurture the next generation of artists to make the great productions of the future.

The national company of Malta, led by international dance artist Mavin Khoo, will be performing for the first time in the UK at the Lilian Baylis Studio this February. We talked to company member Florinda Camilleri about the company and the work they will be performing.

1. Can you introduce yourself?
I am Florinda Camilleri, I’m Maltese and I have been a member of ŻfinMalta since the initiation of the company in 2014. I am very proud that I have received my dance training only in Malta, on a part-time basis. I graduated as a pharmacist in 2012 and worked in that field for two years before I decided to follow my dream and take on dance full time in 2014.

2. Tell us about the Żfin Malta Dance Ensemble, what’s it like to dance for the company?
I never thought that a professional contemporary dance company would ever come into existence in Malta, so I’m extremely happy that it has happened! I am so proud that our young company is working to achieve very high levels of artistic excellence. We are striving to be at the top of our field through honest, hard work and dedication and it is so inspiring to work with people who approach work with such integrity and respect. As a dancer of ŻfinMalta, I am lucky to be constantly exposed to inspirational artists who are believe in us and are willing to share their experiences and artistic tools. I am aware that it is quite unusual for a company like ours to have such a constant influx of highly experienced coaches, so I am deeply grateful for these opportunities we are given to learn from top notch artists.

3. What are you most looking forward to about performing in London?
Our performance will be the first performance in London by a professional Maltese dance company, so it is quite an important moment for Malta. I feel that in a very short span of time, we have managed to build a strong and united voice within the company and I’m very excited to share this with our audiences.

We have been actively trying to understand contemporary Maltese identity from day one. Malta gained independence in 1964. Before that, Malta was ruled by different countries and therefore highly influenced by these rulers in every facet of life. So it is understandable that we are still trying to establish a clear voice, particularly in the arts. Many artists are engaging in this search and this bubbling energy has become very tangible on our little island, making it a very exciting time to be a Maltese artist. We are working hard to bring all the major elements of this newly-discovered contemporary identity into our work, and I feel that the impact of this search is already evident.

4. What does it mean to you to be performing at Sadler’s Wells?
I read about Sadler’s Wells in dance books when I was a child, so for me, the name is synonymous with established and respected artists and dance companies. I have been lucky to have watched a few performances in this magnificent theatre throughout my life, but once again, I never would have imagined that one day, it would be me on that stage! Performing at Sadler’s Wells is a wonderful gift and honour. I will treasure every moment I spend in the space for the rest of my life.

5. Could you tell us a bit about the pieces you will be performing?
I will be performing in Mavin’s piece, Home. Home is a very theatrical production that illustrates a person’s life cycle from birth to death. The main protagonist is supported through this cycle by a variety of characters that guide him, teach him, provoke him and push him to his limits as he struggles to be accepted by this ‘society’. Throughout the performance, we explore very recognisable phases of life – birth, growing up, falling in love, heartbreak and death – all of which are sewn together by a narrator’s voice. This voice brings to life the thoughts of the protagonist, inviting audiences to question the meaning of Home.

The second work in the double bill is Kick the Bucket by Iván Pérez. This piece was created by Iván a few years ago, and it is a duet that delivers extreme emotions. This piece too proposes questions to the audience, questions relating to the consciousness of our existence.

6. What should the audience expect to see onstage?
Energy. Lightness and darkness, love and heartbreak, sorrow and hope.
Tension. Extreme emotions and physicality, odd sounds and rhythms.
And above all, a strong team of equally different dancers.

7. Home in particular is very high energy and theatrical, what does it feel like to perform?
Every performance of Home is different. It is so exciting to perform because the freedom we are given with the piece allows us to dig deeper and deeper into our characters, challenging each other and our audiences too. For me, every time we perform Home, I feel as though I’m stepping into a separate realm of reality, where the only thing that matters is the Now.

You can see ŻfinMalta Dance Ensemble — From home with love: a double bill of new work at Sadler’s Wells’ Lilian Baylis Studio on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 February, 8pm.
Tickets available here: sadlerswells.com/zfinmalta-dance-ensemble

Sadler’s Wells is home to Breakin’ Convention, the award-winning and critically acclaimed organisation that represents the origins and evolution of hip hop culture from around the world and around the corner. 2016 has been particularly busy for the Breakin’ Convention Education Team. Shay Rafati, Breakin’ Convention’s Education Officer gave us an update:

Islington Giving Fund
We’re proud to announce that they have been granted the Islington Giving Award Funding to run Minor Surgery: Hip Hop Theatre for young people in Islington. This will begin October 2017 working with local youth organisations, residents and schools over weekend and half terms to work towards a professional Hip Hop theatre production and finish at Breakin Convention Festival 2018 where the production will be showcased. We have meetings for the new year to explore partnership with another project and the best way to recruit young people and to find a suitable space.

Islington Creative Schools Pilot
It is exciting for us to be on the Islington Creative Schools Pilot scheme to offer 3 projects to local primary schools. The projects range from a music video project, a class recorded rap mixtape and a mini Moving Rap project.

Thurrock Trailblazer – Royal Opera House
We have partnered with Royal Opera House Purfleet and are pleased to be featured in the Thurrock Trailblazer catalogue offered to all Thurrock schools. We are pleased to be in six schools and a PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) with a variety of workshops we are running from Rap to Breakdance from now until the spring term 2017.

Workshops General
There has been an increase in school bookings for our one-off rap and dance workshops around the UK partly due to the inclusion of Kenrick Sandy’s piece The Emancipation of Expressionism on the GCSE Dance syllabus.

Guerrilla Science
We are currently in talks to partner with Guerrilla Science to encourage young people to learn about science through art. This will most likely be part of the Breakin’ Convention Festival programme 2017 with an exciting fire organ and water sound projection. TBC.

Future Elements
Our yearly FREE music video project “Future Elements” returns in February 2017 with limited spaces open to all young people aged 13-16 years old. Share this link to anyone who may be interested, no previous experience is necessary and is based at Sadler’s Wells. Application link: http://bit.ly/2hNBHr2

Keep up-to-date with all Breakin’ Convention education news here: breakinconvention.com/get-involved/education