Jan McNulty

It was Alex Campbell's debut as Colas last night; he never had the opportunity at BRB (but I am sure he would have done it by now if he had stayed). I believe it is a role he has coveted so I, for one, am thrilled he has this opportunity!

Well enjoy a certain Mr C!

Links - Wednesday, April 22 2015 Review – New York City Ballet, Symphonic Dances, Pictures at an Exhibition, This Bitter Earth, Everywhere We Go, Washington: Oksana Khadarina, DanceTabs Review – Paul Taylor Dance Company, Aureole, The Word, Brandenburgs, Diggity, Death and the Damsel, Promethean Fire, San Francisco: Rita Felciano: Danceview Times Review – Dance Massive 2015 – Rebecca Jensen & Sara Aiken, Overworld: Melbourne: Jordan Beth Vincent, DanceTabs Preview – Boris Eifman Ballet, Anna Karenina, Toronto: Michael Crabb, Toronto Star Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Odetta, Uprising, Revelations, Boston: Vanessa Alamo, Huffington Post Review – Martha Graham Dance Company, Appalachian Spring, Lamentation Variations, Errand into the Maze, Echo, Los Angeles: Margaret Gray, LA Times Review – Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris, New York: Melia Kraus-Har, Broadway World Review – David Neumann, I understand everything better, New York: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Review – Texas Ballet Theatre, Petite Mort, Four Poems, Rubies, Dallas: Margaret Putnam, Theater Jones Review – Deutsche Oper Berlin, Romeo et Juliette, Berlin: Christie Franke, Bachtrack News Feature – Dance Education – The Real Challenges: Kirsty Alexander, London Dance Review – Isabella Stone, Mouseprint, Perth: Nerida Dickinson, Australian Stage Preview – Ross McCormack, Triumphs and Other Alternatives, Wellington: Tom Cardy, Dominion Post Review – Gallim Dance, Blush, Washington: Frances Steiner, Broadway World Feature - Figs in Wigs: Clare Evans, London Dance

A preview in the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2015/04/21/boris-eifmans-back-and-theres-going-to-be-drama.html

And a news feature in London Dance.

The news of the opening of registration for Dance Proms 2015 is in London Dance.

A Sadler’s Wells commission Hetain Patel American Boy Lilian Baylis Studio, EC1R Thursday 28 & Friday 29 May Performances at 8pm Tickets: £17 Ticket office: 0844 412 4300 or www.sadlerswells.com “Patel is as much entertainer as performance conceptualist” – The Times Following multiple sold out performances and a national tour in 2014, Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate ArtistHetain Patel returns to the Lilian Baylis Studio with his one-man show American Boy, a personal and humorous take on identity shape shifting, on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May. Patel is a visual artist crossing a number of art forms, with the body and identity as core concerns, whose work for the stage has been attracting growing acclaim. Inspired by American movie culture and homemade YouTube videos, American Boy is a solo performance made almost entirely from film and TV quotes, looking at the multiple personas that we all inhabit in our day-to-day lives. An avid mimic as a child, Patel and his school friends would get together and reconstruct the previous night’s films and TV shows. Now, through a seamless synthesis of vocal and physical limitations, Patel revisits character impersonations from his playground days. The audience sees Agent Smith from the Matrix argue with Michael Caine, whilst Eddie Murphy dances alongside Spiderman. “If I asked you to list the films, characters and scenes that have influenced your life, what would it reveal about you?” asks Patel. “This is how American Boy started.” The show is therefore a compilation of all the films, scenes and characters that have made Patel, revealing all the contradictions in his personality, his dreams and nightmares, his empathy and prejudices, acting as both a self-portrait and a reflection on the mainstream popular culture that moulds much of who we all are, whether we are aware of it or not. Patel commented further: “Fantasising about being the archetypal tough, heroic or funny men from Hollywood films formed an important part of my growing up, and if I’m honest this desire and activity still remains in my life now. I still sometimes wish I were Spider-Man. My best friend and I still sometimes have phone conversations solely in film quotes.” Since 2004, Hetain Patel’s identity-based photography, video and live works have been exhibited nationally and internationally, by major international institutions including Tate, Southbank Centre, Sydney Festival,Bodhi Art in New York, Ullens Centre for Contemporary Arts in China and Chatterjee and Lal in Mumbai. Patel’s 2013 TED Talk Who am I? Think again has reached over three million views online, and he also received high critical acclaim for his piece Let’s Talk About Dis, created for Candoco Dance Company in 2014. Patel’s performances at the Lilian Baylis Studio follow his solo exhibition The Other Suit which runs fromSaturday 2 to Wednesday 27 May at The Agency. Also showing at the same time in Italy will be Patel’s new commission for the 56th Venice Biennale, as part of Doug Fishbone’s Leisure Land Golf project, fromSaturday 9 May to Saturday 26 July. American Boy is co-produced and commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, co-produced by BDE London 2012 Consortium, development supported by Mercy and Penned in the Margins, and supported with public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. Contains strong language Free post-show talk: Thursday 28 May The Monument Trust supports co-productions and new commissions at Sadler's Wells The New Wave Associates programme is supported by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation NOTES TO EDITORS About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Since 2005 it has helped to bring over 90 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 appointed world class Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and an Associate Company and nurtures the next generation of talent through hosting the National Youth Dance Company, its Summer University programme, its Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates. Located in Islington in north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England. About Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Artists The drive of the Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associates scheme is to invite talented emerging artists at a crucial stage in their artistic and career development into Sadler’s Wells and to support them in a variety of ways, in a bespoke programme that is tailored to each artist’s needs. With practical production time in Sadler’s Wells’ studios and theatres, advice and introductions alongside direct financial support, the aim is to provide an artistic home while enabling them to feed into the programme with their energy, dynamism and fresh ideas. The current group of artists benefiting from the programme are: Alexander Whitley, Hetain Patel and Wilkie Branson.

