Making Moves is a new choreography and performance project for schools and youth groups across England, run by Sadler’s Wells and supported by Barclays. Each year 48 school and youth dance groups will be selected to take part in the project, for participants aged 11 – 18 (up to 24 years for d/Deaf or disabled young dancers).

Running across the academic year starting in September 2023, Making Moves provides participating groups with digital choreographic toolkits created by four professional dance artists connected with Sadler’s Wells. The toolkits are designed to inspire ideas for generating movement and contain a wealth of supporting resources.

The four choreographers creating toolkits for the inaugural year are Alesandra Seutin, Dannielle “Rhimes” Lecointe, Jordan Douglas and Oona Doherty. Find out more.

The project will begin with a training weekend at Sadler’s Wells for group leaders, including masterclasses led by the choreographers. Group leaders will then draw from the toolkits and work with their young dancers to create a new dance work, which will be performed at their school or youth group setting and at a regional venue local to them in Spring 2024. Sadler’s Wells staff and a guest dance professional will attend the regional performances and provide feedback to all participating groups.

Following the regional performances, eight groups will be invited to perform on Sadler’s Wells stage on 24 July 2024, to a public audience and a panel of professionals from the dance sector. One group will be given an award for Best New Choreography.

Timeline

Toolkits & The Choreographers Weekend

The choreographic toolkits are designed for everyone to use whether you have lots of experience of choreographing or very little. The toolkits will provide you with footage of warm-up ideas, movement phrases and creative tasks as well as supporting resources, including music suggestions. You will also gain an insight into how a choreographer faces the challenge of creating new work and what environment and mindset they need for their creativity to flourish.

The Choreographers Weekend provides an opportunity to meet and work directly with the choreographer of your toolkit. As part of the weekend, they will guide you through the toolkit and will design the session to be accessible to all, including those with no previous dance experience.

Creation period

The creation process will begin after the Choreographers Weekend. During that period, you will have access to support from Sadler’s Wells mentors as well as be connected to other participating groups in your region. By the end of the creation period, the goal is to have made an original piece of choreography that is between 4-8 minutes long.

Local, regional and national performances

Local/home venue

Each group will perform in a local or home venue to an audience. This can be made up of family, friends, staff and maybe other groups. A Making Moves mentor will watch the work you’ve created, either in-person or recorded, and provide feedback on the piece before your regional performance.

Regional

Sadler’s Wells will organise the regional platforms. These regional platforms will take place in Spring 2024, from February-April. You will be informed of the venue and the date before the end of August 2023.

At the regional platform, there will be an opportunity to share your work with other groups from your local region. It will be an exciting day of masterclasses and talks followed by the performance. An industry professional will attend the regional platform and will provide feedback on your group’s performance and choreography following the event.

National

From these regional platforms, eight groups will be selected to perform on a Sadler’s Wells stage to a public audience on Wednesday 24th July 2024. A panel of professionals will watch each work and one group will be awarded Best New Choreography.

Fees/Bursaries

The cost for groups to participate in Making Moves is £300, which can be paid across 2 instalments. Bursaries are available to support groups facing financial barriers to participation.

For more information about financial support, please e-mail the Making Moves team: MakingMoves@sadlerswells.com

Applications for 2023/2024 are now closed. Applications for 2024/2025 will open in Spring 2024, please check back here for updates.

If you require further information, please contact the Making Moves team: MakingMoves@sadlerswells.com

Terms and Conditions

• You must have one Company Contact through which all communication will be sent

• It is mandatory for one group leader from each group to attend the Choreographers Weekend on 16 & 17 September, 2023 at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. It is the responsibility of each group to pay for travel and accommodation to attend the Choreographers Weekend. Bursaries are available to groups that would benefit from financial support

• The toolkits will be available to access from September and are to be used by your group only. Toolkits may not be passed on to any other person or organisation

• Each group is responsible for their costs incurred during the creation period and involvement in performances at the local, regional and national level. Bursaries are available to groups that would benefit from financial support

• The safety of participants is important to us. We aim to make sure all our activities are safe and considerate, especially those involving children and vulnerable adults. We expect all participating groups to take health and safety seriously and have their own safeguarding policy in place, as well as adhere to the Sadler’s Wells Safeguarding Policy. Please find Sadler’s Wells safety policies here.

• In the event that a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) licence needs to be obtained, your group must provide the necessary information to ensure this is in place before the event. This may include a group leader being in possession of a Chaperone Licence.

• Sadler’s Wells is committed to being transparent about how we use your data. We will gather and process your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.