Creative Director: Jane Hackett
2013 Riot Offspring
In 1913, the avant-garde nature of the music and choreography incited a near riot in the audience of the Theatre des Champs Elysees for the first performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. 100 years later, and prompted by the recent London riots, RIOT Offspring explores perceptions of rites, rituals and riots to create a powerful piece of dance theatre. Featuring a large cast of around 100 non-professional participants of all ages and abilities – including young mums and their babies to some over 60.
One of my enduring memories of this project was young people walking around backstage chanting out sections of the music, played live by the Southbank Sinfonia, as if were the latest rap hit. Wonderful.
Watch here
2013 National Youth Dance Theatre
in between – the inaugural performance of the new National Youth Dance Company is a specially commissioned work from NYDCs first Guest Artistic Director Jasmin Vardimon. The work combines Vardimons unique style of physical theatre with the youthful energy and exuberance of the dancers; poised between the world they have inherited and the world they want to live in, balanced between childhood and adulthood.
2016 Home Turf
Exploring the highs and lows of football and life itself, Home Turf is a compelling collaboration between West Ham United Foundation, Sadler’s Wells and a team of over 100 professional and non-professional dancers, including West Ham United Foundation participants, Company of Elders and alumni of the National Youth Dance Company.
Not someone with any particular relationship with football, the research and development part of this project was fascinating and the huge team that we were played for one side, it was great!
You can listen to Jane Hackett being interviewed about the project here