Here's a feature that Ken Ludden wrote last year for the Huffington Post And the Academy website

I saw the final three performances of Gatsby over the weekend in Norwich. Gatsby has been toured extensively since it first premiered and it may be some while before we see it again. We will certainly never see the big 5 roles intact in the first cast again with Kenny Tindall's retirement in a couple of weeks. All three performances (of the three casts I described above) were outstanding. At Saturday evening's performance - led by Javier Torres and Dreda Blow - the cast really let their hair down at the parties! Myrtle's party reached new heights of drunkenness and made the violence Tom showed towards her all the more shocking. I don't think I have ever seen the Charleston scene danced with more exuberance. The party is over for the time being and I am so sorry to see Gatsby go ... let's hope it is not too long before we see him again!

Oh blummin' 'eck Katherine, I'm in Milton Keynes that day for Northern Ballet's Wuthering Heights. Also seem to be there on Thursday and Friday too!! Are you coming up to MK at all while I am there?

Welcome out of the lurking shadows DancingShoes! Now that you have broken the ice, I hope you will continue to contribute. Well done to your DD.

Links -Tuesday, April 21 2015 Reviews – Royal Ballet, La Fille Mal Garde (Morera/Muntagirov), London: Bruce Marriott, DanceTabs GJ Dowler, Classical Source Lyndsey Winship, Standard Review – National Youth Dance Company, Frame[d] (Cherkaoui), London: Graham Watts, London Dance Review – An evening of ten works by female choreographers, New York: Marianne Adams, Danceview Times Review – David Neumann, I understand everything better, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Feature – Joffrey Ballet welcomes Justin Peck for new works, Chicago: Carlin Sack, Redeye Chicago Film Review – A Ballerina’s Tale: Regina Mogelivskaya, Blouinartinfo Book Feature – Pina Bausch Backstage: London Dance Feature – Joseph Mercier on choreographing for superheroes: London Dance Review – Oregon Ballet, IMPACT, Portland: Rene Bermudez, Portland Monthly Mag Review - Douglas Wright, The Kiss Inside, Auckland: Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald

So sad to hear that Andy Hardy has passed away. Condolences to his family and friends. Here is the Guardian obituary: http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/apr/20/andy-hardy-obituary

Reviews in the Telegraph, Guardian, Financial Times

A report on the evening from Women's Wear Daily

I could! Sometimes more mature dancers actually come over as younger than young dancers.

