By Alexander Brown

Earlier this month, our Young Ambassadors took a trip down to Sadler’s Wells in London to see Dance: Sampled before this show heads to the Hippodrome in early March.

Here, Alexander tells us what he thought of the production and taking part in a contemporary dance workshop with the Russell Maliphant Company beforehand:

Turning up at Sadler’s Wells armed with a ticket for their show Sampled in one hand and a ticket for a pre-show workshop in the other, a momentary flurry of nerves hit me. I soon pushed them aside, after all I would be working with a group of complete strangers, even if I made a fool of myself I would never see any of them again, so why worry?

Led by one of Russell Maliphant Company’s dancers, it was fascinating to explore something new. I was a little rusty at contemporary dance and there were moments beyond my personal skill level. This didn’t matter, as it was structured in such a way that allowed everyone in the room to find their way in, focusing on what we could do and using that to build on. The workshop left me exhausted, but with a feeling of accomplishment.

Before the main show in the evening, I enjoyed the ‘A-Z of Dance: LIVE’ happening in the foyer. This was an interesting practical exploration of the different fundamentals and styles of dance. It was interactive in nature, involving a group of dancers from different genres, and helped to break down the barrier between art and audience. It encouraged discussion and participation from the audience, enhancing our understanding and thus engaging us on a deeper level.

Sampled itself featured a collection of different dance artists performing self-contained pieces. From contemporary to ballet, via tango and everything in between! It was thrilling to watch such a variety of world class performances and have no idea what would be next.

If you’re new to dance, Dance: Sampled is a perfect chance to explore different styles, letting you discover the types of dance that pique your interest. If you are already a dance fan, this is a great way to remind yourself just how wide ranging and varied dance can be, and to discover new artists to follow in the future.

Make sure you don’t miss Birmingham’s version of Sampled in March! And, maybe even try out one of the workshops beforehand! Find out more here.