Sadler's Wells

When the new Sadler's Wells opened its doors in 1998, it not only welcomed back its loyal friends and supporters but a whole new generation of arts enthusiasts. Since then, Sadler's Wells' programme has grown in scope and range each year. With its contemporary, stylish ambience and splendidly eclectic range of dance, music and opera, the theatre now attracts some of the most diverse audiences in London.

From cutting-edge performance to mainstream contemporary dance, music theatre to opera, tango to tap and flamenco to family shows, the celebration of creativity and excellence are always at the heart of Sadler's Wells.

This season, Sadler's Wells entered a dynamic new phase in its artistic programme. Under the direction of Jean-Luc Choplin, the theatre has set out to expand and deepen the range of work presented, to establish Sadler's Wells more firmly in the European and American arts scene through creative co-productions and to re-embrace its roots as a lyric theatre.

As Jean-Luc Choplin said, in announcing the 2003/04 season: 'I want to place the artist and the creative process centre stage in all our work. We have outstanding talent in our programme, and our relationship with performers and creators is the essential ingredient, the special fizz, which brings a fresh spirit to everything we do here.'

Connect with Sadler's Wells

Sadler's Wells' education programme, Connect, has long expressed the simple ethos of Lilian Baylis, one of the most visionary directors of Sadler's Wells, to make the arts accessible to everyone. Connect uses dance to develop confidence, self-awareness and creativity in individuals of all levels and abilities. The programme includes work with schools and colleges, visiting company workshops, outreach community projects and a wide range of teacher training courses. Other regular informal education activities include Dance Revealed, a series of pre-performance talks hosted by dance writers, the Lilian Baylis Over-60s Performance Group and the ground-breaking Deaf Debating Dance Programme.

Connect complements the theatre's work by using the resources of the visiting dance companies and the theatre itself to provide opportunities for learning and participation. The team works with the formal education sector as well as other community groups, including those aimed at people who are physically or socially disadvantaged. Connect aims to promote greater access for all to Sadler's Wells' activities and resources. It looks to extend the work of visiting artists and companies; encourage exchanges between professional artists and educators; and work in partnership with community groups and other arts organisations in organising programme activities.

In 2002/03 Connect's work reached over 15,000 people, including primary and secondary school pupils, teachers, senior citizens and youth groups. Its programmes included schools workshops, open days, platform performance, summer schools, the Exposure festival, dance residencies and summer schools, including a week for deaf children exploring the language of dance and movement.