Links -Monday, April 20 2015 Reviews – Royal Ballet, La Fille Mal Garde (Morera/Muntagirov), London: Clement Crisp, FT Jeffrey Taylor, Sunday Express Sam Smith, Londonist Gallery – Osipova/McRae: Dave Morgan, DanceTabs Preview – Royal Ballet, Woolf Works (Ferri, Bonelli and Watson rehearse), London: Carla Escoda, Bachtrack Review – Royal Ballet, Four Temperaments, Untouchable, Song of the Earth, London: Carla Escoda, Huffington Post Comment – Why is British dance training so poor? “Diversity” is trumping quality: Ismene Brown, Spectator Feature – Jean Christophe Maillot, AD Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo: Mark Monahan, Telegraph Preview – Australian Ballet, Symphonic Variations, Sydney: Valerie Lawson, Sydney Morning Herald Gallery – Itziar Mendizabal and Miguel Altunaga rehearsing And it’s you, London: Stephen Wright, DanceTabs Reviews – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, On the Mountain…; Theo Clinkard, Chalk, Of Land and Tongue, London: Luke Jennings, Observer Rowena Hawkins, The Upcoming Review – David Hallberg Presents: Legacy, New York: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Youth America Grand Prix Gala, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review – Heidi Latsky Dance, Soliloquy (film), Solo Countersolo, Somewhere, Montclair: Siobhan Burke, NY Times Review – Laurie Berg, The mineralogy of objects, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Review – English National Ballet, My first ballet Swan Lake, Poole: Emma Joseph, Bournemouth Echo Featurette – Dearth of Tutu-makers puts ballet in crisis: Elizabeth Braw, Newsweek Review – Texas Ballet Theatre, Five Poems, Petite Mort, Rubies, Dallas: Manuel Mendoza, Dallas Morning News Reviews – Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, La Bayadere, Pittsburgh: Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune Jane Vranish, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tenuous Link - Woody Allen on modern dance and museums: Rosemary Feitelberg, Women's Wear Daily

Interesting blog piece from Ismene Brown in The Spectator

We missed the recommended connection at Crewe and ended up on the Virgin train that left London an hour later than us - at least we managed to get seats. As we were an hour late getting in, I filled in the form I was given and got vouchers to the value of the fare I had paid for the journey from London to Liverpool! We stood for just over an hour - not pleasant on a speeding, wobbling train.

Travelling home from London a couple of weeks ago our train was terminated at MK due to a fault. The train we were able to get on was absolutely chokka and a lot of us had to stand as far as Crewe where we had to change again. Not a pleasant experience. However Virgin had arranged for us to travel with other train companies as appropriate at Crewe.

The New Adventures website lists all the dancers appearing but not when: http://new-adventures.net/the-car-man/cast-creatives

Links - Sunday, April 19 2015 Review – San Francisco Ballet, Shostakovich Trilogy, San Francisco: Rita Felciano, Danceview Times Review – Royal Ballet, La Fille Mal Gardee (Morera/Muntagirov), London: Jenny Gilbert, Arts Desk Review - Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Auf dem Gebirge hat man ein Geschrei gehört, London: Jann Parry, DanceTabs Preview – Dance International Glasgow: Kelly Apter, Scotsman TV Review – BBC Young Dancer of the Year: Hannah Weibye, Arts Desk Review – Urban Bush Women, Hep Hep Sweet Sweet, Walking with ‘Trane chapter 2, dark swan, Washington: Sarah Kaufman, Washington Post Review – Sara Shelton Mann, Sara (The Smuggler), San Francisco: Mary Ellen Hunt, SF Chronicle Preview – New Zealand Dance Company, Rotunda, Auckland: Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald News – This week’s new dance in Birmingham & Glasgow: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Gallery – Theo Clinkard, Of Land and Tongue, Chalk, London: Stephen Wright, DanceTabs Film Review – Desert Dancer: Geoff Pevere, Toronto Globe and Mail

