September at Sadler’s Wells: The Music is Black Festival concludes as major companies return

September at Sadler’s Wells will feature the final weekend of The Music is Black Festival on The Dance Floor at Sadler’s Wells East, alongside performances from internationally renowned companies including San Francisco Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and English National Ballet.

The final weekend of The Music is Black Festival from East Bank takes place at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. On Saturday, choreographer Dannielle “Rhimes” LeCointe responds to the festival’s theme, Black to the Future, with a curated club night, Soul System: Afrofuture Funk, featuring live performances, singing and music from legendary DJs.

Rhimes, Associate Artistic Director of ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company, is the choreographer of the smash-hit Ebony Scrooge, which returns to Sadler’s Wells East this Christmas. Also on Saturday, Fly Kid will take over The Dance Floor with a daytime party for children and families.

The festival concludes on Sunday 13 September with Poetic Funk, a DJ collective led by Mark Alexander, presenting an Afrofuturism-inspired set.

The Dance Floor will also host free dance programming throughout September. Free taster classes take place on Saturday 5 September as part of the Greenwich & Docklands International Festival’s Dancing Cities programme. Regular lunchtime classes return from Monday 14 September, including Afro-Caribbean Fusion, Funky Social Dance, Family Freestyle and Reggae & Soul Line Dance.

On Saturday 26 September, AkomaAsa Arts will present a community takeover of The Dance Floor, a family-focused event celebrating African, Caribbean and Western dance traditions through drumming and dance.

At Sadler’s Wells Theatre, San Francisco Ballet presents Mere Mortals, featuring choreography by Aszure Barton alongside a live performance by British electronic music producer and DJ Floating Points. The performances, running Wednesday 9 through Saturday 12 September, mark the company’s first visit to England since Tamara Rojo became Artistic Director.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns from Tuesday 15 through Saturday 19 September with two programmes, New Works and Legacy, showcasing the pioneering company’s repertoire. Both programmes feature Ailey’s iconic Revelations.

English National Ballet presents a triple bill featuring two world premieres by Jae Man Joo and Micaela Taylor, accompanied live by the English National Ballet Philharmonic, from Thursday 24 September through Saturday 3 October.

At Sadler’s Wells East, National Dance Company Wales presents a new double bill featuring work by Theo Clinkard and Sadler’s Wells Associate Artist Alesandra Seutin from Thursday 24 through Saturday 26 September.

Meanwhile, the Peacock Theatre will host Yllana’s Flamenc Oh!! from Wednesday 30 September through Saturday 10 October. The brand-new production, co-commissioned by Sadler’s Wells, combines flamenco with comedy and physical theatre, accompanied by live music.

Sadler’s Wells’ Digital Stage continues to offer free dance films and behind-the-scenes content.

Generation: Dance follows actor Sekou Diaby as he travels across the country investigating how dance can positively affect young lives and help young people explore the world and understand themselves.

New Adventures presents Quiet Revolutions, created to mark 10 years of the company’s Overture programme. The film follows community dance artists as they navigate financial precariousness and personal doubt.

Return, winner of Best Film by Young Artists (21 and under) at Dance Digital, follows two young women whose ordinary bike ride through country lanes develops into an increasingly abstract journey. The film is available as part of Dance Digital Presents, a curated selection from the festival available for free for a limited period.

Also available is 100 Years Young Backstage Pass with Rambert, which goes behind the scenes as Rambert prepares for the opening night of its 100-year anniversary production, This Is Rambert, at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. The film features Rambert Artistic Director Benoit Swan Pouffer and dancer Archie White during a double-show day, from the dressing rooms to the stage.

All four films are available to watch for free on Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage.

For full details on September’s performances, events and digital programming, including tickets and booking information, visit sadlerswells.com.

San Francisco Ballet, ‘Mere Mortals’. Image credit Chris Hardy.