Sadler’s Wells is kicking off the new year with the return of its annual dance taster festival, Sadler’s Wells Sampled, on Friday 31 January & Saturday 1 February 2020.
Featuring a range of world-class dance, foyer activities and live DJs, the festival gives audiences a chance to experience the broad range of dance presented at Sadler’s Wells at some super affordable prices. Proms style standing tickets are going for only £5, and all other tickets are at £20.
A regular fixture at Sadler’s Wells since as far back as 2007, Sampled features a wide variety of dance, including South Asian, hip hop, circus, contemporary and even a little Argentine tango.
Alongside the main performances, audience members can also participate in a diverse range of beginners’ workshops on Saturday 1 February.
Machine de Circue
Marking its Sadler’s Wells debut is Machine de Cirque bringing circus, spectacle and live music, with two charming and masterful performances. Direct from Quebec, the company will also return to the UK later this year with performances at The Peacock from 8-26 September 2020. This is but a taster.
Géométrie Variable
From France, Géométrie Variable, performs an excerpt of its signature style of popping combined with airtight tessellated formations. The company is also presenting as part of Breakin’ Convention’s UK tour later on this year.
Living Archive
Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Wayne McGregor, whose company, Company Wayne McGregor, presents an excerpt of its world-first collaborative experiment between Studio Wayne McGregor and Google Arts and Culture Lab. Living Archive is powered by machine and generates original movement inspired by McGregor’s 25-year archive.
Argentine Tango
2015 World Tango Champions Ezequiel Lopez and Camila Alegre, two dancers from the much-loved show German Cornejo’s Tango Fire, bring their whirlwind of fast feet and flourishes with the ever-popular Argentine tango.
BLKDOG
A genre-defying blend of hip hop dance and free form antics, the Olivier Award-winning Botis Seva presents an extract of the newest edition of BLKDOG. Exploring the inner battlefield of an ageing artist trying to retain his youth, the piece is presented by Seva’s powerhouse company Far From The Norm. The full-length work of BLKDOG begins its UK tour at Warwick Arts Centre on 11 February and can be seen at Sadler’s Wells on 15 & 16 October 2020 too.
BBC Young Dancer
Solos come from two finalists of this year’s series of BBC Young Dancer. From the Street Dance category is competition winner Max Revell with his work choreographed by Dickson Mbi, Unstrung. Finalist of the South Asian Dance category Shree Savani will also presents her Bharatanatyam solo, Devi.
To Da Bone
The festival also includes work from Parisian collective (LA) Horde brings its jumpstyle To Da Bone. Originating from the suburbs of Belgium and the Netherlands, jumpstyle then spread globally over the internet. The trio cast 11 jumpers from nine countries online to transform their solos into an ensemble for stage.