Links - Saturday, April 18 2015 Review – Paris Opera Ballet, Song of the Earth (Neumeier), Paris: Patricia Boccadoro, Culture Kiosque Reviews – Royal Ballet, La Fille Mal Gardee (Morera/Muntagirov), London: Judith Mackrell, Guardian Mark Monahan, Telegraph Sarah Frater, Stage Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack Reviews – Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, On the Mountain a Cry…, London: Carla Escoda, Bachtrack Graham Watts, London Dance Preview – Boris Eifman Ballet, Anna Karenina, Montreal & Toronto: Martha Schabas, Toronto Globe and Mail Review – Paul Taylor Dance Company, 2 programmes, San Francisco: Allan Ulrich, SF Chronicle Review – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Episodes, Uprising, Caught, Minus 16, Los Angeles: Lewis Segal, LA Times Review – Youth America Grand Prix, New York: Gia Kourlas, NY Times Review - Diana Vishneva, On the Edge, London: Graham Watts, London Dance Review – Lyon Opera Ballet, Steptext, Sarabande, Sunshine, Seattle: Alice Kaderlan, Seattle Times Feature – Twyla Tharp begins her fiftieth anniversary tour: Rose Marija, Broadway World Review – Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris, New York: Brian Seibert, NY Times Feature – For Black Dancers, it’s unequal footing: Mary Carole McCaulay, Baltimore Sun Review – Heidi Latsky Dance, Soliloquy (film), Solo Countersolo, Somewhere, Montclair: Deborah Jowitt, Arts Journal Preview – David Hallberg presents Legacy, New York: Gia Kourlas, Timeout NY Mark Guiducci, Vogue Feature – Elizabeth Cameron Damlman’s Fortuity marks 50 years of dance: Michelle Potter, Sydney Morning Herald Review - Douglas Wright, The Kiss Inside, Auckland: Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald Feature - Dances of India, Rich in Breadth and Addressing the Sublime: Alastair Macaulay, NY Times

Love and sacrifice as Northern Ballet brings new tour of Madame Butterfly to Doncaster Get swept away by unrivalled storytelling, dance and live music as Northern Ballet kicks off its new tour of Madame Butterfly with Perpetuum Mobile at Cast in Doncaster from 21 – 23 May 2015. Recently awarded Best Company at the European Taglioni Ballet Awards, Northern Ballet specialise in creating and performing classical story ballets. This programme will bring world-class ballet to the doorstep of audiences in the region, offering the chance to enjoy two of Northern Ballet’s popular in one evening. Madame Butterfly is choreographed by Artistic Director David Nixon OBE and is one of Northern Ballet’s most popular full-length productions. In this heartbreakingly tragic ballet, audiences will be transported to Japan where the doomed love affair between American Naval Lieutenant, Pinkerton, and his young Japanese bride, Butterfly, begins. Madly in love and prepared to sacrifice everything, Butterfly’s world falls apart when she is betrayed and forced into a dramatic climax. Recreated especially for the new tour, Madame Butterfly is a two-act ballet featuring all new sets and is performed to the famous Puccini score played live by Northern Ballet Sinfonia. The programme also features Perpetuum Mobile, choreographed by Christopher Hampson, Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet. Performed to Bach’s Violin Concerto in E Major, the 17-minute long Perpetuum Mobile provides an excellent introduction to the technical and athletic talents of Northern Ballet’s dancers. The piece showcases the incredible strength and prowess of the Company to leave audiences breathless. David Nixon said: ‘Perpetuum Mobile is a beautiful neo-classical work and Madame Butterfly a wonderful dramatic narrative piece; so this programme is a perfect introduction of the two faces of Northern Ballet. Our Company has incredibly talented dancers and these two works will provide the opportunity for audiences to see the dancers performing at their most physical as well as demonstrating their abilities as dance-actors of the highest standard. Introducing this new strand of touring is designed to enrich the dance offering within the region, challenging the perceptions of which stories can be told through ballet and providing audiences with something different than Swan Lake or The Nutcracker.’ Tickets for Northern Ballet’s Madame Butterfly with Perpetuum Mobile are on sale now and can be booked online atcastindoncaster.com or by calling the box office on 01302 303 959.

