On Monday 4 January, Sadler’s Wells launched 52 Portraits, an online project by choreographer Jonathan Burrows, composer Matteo Fargion and video maker Hugo Glendinning, which sees a portrait of a different artist being released every Monday throughout 2016.
The 52 subjects are drawn from the vibrant UK dance scene, as well as from the many international companies visiting Sadler’s Wells during the course of the year. Each portrait takes the form of a very personal dance, filmed with the artist sitting at a table and accompanied by a song based on their biography, inspired by a tune of their choice. Participants span all ages, disciplines and cultural backgrounds and include both well-known performers and makers and younger artists.
52 Portraits builds on the success of the Olivier Award-nominated The Elders Project, created by Burrows and Fargion for the Elixir festival presented at Sadler’s Wells in September 2014. Like The Elders Project, this new initiative represents an epic love song written to an art form, while at the same time revealing the stories, thoughts and struggles of dancers in an unprecedented way.
Subscribe to receive a weekly portrait direct to your inbox at www.52portraits.co.uk. 52 Portraits is supported and produced by Sadler’s Wells.
Image: still from the portrait of artist Kwame Asafo-Adjei.