Press Release: Films by Black dance artists premiere on Sadler's Wells Digital Stage

[Jan McNulty]

Films by Black dance artists premiere on Sadler's Wells Digital Stage   Films, Podcasts, Documentaries, Guests Selects celebrating Black dance, launch 9 May, featuring Ivan Michael Blackstock, National Youth Dance Company, Jonzi D, Rauf ‘RubberLegz’ Yasit, and many more.     A specially-curated programme of films, documentaries, podcasts and special guest features celebrating Black dance premieres today, Monday 9 May, on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage, as part of Well Seasoned.  Launched in January 2022, Well Seasoned was designed by Sadler’s Wells’ Artistic Director Alistair Spalding with Breakin’ Convention’s Artistic Director Jonzi D and Director Michelle Norton, to platform work by both UK-based and international Black dance makers. After sell-out performances on Sadler’s Wells’ stages this spring, the focus turns to the new online programme over the summer. All content is free to access.    World premiere films  The programme for Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage features world premiere screendance commissions, including a new film by Jonzi D, inspired by the poetry of Saul Williams. More screendance film premieres come from L’atisse Rhoden, House of Absolute, Akeim Toussaint Buck and the National Youth Dance Company with Alesandra Seutin. A selection of films by international artists tell extraordinary dance stories from around the world.    Well Seasoned podcast series launched  In July a new six-part podcast series presented by Brenda Emmanus explores how Black culture influences contemporary life, through conversations with creatives in fashion, theatre, music, film, dance and art.    Guests Select online series launched  From 9 May, a new Sadlers Wells innovation for Well Seasoned is Guests Select, in which leading Black artists choose their recommendations of Black culture today.    Alesandra Seutin, Guest Artistic Director of National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) said: “It’s great and not surprising that Sadler’s Wells is turning up the spotlight on Black artists this year with Well Seasoned. For me it’s a necessity, because too many UK Black artists especially have been thriving here and not always acknowledged by main houses such as Sadler’s Wells and others. I am hoping this is only the seed to Black artists blooming and being acknowledged for being amazing beyond measure and their inspiring contribution to the world.”    Bia Oliveira, Director of Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage said: “Well Seasoned is our way of highlighting and celebrating work by Black artists, who are already on our live stages this year. What it has given us as a great addition, is the possibility of creating this incredible programme of digital work with Breakin' Convention. Jonzi D and Michelle Norton have been instrumental in bringing together this amazing digital programme, and we can't wait to share it with our audiences.”    Michelle Norton, Director of Breakin’ Convention said: “Well Seasoned means flava! The spectrum of Black artistry is so broad and multifaceted. Well Seasoned is not just about dance, and we are hoping that people will get an insight into Black culture as a whole. For some people it will reinforce things, and others may learn something new. Black culture and people have enriched all parts of what is considered Western culture, and we have not always been credited for what we have brought to the table. We are hopefully continuing to address that balance little by little. Well Seasoned is a statement of intent by Sadler’s Wells as a commitment to Black artists and Black dance and this is continuously represented in the programming.”    Details of the programme are below.      National Youth Dance Company & Guest Artistic Director Alesandra Seutin   Speak Volumes A film by Ben Williams, cinematography by Zeta Spyraki  Speak Volumes is a short dance film made for camera. It follows on from the live performance created by the 29 dancers of the National Youth Dance Company in collaboration with Guest Artistic Director Alesandra Seutin. Set in a disused school building, Speak Volumes is an open floor for the voices of the younger ones of these times, a space for their existence and truth to be heard, acknowledged and experienced.  Available from 9 May      Guests Select  Sadler's Wells hands over the mic in a new series called Guests Select. We ask leading Black UK-based artists to share the online works they’re passionate about and tell us what they mean to them.  From new and innovative digital creations to familiar movie masterpieces, Guests Select invites you into a specially-curated online space to discover, explore and feel inspired.  Afrobeats dancer and choreographer Patience J; events curator, DJ and UK vogueing artist Jay Jay Revlon; and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy MBE, co-founder of UK hip-hop dance company Boy Blue, share their selections on 9 May. A further three artists share their top picks from 6 June.  Available from 9 May & 6 June      Moving Around The World – 6 international short films   Sadler's Wells Digital Stage brings stories of dance from around the world with a series of short films, including mini documentaries and dance made for the screen.  Each unique film represents Black dance artists from across the globe, from countries including South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, U.S.A and the Netherlands. Collectively these films show the power of dance to change lives, bring us closer together and create a universal language that speaks to us all.   