Michael Keegan-Dolan announced as the next Guest Artistic Director for National Youth Dance Company - Award-winning choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan selected as NYDC Guest Artistic Director for 2015-16 intake - Experience workshops to run in May 2015 to search for England’s most talented dancers - NYDC’s current cohort prepares for June-July national tour of Frame[d], following 10 April world premiere in London - Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan and Jasmin Vardimon come together for NYDC retrospective programme at Sadler’s Wells in September Following the world premiere on Friday 10 April of the new work Frame[d] at Sadler’s Wells in London, National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) now prepares the search for a fresh intake of dancers for 2015-16, who will work with new Guest Artistic Director Michael Keegan-Dolan. The 2014-15 cohort of NYDC at the same time prepares to tour Frame[d] around the country between June and July, before graduating at the end of July and returning to London for a retrospective performance in September. The new NYDC Guest Artistic Director, the critically acclaimed Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Michael Keegan-Dolan, is the Founder and Artistic Director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre. His productions Giselle, The Bull and The Rite of Spring were all nominated for Olivier Awards and The Bull won the UK Critics' Circle Award for Best Modern Choreography in 2008. Keegan-Dolan has worked on productions for world-class companies and theatres including, English National Opera, La Monnaie, Royal Opera House and National Theatre. He has been selected to guide the new intake of up to 30 dancers through their NYDC journey, mentoring them during intensive residencies throughout the year, and creating a new piece of work for them to premiere at Sadler’s Wells in 2016 and then tour around the country. NYDC will search far and wide for the country’s most talented young dancers aged 16 - 19 to join the 2015-16 intake. Experience workshops will run Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 May in: Swindon, Plymouth, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Ipswich, Derby, Eastleigh, Newcastle, Hull, Brighton, Leeds and Liverpool. The workshops include technique classes, creative tasks and discussions on dance training and careers, and are open to dancers from all backgrounds and abilities, with experience in any dance style. The company’s new intake will be selected on Sunday 26 July, at the same time as the 2014-15 cohort graduates. Jane Hackett, Director of National Youth Dance Company commented: “Joining NYDC can be a life-changing experience, presenting career possibilities and raising aspirations, self-esteem and confidence, besides introducing the very best of professional dance practice.” Claire Niesyto-Bame, member of NYDC 2014-15 added: “Although we are all from different areas of England and come from different backgrounds and circumstances, we were all born with the same passion. NYDC brings us together and feeds our hunger for dance; it has already provided us with knowledge and experience that we will undoubtedly carry with us throughout the rest of our dance journeys.” The current cohort of NYDC dancers will tour this year’s work Frame[d], a new choreography created by current Guest Artistic Director Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, around the country from Sunday 21 June to Saturday 25July, to Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Suffolk, Ipswich, Bournemouth and Plymouth. The dancers graduate on Sunday 26 July, at the same time as the new 2015-16 cohort is selected, and then return to London for a retrospective performance on Friday 4 September, at Sadler’s Wells. The retrospective on Friday 4 September sees all three NYDC works from the last three years performed on stage – pieces by the different Guest Artistic Directors, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan and Jasmin Vardimon. The evening is part of the inaugural Apex Rising, a new annual festival programmed by Sadler’s Wells, which presents highlights of the most innovative and exciting dance being performed and created by young dancers today, capturing their ability to shape the future of the form. About to go into its fourth year, National Youth Dance Company creates and performs innovative and influential dance, bringing together the brightest talent from across England to work intensively with Sadler’s Wells’ renowned Associate Artists. The company has established a reputation for innovative, high quality work that produces dancers that are open-minded, curious and brave. The young members are given the opportunity to engage with dance through working at the highest level and with world class resources, working with an artistic team that have exceptional standards and artistic integrity. Originally funded for a three-year period from 2012, NYDC was recently granted continued financial support for another year by the Department for Education and for another three years by Arts Council England, from the National Lottery and Grant in Aids funds, as part of a commitment to arts for young people and to nurturing and developing exceptional artistic talent in the country. NYDC National Tour 2015 Fri 10 April Premiere Performance, Sadler’s Wells, London Sun 21 June mac, Birmingham Sat 4 July Dance City, Newcastle Sun 12 July The Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre, Leeds Tue 21 July DanceEast, Jerwood DanceHouse, Ipswich Thur 23 