Author: Courtney.Roger

We are delighted to welcome Anthony Matsena back as guest choreographer for JV2. Anthony will work begin work in a couple of weeks with our talented group of young international dancers.

“I’m really thrilled to work with JV2 again this year. We had such a wonderful and powerful few weeks with last years cohort and I can’t wait to share what we discovered and go further with the work with these new bright minds and artists. Working digitally will have its challenges but also advantages. It’s a joy to be back and creating in such difficult times. The people may change but the spirit of the work lives on. Eterna.” Anthony Matsena.

Anthony is a Zimbabwean born and Welsh raised choreographer, performer and director. His work is often politically charged and he has built a love and curiosity for telling stories that express themes of culture, race, change and belonging. In 2018, Anthony became a Sadler’s Wells Young Associate and it was during this time that he was introduced to Jasmin by Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and Chief Executive Alistair Spalding. Anthony worked with JV2 2019/20 and we are delighted to announce his return to develop his piece ‘Eterna’ with JV2 2020/21.

 

We were delighted to visit Richmond School and Sixth Form last week with a new online workshop, lead by company dancer Andre Rebelo. As schools adapt to these new ways of working and we continue to work hard to continue providing learning opportunities, it was great to have such fantastic feedback.

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We are delighted to announce that we have received crucial funding from Arts Council England’s Cultural Recovery Fund to enable us to continue our vital education activities. Huge thanks to ACE and DCMS for their support during these challenging times.

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‘Bristling with tension, raw excitement and audacious moves’ The Stage.

Catch our free digital screening of Jasmin’s critically acclaimed production ‘Park’ from Friday 11th Sept at 10am – Saturday 12th Sept at 10pm on our Vimeo channel.

Park is an urban oasis, a place of refuge from ordinary life where eight characters play, fight, fall in love and learn to survive. In this playground of relationships, young lovers wrestle in a historic fountain, a graffiti artist sprays his story, a busker finds his only appreciative audience in a bag lady and a flag-waving bully rants worn out political beliefs. Their stories intertwine creating a modern day fairytale that is alternately sharp, funny and cruel.

Reworked in 2014 with new 3D imaging and multi-talented cast, Park presents a breathtaking collision of highly acute physical theatre, text, athletic dance and funky music, delivering fresh statements about our time.

Park is one of Jasmin’s most popular productions, particularly with school and college students studying her work. We are pleased to offer this screening at the beginning of the new academic year to help support teachers and students in their dance studies. Further free education resources, links and background to Jasmin’s work can be found here: Education Resources

To celebrate the graduation of our JV2 dancers this week, Jasmin spoke to Anthony Matsena, Young Associate Artist at Sadler’s Wells and JV2 2020 choreographer.

Anthony was invited to create a brand new work for this year’s group of talented, international dancers. In this in-depth interview, he talks with Jasmin about his experience creating and working with JV2, the themes of equality and justice explored in his powerful and highly relevant piece ‘Eterna’ and his thoughts on the wider impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s a fascinating watch! CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Our popular summer short-course JVIntensive is going online for 2020. We are offering a series of weekly courses from 13th July – 7th August 2020, participants can join for 1 to 4 weeks in any combination. Classes will be delivered via Zoom by company dancer and JV2 course leader Sabrina Gargano and will focus on a different selection on company repertoire each week.

Repertoire and creative methodologies related to the chosen work will be explored in depth and Jasmin Vardimon will join for a Q&A session to introduce participants to the work and provide an opportunity for them to ask questions and gain a unique insight into the creative process.

JVIntensive offers personalised attention and focus to support each participant’s creative voice to mature and evolve. The course provides individual mentoring and feedback, including audition techniques, tools and knowledge to prepare for and enrich a career in performance.

CLICK HERE for further information including course fees and booking form.

 

During the last 10 weeks we have offered over 170 free online classes in support of the community in difficult times. Now, as we all adjust to the ‘new normal’, we are launching a new, affordable paid programme for June. The timetable will feature our most popular classes, with reduced rates available for students and those in financial need. CLICK HERE for full details including new timetable and pricing plans.

‘Theatrical gold. Piercingly powerful’ The Telegraph.

Man’s inhumanity to man never ceases to stun each generation. 7734 questions the human forces and weaknesses that have created hell on earth, while illuminating both our capacity for survival and the poetry of hope. A daring production which remains strikingly relevant today – compelling viewing.

Don’t miss your chance to catch this bold and explosively powerful production originally performed at Sadler’s Wells in 2010. 7734 is live on Vimeo from Wednesday 3rd June at 12pm and available for 24 hours.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH 7734

 

Dance fans are in for a special treat this Easter weekend as we will release a special digital streaming of our popular and critically acclaimed production of Pinocchio on Vimeo from Good Friday (10th April) at 7 pm BST through to Easter Monday (13th April) at 7 pm BST. Viewers will be invited to make a ‘Pay As You Feel’ donation to support the company’s work in these unprecedented times. Donations can be made here.

Having previously toured throughout the world, this family-friendly adaption of the classic tale is based on the original book by Carlo Collodi and performed by Vardimon’s multi-talented dancers. Pinocchio brings to life the famous marionette as he embarks on a fantastic journey to become a human boy.

Showcasing Vardimon’s uniquely theatrical choreographic and directorial style, Pinocchio combines physical theatre, quirky characterisation, innovative technologies, text and dance to examine the idea of what it means to be human.