Available from 23 May - 31 October    Rauf ‘RubberLegz’ Yasit  WOVEN   Filmed and directed by RUBBERLEGZ, starring Matthew "ET" Gibbs. Music by Philip Daniel   Length: 6 mins  Born and raised in Germany, and now based in Los Angeles, Rauf Yasit is known as RUBBERLEGZ for his extraordinary ability to contort his body into unthinkable shapes and positions. He has performed at Sadler's Wells in Breakin' Convention and in William Forsythe's A Quiet Evening of Dance.  For his film WOVEN, which premieres on Sadler's Wells Digital Stage, Rauf partners with his friend and street dancer Matthew 'ET' Gibbs. He captures the intricacies of his deep rooted, ever-evolving style as a woven story to be told. "There is a synchronistic pureness in his movement," says Rauf. "My intention with this piece is to create a lens from which to clearly read the story he tells."    Christian Boley and Stéphanie Mwamba  KUJA TUCHEZE / Come to dance  Length: 6 mins  This short documentary follows the work of a new dance centre set up by dance artists Christian Boley and Stéphanie Mwamba in Minova, Democratic Republic of Congo.  Stéphanie Mwamba is a dancer who has performed in prestigious venues around the world in Sadler’s Wells’ production of The Right of Spring / common ground[s]. In 2021, the Congolese-born dancer co-founded the Ochula Center to facilitate dance workshops, research, shows and training. Minova is a town which has seen horrific atrocities committed by soldiers and extreme rates of sexual violence against women and children.  This film meets the dancers and victims of sexual violence living in the region who have found a sense of freedom through the Ochula Center. It follows their training and rehearsals culminating in the first ever performance titled KUJA TUCHEZE / Come to dance at Ochula Center in August 2021.    A film by Freddy Dojo   Waterbrothers   Featuring Roy Overdijk and Lee-Lou Demierre   Length: 3 mins  Waterbrothers is a film by Freddy Dojo which explores the connection between dancers Lee-Lou, from Amsterdam and Roy, who grew up in Eindhoven in the south of the Netherlands. They joined the world champion breakdance crew, The Ruggeds, and have performed around the world including at Breakin' Convention festival on the Sadler's Wells stage.  Lee-Lou and Roy had an instant connection, that grew stronger over the years. They became like brothers, traveling the world together. They share roots, interests and can also move in a way nobody else in the crew can. They flow like water, changing shape all the time. Adapting, improvising and overcoming whatever obstacles they find on their path.    A film by Roderick George  The Missing Fruit (Part 1)  Length: 7 mins  The Missing Fruit (Part 1) is part of a trilogy of films of the same name by dance artist Roderick George. The films were made as part of his work on new show The Missing Fruit, to premiere in New York in 2023. George is inspired by recent Movement for Black Lives protests, seeking to address the realities of systemic racism while cultivating an environment to realise Black joy. The Missing Fruit both symbolises the historical impact of oppression while centring joy and pleasure through the use of Black social dance, vocals, narration, and scenic design – with ballet, vogueing and breakdancing all in one performance. In addition, The Missing Fruit gives George another opportunity to take creative risks and share his artistry with many communities. Roderick George is a dancer and choreographer based in New York. George’s career has embraced collaborations with other great choreographers such as Peeping Tom, Jorma Elo, Jerome Bel, Jacopo Godani, William Forsythe, Johan Inger, Jiří Kylian, Sharon Eyal, Ohan Naharin, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, Richard Wherlock, Tino Seghal and many others.      A Film by Breakin’ Convention  Colours   Filmed and edited by Ben Williams. Shot in Islington, London   Length: 3 mins  A frequent performer at Breakin’ Convention, Patience J presents Colours – a celebratory piece exploring modern ‘Afro’ dance forms from the African diaspora including n’dombolo and azonto.  Patience James is a passionate and accomplished dancer, choreographer, actress, and teacher, and is one of the top Afrobeats choreographers in London. She has appeared on stages including Sadler’s Wells, Hammersmith Apollo and the Edinburgh Fringe, and her TV credits include The X Factor and The One Show. She has choreographed for brands like Nike and Adidas, participated in industry panel talks for Adobe and Adidas, hosted dance classes for Facebook and a performance for Twitter UK.    A Film by Breakin’ Convention  The Skeleton Mover  Filmed and edited by Ben Williams, directed by Jonzi D  Length: 3 mins  A short clip from a feature length film project following five unique dancers from different cities around the world. This clip features Jabulani, the Soweto Skeleton Pantsula dancer who grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa during the apartheid era.      New film commissions  From June to October 2022, as part of Well Seasoned, Sadler’s Wells presents the world premieres of seven new short-film commissions by the UK’s most exciting Black artists working in dance and film. They include Jonzi D, L’atisse Rhoden, House of Absolute, Ivan Michael Blackstock, Akeim Toussaint Buck, Alethia Antonia and Fubunation.  They will be free to access for a limited period on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage and YouTube channel.    Jonzi D  Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and Artistic Director of Breakin’ Convention, Jonzi D is a pioneering figure in the UK hip hop dance scene. He presents the follow up to his film Our Bodies Back, which premiered in August 2020 and presented a powerful rendering of Black women’s voices, featuring the poetry of jessica Care moore.    