Sadler’s Wells Sampled world-class dance festival
Sadler’s Wells starts the new year with the return of the dance taster festival Sadler’s Wells Sampled, featuring world-class dance and a series of workshops and foyer activities, on 29 & 30 January 2016. The festival gives audiences a chance to experience the broad range of dance presented at Sadler’s Wells at affordable prices, with standing tickets available for just £8, and all other tickets at £15.
A regular fixture at Sadler’s Wells since 2007, Sampled features a wide variety of dance, from classical ballet to hip hop, contemporary and tango. Alongside the performances audience members can also participate in an array of beginners’ workshops throughout the day on Saturday 29 January, with styles on offer including ballet, contemporary, street dance, flamenco and contemporary ballet.
The 2016 festival includes Sadler’s Wells Resident Company Company Wayne McGregor performing Outlier, choreographed by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Wayne McGregor to the violin concerto Concentric Paths. The piece was performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2014 as part of the second in its Composer Series, Thomas Adès: See the Music, Hear the Dance, featuring some of Adès’ most celebrated works.
McGregor CBE is a multi award-winning British choreographer, renowned for his physically testing choreography and highly innovative collaborations across dance, film, music, visual art, technology and science.
World Champion b-boy crew The Ruggeds from the Netherlands returns to Sadler’s Wells with the high octane Adrenaline. The work received its world premiere at Breakin’ Convention in 2015, and the company returns for the 13th Breakin’ Convention festival and UK tour later in 2016.
BBC Young Dancer winner Connor Scott and finalist Vidya Patel, winner of the South Asian Category also appear in Sampled. Scott was crowned the winner on the inaugural event in May 2015 live on BBC Two at Sadler’s Wells, after being judged by a panel of top names in dance. For Sampled, Scott will perform a Solo work entitled Get Up. Finalist Patel, who also appeared in the live Broadcast returns to the Sadler’s Wells stage with the duet Khoi –The Search.
Julia Hiriart Urruty and Claudio González, two dancers from the Sadler’s Wells Production m¡longa choreographed by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui introduce the popular Latin American dance of Argentine tango.
Hailing from Québec, renowned as the home of the modern circus discipline, The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts de la Main) is one of the world’s most inventive contemporary circus companies. After success with its previous show Sequence 8 and the critically acclaimed TRACES the company presents extracts from Nocturnes. The piece sees eight artists free themselves from both internal and physical obstacles and features choreography by Marcos Morau; best known as the founder and choreographer of La Veronal.
Completing the bill is Countryside pas de deux, an extract from Northern Ballet’s 1984, another highlight of the Spring / Summer 2016 season. Based on George Orwell’s masterpiece and created by Guest Choreographer and former Royal Ballet dancer Jonathan Watkins, the production features a new score from Tony-nominated composer Alex Baranowski.
Workshops taking place include a contemporary dance workshop with dancers from Company Wayne McGregor; an Argentine tango workshop led by Julia Hiriart Urruty and Claudio González; hip hop with Birdgang Dance Company; contemporary with New Adventures & Re:Bourne, exploring some of Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Matthew Bourne’s creative techniques; classical Indian with Seeta Patel; and ballet with English National Ballet’s Youth Company.
For the full line-up, including info on workshops and foyer activities, see: sadlerswells.com
“The message was clear: dance is cool” The Times
Sadler’s Wells Sampled
Friday 29 & Saturday 30 January 2016
Performances: Fri & Sat at 7.30pm, Doors 6pm
Fri Schools matinee at 1pm
Tickets: Fri & Sat £15, £8 standing, Fri Schools matinee £10, £5 standing
Ticket Office: 020 7863 8000 or www.sadlerswells.com