Islington dance venue Sadler’s Wells presents a plethora of family-friendly shows this month, including a special Family Weekend on 25 and 26 October hosted by Spanish children’s dance company Arcaladanza.
The Family Weekend is centred around two productions for different age groups. On Saturday 25 October in the main house the company presents A Slice Of Paradise, a show for children aged four and over. Using bubbles, strawberries, puppets, magic and dancing torches, the show creates a fantasy world where everyday objects like newspapers and bin liners come to life.
In addition to the performances – at 11:30 and 16:00 – children can attend one of two workshops in which they can explore some of the creative dance from the show. Families are also invited to come to Sadler’s Wells before the show, or stay afterwards, to take part in some of the free games and activities on offer in the theatre’s foyers, including the chance to draw on a towering sculpture of paper chain people and create a show on a fuzzy felt wall.
Sunday’s show, Tac Tac, is designed for youngsters under the age of three and takes place in the Lilian Baylis Studio. Arcaladanza’s first ever show for babies brings to life the excitement of a baby’s daily conquests and games through colour, materials, rhythm, music and movement.
The Family Weekend is just one of several family-friendly shows presented by Sadler’s Wells this autumn. On 28 to 30 October Birmingham Royal Ballet performs its production of Beauty And The Beast, the classic tale of a beautiful girl who falls in love with her beastly captor. Artistic Director David Bintley weaves some new twists into this timeless fable which is suitable for all the family.
Over at Sadler’s Wells’s sister theatre the Peacock, American company Momix returns with its popular show Lunar Sea (7-25 October), which uses props, fluorescent costumes, light and shadow to create an eerie ‘black and white ballet’ in which the dancers seem to fly magically.
CB