Press Release: Sadler’s Wells announces new Artist Residencies programme

[Jan McNulty]

Press Release: Thursday 4 March   

Sadler’s Wells announces new Artist Residencies programme 

Sadler’s Wells is delighted to today announce an open call for a new Artist Residencies programme, available to both artists with five years’ experience or more and artists who have recently embarked on a career in dance.  

The open call is a direct response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has had a major impact worldwide and on the freelance dance sector in particular. The Artist Residencies aim to support independent artists to get back in the studio and allow them to continue to develop their practice. 

Five independent artists will each be offered a week-long residency at Sadler’s Wells with a grant of £2,000, and a bursary of £500. The residency is designed to help artists think, play and develop their practice. The residency will be scheduled at a time to suit the artists between May and November 2021. Sadler’s Wells will offer bespoke support through the process should artists need it. In order to be eligible applicants must be independent artists registered as self-employed, residents of Great Britain, and have five years’ professional experience (not including formal education). 

In addition, Sadler’s Wells is offering three Micro Residencies to those who embarked on a career in dance in 2019 or 2020 and whose career may have been unable to start or has been significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. These Micro Residencies will take place over two consecutive days to be scheduled between May and November 2021. Recipients will receive a grant of £800 per Micro Residency, as well as a bursary of £200. Artists will be offered three planning meetings with Sadler’s Wells staff to support their residency. In order to be eligible applicants must have experience in readiness for a career in dance and be a resident of Great Britain. 

Sadler’s Wells has appointed an Artist Panel to review applications and select the recipients. The panel is made up of three Sadler’s Wells Associates: Vidya Patel (Young Associate), L’atisse Rhoden (New Wave Associate) and Hetain Patel (New Wave Associate). Sadler’s Wells Producer Robyn Cabaret will also be part of the panel. 

An expression of interest must be submitted digitally through a written or video/audio statement, via the Sadler’s Wells website here: www.sadlerswells.com/about-us/artists/artist-residencies-2021/. The deadline for applications is Wednesday 31 March 2021 at midnight. Further details on the application process can be found via the Sadler’s Wells website. 

Robyn Cabaret, Producer said: 

“Offering support to artists has always been a key part of Sadler’s Wells’ mission. I have been particularly inspired by the resilience and tenacity shown by independent artists over the past year, despite the devastating circumstances. We hope this offer will go some way to contributing to vital ongoing support of some of the artists we are already connected with and provide an opportunity to welcome and hear from voices that are new to Sadler’s Wells. It’s a delight to offer support artists to have agency to think and play without the pressure of a particular outcome.” 
 
Sadler’s Wells Artist Residencies 2021 are supported by Foyle Foundation.  


-ENDS- 

NOTES TO EDITORS   

Further information on the application process, requirements and exclusions can be found via the Sadler’s Wells website here: www.sadlerswells.com/about-us/artists/artist-residencies-2021/ and in the following document.  

Sadler’s Wells social media handles:   

Facebook: @SadlersWells  
Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells  
Instagram: @sadlers_wells  
YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre  
 

Artist Panel Biographies: 
 
Vidya Patel (Young Associate) 
Vidya Patel is a Birmingham based dance artist, performer, and choreographer. Her training background is in the Kathak art form which she continues to develop and further understand through the guidance of Guru Sujata Banerjee and other artists. After graduating from the South Asian Strand at Centre of Advanced Training at DanceXchange, Vidya represented the South Asian Category in the Grand Finals of the inaugural BBC Young Dancer 2015 at Sadler’s Wells. Since she has worked with a range of artists, touring nationally & internationally in works created by critically acclaimed artists Sir Richard Alston, Gary Clarke, Thick & Tight, Sujata Banerjee Dance Co and Akademi, as well as touring co- collaborative full-length piece About the Elephant with dance artist Connor Scott & composer/ multi-instrumentalist Shammi Pithia commissioned by Sampad Arts and Serendipity Festival.  
 
