Support Contemporary Ballet at Sadler’s Wells
Photo: Wayne McGregor’s Outlier, Paul Kolnik
Supporting ballet in the 21st century Choreographers have been using the ballet form to push boundaries for many years. William Forsythe turned the technique of ballet inside out. Russell Maliphant uses his balletic vocabulary with hip hop, martial arts and contemporary dance. Wayne McGregor, himself from a contemporary background, has made some of his most groundbreaking work for classical dancers on Pointe. Sadler’s Wells champions cross-disciplinary collaborations as well as dance that embodies the spirit of our age. Sadler’s Wells is the UK's leading dance house, dedicated to bringing the very best international and British dance to London, including companies and choreographers that continue to develop and contemporise the language of classical ballet. To secure ballet’s place in the wider stories of contemporary dance in our time we need supporters who will ensure the work is developed and celebrated with the care and eminence it deserves. This is how ballet will remain relevant and vital and continue to evolve?
Photo: See the Music, Hear the Dance, Johan Persson
The development of ballet, from artistic development through new work and the presentation of international companies on the large stage, is an expensive enterprise. Sadler’s Wells is committed to this mission and - with your help - we can continue to nourish this beautiful dance form. We invite you to join the Sadler’s Wells Contemporary Ballet Supporters Circle, a dedicated group of passionate supporters who will chart, champion and support the ever-expanding bounds of ballet.
A Special Opportunity We are gathering together a small group of dance lovers to support our investment in contemporary ballet by making a donation towards the Contemporary Ballet Supporters Circle. The combined support of the Circle will contribute to the vital funds necessary for Sadler’s Wells to develop and present a programme of contemporary ballet across autumn 2014 and spring 2015, including the Royal Swedish Ballet, Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon with the Dutch National Ballet. To thank you for your support we have planned some special events with the season’s artists and companies for Circle members, including We build a new programme of activities for the Circle every year.
Photo: Wayne McGregor’s Outlier, Paul Kolnik
Membership of the New Ballet Supporters’ Circle is £5,000
“possibly the finest Mats Ek has produced” TANZ on Juliet & Romeo
Royal Swedish Ballet Mats Ek’s Juliet & Romeo 24 - 27 September 2014 One of the world’s oldest ballet companies, Royal Swedish Ballet will perform in London for the first time since 1995. Johannes Öhman, Director of the Royal Swedish Ballet commissioned renowned contemporary choreographer Mats Ek to create this full length adaptation of the timeless love story for the company’s dancers. Mats Ek has created work for the world’s most prolific ballet and contemporary dance companies, including many new interpretations of classics. Ek’ dynamic choreography brings a quirky twist to this much-loved ballet and is set to Tchaikovsky. Juliet & Romeo has already attracted much acclaim in Sweden and internationally. It makes its UK premiere this autumn as part of Northern Light.
Photo: Photo: Mats Ek’s Juliet & Romeo, Gert Weigelt
Armitage / McGregor / Pite / Whitely Thomas Adès: See the Music, Hear the Dance 30 October – 1 November 2014
Photo: See the Music, Hear the Dance, Johan Persson
Pianist, conductor, composer, Thomas Adès is the subject of the second in Sadler’s Wells’ Composer Series. A multi-award winner, he remains the only composer to have won the Royal Philharmonic Prize for large-scale composition three times. In this epic new Sadler’s Wells production, Adès conducts his only London appearance in 2014, featuring four dance works set to some of his most celebrated music and played live by Britten Sinfonia. The mixed-bill evening will start the European premiere of Outlier, choreographed by Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor, who has created works for many of the worlds leading ballet and contemporary dance companies. Originally created for the New York City Ballet, this rendition of Wayne’s beautiful work will be performed by dancers from Royal Ballet of Flanders. Karole Armitage will present her exquisite duet Life Story which will feature British soprano Claire Booth, with Adès on piano. Known as the ‘punk ballerina’, Karole has developed her choreographic style with her own company Armitage Gone! Dance Company and through commissions with companies including Paris Opera Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Sadler’s Wells New Wave Associate Alexander Whitley will present the world premiere of The Grit in the Oyster, with Adès on piano. Alexander has been choreographing since 2007, following training as a dancer at Royal Ballet School and performing with both ballet and contemporary dance companies. Finally the evening will culminate in a new world premiere, choreographed by Sadler’s Wells’ newest Associate Artist Crystal Pite, who is creating a new work in response to Adès’ Polaris. As a dancer Crystal performed with Ballet British Columbia and Ballet Frankfurt and has since choreographed works for ballet and contemporary dance companies alike.
Dutch National Ballet Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella The London Coliseum July 2015
Photo: Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, Jack Devant
*Exclusive news for Circle supporters*
In early July 2015 Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella will make its UK premiere at The London Coliseum, presented by Sadler’s Wells. Christopher is a Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist and one of today’s masters of contemporary ballet. His Cinderella, originally a co-production by San Francisco Ballet and the Dutch National Ballet, earned him the prestigious Benois de la Danse Prize. Here in London Cinderella will be performed by Described as a ‘lavish’, epic ballet’ his version is set to the Prokofiev score, with a visually stunning set and magical puppetry work by Basil Twist. Christopher discards the fairytale elements, favouring the story according to the Brothers Grimm. This is Christopher’s first solo work with Sadler’s Wells in a number of years and is eagerly anticipated.
“How talented he is…” THE NEW YORKER on Christopher Wheeldon
Contemporary Ballet Supporter Benefits To thank you for your support we have planned some special events with the season’s artists and companies, especially for Circle members.
A private reception with Mats Ek during the season A pair of complimentary premium seats to both opening night celebrations for Mats Ek’s Juliet & Romeo on Wednesday 24 September and Thomas Adès: See the Music, Hear the Dance on Thursday 30 October - includes pre-show drinks and canapé reception, interval drinks and a post-show reception with the company A pair of complimentary premium seats to join us at a special reception around the UK premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella . Rehearsal with Crystal Pite Thomas Ades orchestral rehearsal Priority access to purchase additional tickets in the First Circle for Juliet & Romeo (September 2014); Thomas Adès: See the Music, Hear the Dance (October 2014); Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella and additional contemporary ballet works announced for spring 2015
Photo:
Photo: See the Music, Hear the Dance, Johan Persson
Advance notice of future new ballet productions coming to Sadler’s Wells before they’re announced to the public Additional events and exciting programme news to be announced
As a supporter you will be instrumental in the development and presentation of contemporary ballet at Sadler’s Wells in 2014 and 2015. We hope you will consider joining the Circle. Contact Anna Clark on 020 7863 8135 or at anna.clark@sadlerswells.com