July Pavilion Dance South West, Bournemouth Sat 25 July As part of U.Dance2015, Plymouth NYDC 2015 Experience Workshops Dates Sat 23 May Swindon Dance Sun 24 May Plymouth University Mon 25 May mac, Birmingham Mon 25 May The Dancehouse, Manchester Tues 26 May Sadler’s Wells, London Weds 27 May Dance East, Ipswich Weds 27 May Deda, Derby Thurs 28 May The Point, Eastleigh Thurs 28 May Dance City, Newcastle Fri 29 May Wyke College, Hull Sat 30 May Marina College, Brighton Sun 31 May Yorkshire Dance Centre, Leeds Sun 31 May LIPA, Liverpool Click here for more information on the NYDC tour and experience workshop dates:http://www.sadlerswells.com/national-youth-dance-company/events-calendar/ NOTES TO EDITORS: About National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) Founded in 2012, and hosted at Sadler’s Wells, NYDC is an exciting new company that aims to create and perform innovative and influential youth dance, drawing together some of the brightest young talent from across the country to work with Sadler’s Wells’ internationally renowned Associate Artists. NYDC is funded jointly by Arts Council England and the Department for Education, from the National Lottery and Grant in Aid funds. Since NYDC’s inception in 2012: - 1000 young people have worked with the company. - NYDC has delivered 47 workshops in 21 different venues across 17 towns and cities. - Over 18,000 people have seen the company perform. - NYDC has featured in 23 performances, visiting 15 different venues across the UK, including some leading theatres in the country. - 90 dancers have joined the company, working intensively with renowned dance artists including Guest Artistic Directors: Jasmin Vardimon (2012-13), Akram Khan (2013-14) and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (2014-15). These 90 dancers come from 43 different towns and cities in England. About Sadler’s Wells Sadler's Wells is a world leader in contemporary dance, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the very best international and UK dance to London and worldwide audiences. Under the Artistic Directorship of Alistair Spalding the theatre’s acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap. Since 2005 it has helped to bring over 90 new dance works to the stage and its international award-winning commissions and collaborative productions regularly tour the world. Sadler’s Wells supports 16 appointed world class Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and an Associate Company and nurtures the next generation of talent through hosting the National Youth Dance Company, its Summer University programme, its Wild Card initiative and its New Wave Associates. Located in Islington in north London, the current theatre is the sixth to have stood on the site since it was first built by Richard Sadler in 1683. The venue has played an illustrious role in the history of theatre ever since, with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all having started at Sadler’s Wells. Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 9% of its revenue from Arts Council England. About Michael Keegan-Dolan Born in 1969, Michael Keegan-Dolan lives in his family ancestral home in County Longford. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre. Productions for Fabulous Beast include: Sunday Lunch (1997),Fragile (1999), The Flowerbed (2000), The Christmas Show (2001), Giselle (2003), The Bull (2005), James Son of James (2007), The Rite of Spring (2009), Helen and Hell (2010), and Rian (2011). Most recently, he directed and choreographed a new production of Handel's masterpiece Julius Caesar, at the London Coliseum, for English National Opera. Other choreographic work includes: Ariodante, Manon and Alcina (English National Opera); The Rake's Progress (La Monnaie, Royal Opera House); Faust and Macbeth (Royal Opera House);The Duchess of Malfi, Carousel and The Oedipus Plays (National Theatre); Idomeneo (Royal Flanders Opera); The Love for Three Oranges (Cologne Opera); Pique Dame and Ariodante (Bavarian State Opera). Rian was nominated for a 2011 Irish Times Theatre Award. Giselle, The Bull and The Rite of Spring were all nominated for Olivier awards and in 2008 Keegan-Dolan won the UK Critics' Circle Award for Best Modern Choreography for The Bull. In 2004, Giselle won the Judges' Special Award at the Irish Times Theatre Awards. Both Keegan-Dolan and Fabulous Beast received a nomination for the 2009 Europe Prize New Theatrical Realities. He was appointed a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist in 2012. About Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Artistic Director of Royal Ballet Flanders, is one of the most prolific choreographers working today. A Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist, he has created more than 20 works and is acknowledged as one of Europe’s most exciting choreographers. His productions include zero degrees (2005, with Akram Khan, Antony Gormley and Nitin Sawhney); Faun (which premiered at Sadler’s Wells as part of In the Spirit of Diaghilev); TeZukA (2011, based on the iconic work of manga artist Osamu Tezuka); award winning Babel (2010) and Dunas (2009, with celebrated flamenco dancer/ choreographer Maria Pagés); Sutra (2008), and his recent tango inspired, Sadler’s Wells Production, m¡longa. About Arts Council England Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. ACE support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2011 and 2015, we will invest £1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated £1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk