Photo Flash: First Look at the Dancers of Sadler's Wells' BALLETBOYZ

Following a hugely successful sell-out run at Sadler's Wells in January, BALLETBOYZ return in October with YOUNG MEN, an intensely moving portrayal of love, loss and survival set against the backdrop of war.

Produced by BalletBoyz artistic directors Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, in a co-production with Sadler's Wells and WW1 Centenary Arts Commissions, 14-18 NOW, YOUNG MEN is choreographed by Iván Pérez (Nederlands Dans Theater 1 and 2, Ballet Moscow, National Ballet of Cuba) and features an original score by English musician, composer and poet Keaton Henson (Dear, Birthdays, and Romantic Works).

"Young Men at Sadler´s Wells deserves the power and sensitivity of a live orchestra," says choreographer Pérez. "Michael and Billy introduced me to Keaton and his music and I was immediately moved by his sensitivity and enthusiasm. Our collaboration involved extensive sharing of perceptions, emotions and questions around the subject matter. We met in the studio with the dancers over four intense weeks with Keaton at the piano exploring melodies that supported and reinforced the dramatic essence of the scenes. The music was in constant evolution during the process looking for the right balance and intentionality. It was a pleasure to share this process with him."

Drawing inspiration from images of conflict through the ages and with particular reference to the experiences of soldiers during World War 1, the production is a compelling hybrid of dance, theatre and screen performance. The company of ten male dancers is augmented by two female dancers, former BalletBoyz collaborator, Oxana Panchenko, and Jennifer White (Hofesh Shechter, Russell Maliphant). "We're delighted to welcome Oxana back to BalletBoyz," says Michael Nunn. "She was with us when we started the company back in 2001 and we're excited that she's returning for Young Men at Sadler's Wells and for the Young Men feature film we're shooting on location in France in November. We know she'll be perfect for the role."

"The two female roles in Young Men are representatives of the ´young´ and the ´old´ women that participated in those male stories during and after war," expands Iván Pérez. "The older figure (Panchenko) embodies the grief and the pain of the mother, the wife, the sister, all of them at once. The younger figure (White) lives in the imagination of a specific story, about a woman who left home in disguise in search of her husband in the trenches; she never found him and was deported back home. It's an example of a desperate act motivated by war and love."

Dancers: Andrea Carrucciu, Simone Donati, Flavien Esmieu, Marc Galvez, Oxana Panchenko, Edward Pearce, Leon Poulton,
Harry Price, Matthew Rees, Matthew Sandiford, Bradley Waller, Jennifer White

Photo Credit: Roy Tan

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