His next film AUTOCORRECT   follows a similar stylistic form, but features three male dancers from New York, London and Kampala. All taking inspiration from the cerebral poetry of Saul Williams, supported by Soweto Kinch’s textured soundscape.     L’atisse Rhoden  Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Artist L’atisse Rhoden presents two films.  Inspired by personal narratives and shifting perspectives, Dutopia is a short film that follows the story of Lilli-Mai, a young woman navigating unresolved trauma from her home life. After witnessing physicalities between her parents, Lilli-Mai subconsciously develops a new way of coping with her realities to keep the peace at home.   Following on from Dutopia, EDIH is the first dance offering of the series featuring Ekin Bernay. This twisted and raw film touches on themes of dysmorphia and the health of self-expectations.      Ivan Michael Blackstock   Ivan Michael Blackstock presents a new short film.    House of Absolute  House of Absolute is a collective of multidisciplinary artists, specialising in waacking, contemporary, hip hop, locking, krump and popping styles. Their short film aims to uplift the voices of women and marginalized genders in telling stories of a shared oppression, displacement and struggle whilst finding ourselves in a world that so often leaves us ‘Othered’.    Akeim Toussaint Buck   Following on from his performance Radical Visions at Sadler’s Wells, Akeim Toussaint Buck presents three short films representing the artists from his specially curated Wild Card programme. It features work by Akeim himself in Negus, as well as a solo work entitled (Re)Inscribed by Alethia Antonia, an adaptation of her stage work Inscribed in "Me”, and a short film by Fubunation.      Podcast  A podcast hosted by Brenda Emmanus featuring conversations with Black creatives about how Black culture – dance, visual art, fashion, tv & film, theatre, and music – informs many aspects of contemporary life. Six 30-minute episodes will be available in July 2022.        What’s On   Dates   National Youth Dance Company & Guest Artistic Director Alesandra Seutin   Speak Volumes: A film by Ben Williams, cinematography by Zeta Spyraki  Available from 9 May    Guests Select  Available from 9 May & 6 June  Rauf ‘RubberLegz’ Yasit  WOVEN  Available from 23 May - 31 October    Christian Boley and Stéphanie Mwamba  Ochula Center in Minova  Available from 23 May - 31 October    A film by Freddy Dojo   Waterbrothers   Available from 23 May - 31 October    Roderick George  The Missing Fruit (Part 1)  Available from 23 May - 31 October    A Film by Breakin’ Convention  Colours  Available from 23 May - 31 October    A Film by Breakin’ Convention  The Skeleton Mover  Available from 23 May - 31 October    New film commissions  Jonzi D   Available from 6 June for 2 years  New film commissions  L’atisse Rhoden  Available from 6 June for 2 years    New film commissions  Ivan Michael Blackstock  Available from 15 August for 2 years    New film commissions  House of Absolute  Available from 15 August for 2 years    New film commissions  Akeim Toussaint Buck  Available from 12 September for 2 years    Podcast   Available from July       NOTES TO EDITORS     About Sadler’s Wells   Sadler's Wells is a world-leading dance organisation. We strive to make and share dance that inspires us all. Our acclaimed year-round programme spans dance of every kind, from contemporary to flamenco, Bollywood to ballet, salsa to street dance and tango to tap.   We commission, produce and present more dance than any other organisation in the world. Since 2005, we have helped to bring close to 200 new dance works to the stage, embracing both the popular and the unknown.     Each year, over half a million people visit our three London theatres - Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lilian Baylis Studio and Peacock Theatre. Millions more attend our touring productions nationally and internationally or explore our digital platforms, including Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage. In 2023 we’re opening a fourth London venue in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Sadler’s Wells East will house a 550-seat mid-scale theatre, as well as facilities for the Choreographic School and Hip Hop Theatre Academy.      Supporting artists is at the heart of our work. We have associate artists and companies, which nurture some of the most exciting talent working in dance today. We host the National Youth Dance Company, which draws together some of the brightest young dancers from across the country. Sadler’s Wells Breakin' Convention runs professional development programmes to champion and develop the world’s best hip hop artists, as well as producing, programming and touring groundbreaking hip hop performances.      Around 30,000 people take part in our learning and engagement programmes every year. We support schools local to our theatres in Islington and Stratford, designing experiences for children and young people to watch, explore and critically engage with the arts. We also run Company of Elders, a resident performance company of dancers aged over 60 who rehearse with renowned artists to make new work for public performances locally, nationally and internationally.     Sadler’s Wells is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.       www.sadlerswells.com   Stay up to date with everything Sadler’s Wells on social media   Facebook: @SadlersWells   Twitter: @Sadlers_Wells   Instagram: @sadlers_wells   YouTube: Sadler’s Wells Theatre