A unique collaboration between choreographers and composer, three new commissions by Jules Cunningham, Michael Keegan-Dolan and Maud Le Pladec, are performed to music by contemporary composer Nico Muhly.

Marking five years since the original production was due to premiere on the Sadler’s Wells stage but was cut short by the pandemic, it’s back.

Muhly is an American composer and sought-after collaborator whose work includes commissions from The Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Ballet. His collaborators range from musician James Blake to choreographers Benjamin Millepied and Mark Morris to The Tallis Scholars. His work for screen includes the BBC’s adaptation of Howards End (2017) and Pachinko for Apple TV+ (2022-2024).

Associate Artist Jules Cunningham presents their new work SLANT, to ‘Drones’, an experimental piece from Muhly’s repertoire reshaped for this triple bill and performed live by the Britten Sinfonia. Danced by Cunningham and four dancers from Julie Cunningham & Company, this poetic performance is a meditation on disorientation, being out of line and finding perspectives on not fitting in as we move through the world. 

Muhly wrote The Only Tune for American folksinger Sam Amidon, who joins Michael Keegan-Dolan’s company live on stage as they create an otherworldly, atmospheric piece full of haunting theatricality.

Maud Le Pladec, former Artistic Director for Dance and Choreography for the 4 ceremonies of Olympics and Paralympics games in Paris 2024, recently appointed director of Ballet de Lorraine, returns with a new work, Veins of Water, having presented TWENTY-SEVEN PERSPECTIVES at Sadler’s Wells in 2023.

Sadler’s Wells’ Composer Series takes a contemporary composer’s music as the starting point for creation, partnering them with exceptional contemporary choreographers to create new works. Marking Time is the third in the series following acclaimed programmes inspired by the music of Thomas Adès and Mark-Anthony Turnage.

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Header image The Only Tune © Colm Hogan