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NYDC takes to the Sadler's Wells stage

September 2, 2022

Three dancers – two women and a man – stride to the right, their right arms thrown straight up overhead. They all wear full skirts and loose cotton vests printed with abstract graphics. The women’s long hair is blown back as if they are stepping into the wind.

This Saturday, National Youth Dance Company is set to storm the Sadler’s Wells stage showcasing the next generation of dance talent with Quartier Paradis.

NYDC, England’s flagship youth dance organisation run by Sadler’s Wells, creates and performs innovative and influential dance, drawing together some of the brightest young talent from across the country. This latest collaboration with internationally renowned choreographer Alesandra Seutin, sees 32 outstanding young dancers present a new contemporary work, exploring the relationship between movement, voice and music.

Quartier Paradis, a show which dives into parallel universes where there is no clear endgame, has toured the UK with outstanding success and rave reviews. The national tour culminates here at Sadler’s Wells this weekend for one night only! This is the 10th cohort for NYDC, being led by Guest Artistic Director, Alesandra Seutin for the second year running due to covid disruptions.

Alesandra said: “It is exciting to be Guest Artistic Director of NYDC for a second year, and to be a part of the company’s 10th cohort. Working with NYDC is always a wonderful experience, the young people are inspiring, they are full of potential, joy, life and struggle all at the same time. It has inspired me to be a better human and artist, and to inspire these young people with the work and my team is always a joy.”

We are really looking forward to our audiences seeing this incredible work by our 10th cohort of dancers and Alesandra Seutin. Following two disrupted years of Covid it feels brilliant to be doing a full tour to share the work with as many people as possible. We are so proud of this group, who have grown as individuals and artists over the year, and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for them. This is the second year that Alesandra has led NYDC and it has been inspiring to see how she and her team have challenged and supported the dancers to make this unique and powerful work.
Hannah Kirkpatrick, Head of NYDC

London dancer and NYDC cohort 10 member, Roshaan Assare, has said that his time with the company has been ‘nothing short of life a changing experience’. When asked about his experience working with Alesandra, Roshaan said ‘Anyone that has the pleasure of working with Alesandra can attest to the great sense of sagacity she brings to the room. There’s a comfort level when working with Alesandra. I feel safe, even when I mess up…and boy have I made mistakes! Going into Sadler’s Wells, I’m certainly feeling ready. I’m extremely proud of what I’ve done thus far and will use that confidence to go out and live in the piece like it’s the last time I’ll ever get to do it.’

NYDC’s track record speaks for itself with over 80% of company members going onto further dance studies, in vocational training or working professionally. Cohort 10 member Tekitha Traniece, from West Yorkshire, began dancing at the age of 2 and talks of how the company has shown her a future in dance. She said ‘Being involved in NYDC and Quartier Paradis has really helped me decide on and see my future within dance. Before joining I was very unsure on which path I would like to take. Learning how people work in a company, especially with the style that the artistic team use, has really helped me become more sure in myself and know where I want to go. NYDC has given me so many opportunities that I greatly appreciate, including touring and performing at Sadler’s Wells. This has given me so much experience with travelling and adapting to new stages and environments quickly which I was not used to at this time last year.’

You can catch both Roshaan and Tekitha as they make their Sadler’s Wells debut in Quartier Paradis this weekend.

Next year is set to be a bumper year for NYDC as they celebrate their 10th anniversary, led by 2022/23 Guest Artistic Director, Wayne McGregor CBE.

Quartier Paradis is part of Well Seasoned, designed by Sadler’s Wells’ Artistic Director and Chief Executive Alistair Spalding and Breakin’ Convention’s Artistic Director Jonzi D and Director Michelle Norton. This programme is bringing exceptional and relevant shows by Black artists to the stage, celebrating Black dance.

Quartier Paradis is at Sadler’s Wells on Saturday 3 September at 7:30pm