Sadler's Wells unveils 20 new commissions to celebrate 20th anniversary

Sadler’s Wells has announced a series of 20 new commissions in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its London home, with the programme featuring Natalia Osipova and William Forsythe as well as Akram Khan’s final solo performance.

The theatre has also announced a new strand to its artist development schemes, for young choreographers entering the profession.

The Islington dance venue opened 20 years ago and has been producing its own work since 2005. It is the sixth cultural building to have stood on the same site since Richard Sadler first established a theatre there in 1683.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the current building, 20 new pieces of dance will be produced or co-produced by Sadler’s Wells.

Artistic director and chief executive Alistair Spalding said the plans showed the organisation’s ethos of “reflecting the dance traditions of the world at the same time as reflecting the way the world is today”.

“It is absolutely right that we celebrate our anniversary with 20 for 20: 20 new commissions representing the finest talent from all over the world and artists at every stage of their career,” he said.

The line-up includes a programme created for ballerina Natalia Osipova, featuring original pieces by Alexei Ratmansky and Ivan Perez, while American choreographer William Forsythe will present his first full show since closing his self-titled company in 2015, which includes two new pieces.

Other works include a fusion of visual art and dance with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Antony Gormley’s Icon, which explores the concepts of iconoclasm and features 3.5 tonnes of clay that will be modelled throughout the performance.

Akram Khan will give his final solo performance in a full-length work with Xenos, which tells the tale of an Indian colonial soldier in the First World War.

The season also features work from Mark Morris, Sharon Eyol, Jasmin Vardimon, Julie Cunningham and BalletLORENT.

Other highlights for 2018 include the return of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, which is being revived “with a fresh look for the 21st century”.

Bourne will continue to work with long-term collaborators, designers Paule Constable and Lez Brotherston, on the reimagining.

Alongside the programme, Sadler’s Wells has unveiled a new development scheme for young choreographers, Young Associates.

It will run alongside the company’s existing associate artist programmes and will support four dance-makers under the age of 25 who have just left formal training.

The first cohort comprises Anthony Matsena, Wilhemina Ojanen, Ruby Portus and Christopher Thomas.

They will be given production time in Sadler’s Wells studios and theatres, as well as advice and networking. They will also present new work in a mixed bill in October as part of the 20th anniversary commissions.