Angelmoth, a fairytale ballet production suitable for children aged five and over, opens this year’s Connect Festival at Sadler’s Wells on 23 February.
Created by Ballet Lorent and choreographer Liv Lorent, Angelmoth, which runs from 23-26 February, tells the story of an ethereal butterfly-like creature who, after a chance encounter, leads Pippanouska and the characters who inhabit her dusty old library on a fantastical journey. The show features aerial choreography and narration by actor Ben Crompton.
Now in its fourth year, the Connect Festival aims to involve local community residents of all ages in three weeks of dance-based activities. This year’s festival line-up features performances by both resident and guest dance companies, seminars, workshops, school performances and the youth dance platform Roar!, which ends the festival on 15-16 March.
In a dance showcase on 28 February, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Rambert Dance Company, Jonzi D Productions, Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company, Random Dance and Opera North present work created with London primary and secondary school children, while dance students from Ballet Central and The Place also perform. At the other end of the age range, Sadler’s Wells’s Company Of Elders presents a triple bill on 13-14 March. Established in 1992, this group of 25 local performers, aged from 60 to 89, grew out of Sadler’s Wells’s over-60s club.
Other events in the festival include a day of dance exploration for people with learning difficulties on 3 March, performances by over 300 young people from London schools on 4 & 10 March, and a triple bill of work by young dance companies in Watch This Space on 5 March.
The Connect Festival is also holding two workshops for the very young on 27 February. Baby Bugs (9:30-13:15), is a fun-filled 45-minute movement session for babies under one and their parents/carers. Hop, Skip And Jump (10:30-11:15 & 11:30-12:15) is a session of structured play and creative movement for toddlers aged 1-3 years old.
CB