Through her continued curiosity of working collaboratively across disciplines and experiencing a range of practises, Vidya was working with artist Hetain Patel through DanceHub development grant. Through 2018-2020 Vidya was supported as associate artist at Deda Derby to take the next steps in her career. 
 
Most recently, Vidya has been commissioned as a guest choreographer to create work for dancers of Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary 2021 & Emergence- post graduate dance company. With the aims of connecting people during the pandemic- Vidya co- founded digital arts platform "Manch UK" and community network "South Asian Dance Artists UK" for freelance dance artists.  
 
L’atisse Rhoden (New Wave Associate)  
A multi - disciplinary creative, L’atisse performed for two favourable UK hip hop companies over the years before deciding to nurture her own creativity and establish herself an independent artist.  
 
Experimenting with a neutral balance of contemporary and hip hop dance styles, L’atisse presented her first theatre works in 2016, Ayrose touching on depression and which quickly captured the attention of her new audience. After presenting two more pieces for Breakin’ Convention, L’atisse became a New Wave Associate for Sadler’s Wells in 2017. 
 
Her work goes beyond live performance, presenting the visuals as a package and her creations are intensely though provoking, inspired by dream like - narratives and surrealism. 
 
Whether delicate and sensual or raw and gritty, L’atisse takes pride in collaborating with other artists and using her choreographic practice to experiment on film. In 2018 L’atisse released her first visual work capturing over 70,000 online views. With recognition, L’atisse has since supported movement and artistic direction to other artists within the UK music and dance scene.  
 
L’atisse continues her work to celebrate Black Artists and empower other women to step into their creativity and own their styles through. Her collaborative strengths have led her to co-found NAVA London, an intimate experience for people and artists to enjoy with music as the invitation.   
 
L’atisse is currently choreographing for new works to be presented by Body Politic UK in 2021/ 2022.  
 
Hetain Patel (New Wave Associate) 
Hetain Patel is a London based visual artist and performance maker. His live performances, films, sculptures, and photographs have been shown worldwide from the Venice Biennale, Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art, Beijing and Tate Modern, London to Sadler’s Wells, where he is a New Wave Associate. Patel made his first dance company work for Candoco in 2014, which toured internationally for five years. His work exploring identity and freedom, using humour, choreography and text appears in multiple formats and media, intended to reach the widest possible audience. His video and performance work online have been watched over 50 million times, which includes his TED talk of 2013 titled, ‘Who Am I? Think Again’. 

 

Patel is the winner of the Film London Jarman Award 2019, Kino Der Kunst Festival’s Best International Film 2020, and was selected for the British Art Show 9, a Hayward Touring exhibition for 2021/22. 
 
About Sadler’s Wells    
Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation, committed to producing, commissioning and presenting new works and to bringing the best domestic and international dance to UK 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.   
 
Audiences of over half a million come to Sadler’s Wells’ three London theatres each year, with many more enjoying its touring productions at venues across the UK and around the world and accessing its content through its Digital Stage. Sadler's Wells commissions, produces and presents more dance than any other theatre in the world, embracing the popular and the unknown. Since 2005, it has helped to bring over 180 new dance works to the stage, many of them involving its 16 Associate Artists, three Resident Companies and four Associate Companies – the most exciting talents working in dance today.    
 
Sadler’s Wells own productions have toured to some of the most prestigious theatres and festivals around the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival in New York, and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing.   
 
Sadler’s Wells also nurtures the next generation of talent through a range of artist development initiatives including its New Wave Associates programmes, its Wild Card initiative and the National Youth Dance Company. A further 30,000 individuals take part in its learning and engagement programmes each year.   
 
During the Covid-19 crisis, Sadler’s Wells has continued to connect with global audiences through its Digital Stage, an online programme of performances and workshops for people to watch at home. Since 27 March 2020, the programme has been enjoyed by audiences all over the world, generating over 2.7 million video views globally.   
 
Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and currently receives approximately 10% of its revenue from Arts Council England. www.sadlerswells.com