Review: GRAVITY, Sadler’s Wells
A packed Sadler’s Wells Islington welcomed this year’s NYDC cohort with their exhilarating performance of Gravity. NYDC – the National Youth Dance Company – is a Sadler’s Wells initiative which has seen thousands of talented young dancers given training and performance opportunities over the last twelve years.
The whole process starts with experience workshops for young people aged from 16 to 18 (or up to 24 for those who are D/deaf or disabled). These workshops are free to participants. If chosen to join that year’s company, bursaries are available if needed. Company members then get the chance to work with top choreographers from many different genres and to have a taste of life as a member of a touring dance company.
It’s a remarkable initiative and one to be applauded and supported. Thirteen new dance works have been created for NYDC and this year’s guest artistic directors are from award-winning dance company Boy Blue, who also run an inclusive hip-hop dance school in East London. Choreographer Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy and composer Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante created Gravity with a cast of thirty-three young people aged from 16-25, and from twenty-one towns and villages across the UK. Some have a dance background, others have previously performed only in their own bedrooms.
Production values are high, with both Adam Carrée’s lighting and Ryan Dawson Laight’s costumes greatly enhancing the piece. As well as being seen at locations across the UK, Gravity will be seen in Berlin this year, a first international appearance for NYDC.
The ecstatic audience of friends, family and dance supporters knew they would be in for something special, and that was certainly on offer for the 50 minutes that followed. Divided into two sections, Gravity is also enhanced by a specially-made film (by Eleanor Grace Hann) that includes interviews with members of the group.
As expected, these dancers are absolutely at the top of their game, and many will surely go on to performing careers. Even if they do not, they will have had an unforgettable experience. The theme of Gravity leads to movements reminiscent of moon-walks, and the dancers are adept at creating the illusion of weightlessness through movement.
From the opening section with a single dancer reaching up and trying to break free to the several whole-company sections in the tightest of unison, breathing, moving and dancing as one, the matching of Boy Blue’s choreography to dancers was superb.
At a time when arts in our schools are more threatened than ever, and arts through local youth services is almost non-existent, we look to enlightened professional entities like Sadler’s Wells – as well as Boy Blue and all the other dance partners around the country – to offer young people the opportunity to perform and to a high standard.
Gravity has already been seen this year at Leeds, Falmouth, Blackpool and Ipswich, and will be seen in Coventry before heading for Berlin. Look out for NYDC if they come your way. If you know a talented young dancer, encourage them to apply; if you enjoy and appreciate dance, get a ticket to see them perform – you won’t regret it!
Reviewed by Chris Abbott
For more information, click here