NEWS: Sadler's Wells announce plans for new venue: Sadler's Wells East.

Sadler’s Wells East to open with Vicki Igbokwe’s Our Mighty Groove, featuring local dancers

A dance production rooted in the communities of east London, featuring professional and non-professional dancers from the local area will open Sadler’s Wells’ new venue Sadler’s Wells East in 2023.

  

Choreographed by Vicki Igbokwe, Our Mighty Grove will feature dancers from Sadler’s Wells’ Associate Schools and youth groups. They will join professional dancers in the production.  

  

Our Mighty Groove is a reworking of Vicki Igbokwe’s dance theatre show that was first seen as part of a Wild Card evening curated by Igbokwe at Sadler’s Wells in 2013. Set in an underground nightclub in New York, Our Mighty Groove is an immersive interactive production about being empowered on the dance floor. The choreography blends club styles house, waacking and vogue, fused with African and contemporary dance.

  

This production is part of Sadler’s Wells’ ongoing work with Vicki Igbokwe and her company

Uchenna Dance to deliver a two-year engagement programme with young people in east London, including summer schools and workshops. A number of participants from this engagement programme will be invited to join the cast of Our Mighty Groove.

  

Alistair Spalding, Sadler’s Wells Artistic Director and Chief Executive said: “One of the most important things for us at Sadler’s Wells, and all the East Bank partners, is that we’re making this a place for the people of east London, so I am delighted to be able to announce our first production at Sadler’s Wells East will feature local dancers. I know Vicki will make the opening of our new venue a wonderful celebration with her joyous show that will get everyone up on the dance floor.”  

 

Vicki Igbokwe founded Uchenna Dance in 2009. She was among the first cohort of Sadler’s Wells Summer University; is a Trustee for One Dance UK, the UK Body for Dance; and Associate Facilitator for People Make It Work, a group of cultural leaders who work together to support the cultural sector to change and develop.  

  

Vicki Igbokwe said: “I’m really looking forward to creating Our Mighty Groove for the opening season at Sadler’s Wells East. Doing this with Uchenna Dance and local young people will take the show to new heights! It’s important to nurture, empower and support the next generation of performers and members of society to find their voice and influence, which I know a show like Our Mighty Groove will deliver. It’s a full-circle moment for me as this show was originally supported by Sadler’s Wells in 2013 so it’s an honour to develop it for their new theatre. Get ready to be on the edge of your feet!”  

 

Sadler’s Wells runs workshops in a wide variety of dance styles with community groups in east London and has close ties with 13 Associate Schools across Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest, helping to create more opportunities to watch, explore and learn through dance.

  

Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries said: “London needs big forward looking, ambitious creative projects as we recover from this pandemic - and culture and the creative industries will play a huge role in our economic recovery. These exciting plans from Sadler’s Wells demonstrate the vision behind the East Bank project - the most ambitious new project of its kind for over 150 years.”