Sadler’s Wells will welcome dancers back to its building for the first time since lockdown as the National Youth Dance Company 2019/20 cohort and Guest Artistic Director Russell Maliphant reunite to complete their year, culminating in a set of private COVID-secure 'sharings' for friends and family.
The dancers will work in groups of no more than 10, enabling them to follow social distancing measures. Each group will rehearse separately for four days at Sadler’s Wells and share their work on the final day of their residency. The sharings will be between 27 August and 5 September, attended by an invited audience of friends and family.
This year’s full-length dance piece, to be created by the dancers and Russell during their year-long experience, was due to première at DanceEast on 18 April before a UK tour, culminating in a performance on the main stage at Sadler’s Wells in July. As a result of the pandemic, all NYDC activity was cancelled in spring 2020, but the company held a ‘digital residency’ in April with dancers, choreographers and guest speakers meeting together each day online.
Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, said, “the coronavirus pandemic has had a profound effect on all dance artists, professionals and organisations. This effect has been acutely felt by the talented young dancers of NYDC. So, it feels very special to have these dancers be the first back on our stages since lockdown began, as we take our first steps towards reopening our theatres. With all the challenges we have faced and will face, this feels like a welcome act of optimism and hope for the future of dance and Sadler's Wells.”