Top ballet company will stage ‘brave new works’ at Finsbury theatre

Sadler’s Wells, in Rosebery Avenue, will host “brave new works” by the English National Ballet (ENB) after a deal between the two was announced this week.

While still performing classical works at the Coliseum in central London, the ENB will perform more modern compositions at Sadler’s Wells, including Lest We Forget, a production inspired by the First World War which was performed at the Glastonbury Festival this year.

Experimental

Tamara Rojo, director of the ENB, said: “There is a lot more interest in dance in general, not just ballet, but ballroom, hip-hop. There’s a lot less fear about coming to see something that you haven’t seen before.

“What Sadler’s Wells allows us to do is to be more experimental, to take more risks in the repertoire, especially as we are commissioning some works.”

“I am absolutely thrilled that English National Ballet is to be the first associate ballet company at Sadler’s Wells.

“As artistic director of English National Ballet I aim to honour the great classical works, keeping them relevant to today’s audience, while introducing brave new works into the company’s repertoire; the classics of the future.”

Dance is experiencing a surge in popularity, attributed by some to the “Strictly effect” after the wildly popular BBC programme Strictly Come Dancing.

Sadler’s Wells experienced a 12 per cent increase in audiences during 2013 to 2014, and was at 97 per cent capacity for Matthew Bourne’s all-male Swan Lake.

The dance company commissions and hosts productions from dance genres including tango and flamenco, and last June took a hip-hop performance to Harlem.

Alistair Spalding, artistic director of Sadler’s Wells, said: “I’m delighted to announce this new relationship with English National Ballet.

“The company is renowned for its commitment to bringing ballet and contemporary choreography to the widest possible audiences, making it the perfect match for Sadler’s Wells.”