May at Sadler’s Wells: Breakin’ Convention, Contemporary Premieres and Next-Generation Talent
The month of May at Sadler’s Wells bursts with energy, featuring the return of the world’s biggest hip-hop theatre festival, boundary-pushing contemporary dance, high-camp comedy ballet, and a strong focus on the next generation of artists.
At Sadler’s Wells Theatre, the annual Breakin’ Convention Festival (Friday 1 – Sunday 3 May) returns under the direction of hip-hop innovator Jonzi D. The world’s largest celebration of hip-hop dance theatre presents the full range of styles alongside a number of UK and world premiere performances.
Also at the main house, the all-male comedy ballet company Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo brings its unique blend of dance, humour and high-camp glamour (Tuesday 5 – Wednesday 6 May). Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker returns with her company Rosas, in collaboration with Radouan Mriziga, for a new exploration of Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ inspired by the climate crisis (Friday 8 – Saturday 9 May).
Sadler’s Wells Associate Artists BalletBoyz mark their 25th anniversary with Still Pointless: BalletBoyz at 25 (Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 May). Northern Ballet presents Gentleman Jack, which tells the remarkable true story of Anne Lister, choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa with a new live score by Peter Salem (Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 May).
Award-winning South African choreographer Dada Masilo reimagines Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a dance-theatre piece told through the eyes of Ophelia (Monday 25 – Tuesday 26 May). Finally, the National Youth Dance Company performs Memory Keepers by Guest Artistic Directors Sadé and Kristina Alleyne, following its world premiere at Dance East (Saturday 30 May).
At Sadler’s Wells East – Studio Wayne McGregor, students from Rambert School and The Juilliard School unite in AUGMENTED: Dance Powered by MAM+AISOMA, a new work choreographed by Sir Wayne McGregor (Friday 1 – Saturday 2 May). This transatlantic project aims to inspire and empower the next generation of dance artists.
BULLYACHE presents A Good Man is Hard to Find, winner of the international choreographic call-out for Venice Biennale 2025 (Thursday 7 – Saturday 9 May), with an East Late performance on Friday night.
Jefta van Dinther premieres REMACHINE, a new collaboration with composer Anna von Hausswolff that explores the interplay between humans and technology (Thursday 14 – Saturday 16 May). Theatre-Rites, in collaboration with award-winning choreographer Gregory Maqoma, presents the new family show Return to the Forest featuring puppetry by Sue Buckmaster (Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 May).
At the Peacock Theatre, YAMATO Drummers of Japan unveil their brand-new production Hito no Chikara – The Power of Human Strength (Tuesday 12 – Saturday 30 May).
In the Lilian Baylis Studio, choreographer Alice Ripoll presents PUFF, an exploration of disguise and disappearance through Passinho, the vibrant urban dance style born in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro (Wednesday 13 – Thursday 14 May).
On the digital side, the latest edition of the free Choreographer Conversations series sees Sadler’s Wells Associate Artistic Director Rob Jones talk to Associate Artist Michelle Dorrance about her life in tap dance. It is available to watch now on the Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.
For the full May programme and to book tickets, visit sadlerswells.com.
BULLYACHE, ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’, Image Credit Andrea Avezzù