Interviews
SHIZUKA HARIU: THE ARCHITECT OF DANCE
In the early 2000s, an architecture student from Japan visited Sadler’s Wells for the first time and fell in love with the theatre. What she saw was Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s iconic dance piece, Rain, in which designer Jan Versweyveld hangs a wall of ropes around the stage. His idea was simple, but the overall →
BARING ALL: MAVIN KHOO AND CARLOS PONS GUERRA IN CONVERSATION
We speak frankly with Mavin Khoo and choreographer Carlos Pons Guerra about the process of getting ‘emotionally naked’ to create their latest work, Man to Monk, for the Sadler’s Wells stage. “There is such a joy to being a vessel,” says Mavin Khoo, who has established a career of nearly 20 years as a dancer →
Where to find Indian classical dance in London – Darbar Voices
In the second installment of Darbar Voices, a four part blog series delving into the world of Indian dance in celebration of Darbar Festival, BBC’s Young Dancer and Birmingham-born kathak dancer Vidya Patel shares her top tips on where to experience Indian classical dance in London. I’m a proud Brummie and have been lucky to →
Memories of Ghost Dances
Originally choreographed for Rambert Dance Company in 1981, Christopher Bruce’s Ghost Dances has seen enduring success as one of the companies most popular pieces and a lasting political relevance that still resonates with audiences today. As Rambert prepare to restage Bruce’s iconic dance piece at Sadler’s Wells for its final London performances, we speak to →
A short introduction to ‘Neurochoreography’ by Matthias Sperling
No need to worry: ‘neurochoreography’ isn’t a real thing! It’s a word that I’ve made up as part of a thought experiment about the future potentials of the relationship between choreography and the neurosciences. Rather than giving it any single, fixed definition, I use this word to invite multiple imaginations about how dance and choreography →
Aakash Odedra: “I think each person physically has the power to change something.”
Choreographer and performer Aakash Odedra’s first company work #JeSuis is a powerful physical exploration of oppression in all →
World Architecture Day interview with Roger Spence
In October 1998 after two years of reconstruction, a brand new Sadler’s Wells opened its doors to the public. This was a Herculean feat in the short time given, and served as a flagship model for National Lottery-funded public arts projects. In celebration of the building’s upcoming 20th anniversary and coinciding with World Architecture Day →
Jefta van Dinther: “It was a very beautiful but estranging experience, seeing my living body”
Choreographer and dancer Jefta van Dinther is known for creating striking sensorial illusions. Ahead of the UK premiere of his new work, Dark Field Analysis, we caught up with Jefta in Gothenburg to find out more about the creation of this intimate and voyeuristic piece. What inspired you to create Dark Field Analysis? There were two →
Pierre Rigal: “It’s my job to catch all the surprises”
This September, Breakin’ Convention brings the work of French choreographer Pierre Rigal to the stage, fusing contemporary and hip hop styles in Scandale. We spoke to Pierre to find out more. You studied mathematical economics and cinema as well as being a top athlete specialising in 400m hurdles!! How did you end up becoming a →
Recreating Carmen: In Conversation with Director Christopher Renshaw
Since her “birth” in 1845, Carmen has experienced a variety of transformations and conquered every possible art form →